11 Aug Sleep Dentistry: Is It Safe?
We’ve come a long way from the anesthetics of the olden times. In the case of dentistry, some operations wouldn’t be as easy (or even doable) without it – wisdom teeth removal, for example. Just like adults, for some operations, it may be necessary for your children to be put under anesthetic for sleep dentistry. Doing this is not without reason, some operations are highly delicate and your child may need to be perfectly still which is only possible under anesthetic.
Get all the facts on what this means for your child to get sleep dentistry below.
Can Sleep Dentistry Be Done at Any Dentist Office?
No, sleep dentistry and particularly performing operations on children requires proper training. Dentists need to be certified on using anesthetics on children and how to properly react to situations arising from that.
At True Dental, we have those certifications and training that enable us to perform those challenging surgeries through the use of general anesthetic.
What Kind of Sedation and Anesthetics Are Used on Children?
- Nitrous Oxide – Known more commonly as “laughing gas”, this is one of the lowest forms of sedation and the least invasive. Children likely won’t go to sleep, but most will get relaxes and potentially a little silly.
- Mild Sedation – Either in combination with other medications or on their own, mild sedation drugs are most often used on older children or adults. Your child will be awake, although they may not remember specific things about their visit after their surgery which is totally normal.
- Moderate Sedation – With moderate sedation sleep dentistry on children usually involves them being sleepy but still can perform actions the dentist or surgeon ask them to do. Again, older children and young adults do better with this type of anesthetic. When put under, they can still breathe on their own and will commonly wake up easily. Most children won’t remember anything about their procedure.
Although anesthetic being used on their children can be a worrying thought for some parents, the programs that teach how to use it properly are thorough. Completing these programs give dentists (like us) a clear picture of how to properly use it and what to do if there are any complications, and ensure your child’s operation goes smoothly.