Going to the dentist can be a stressful or scary experience for many children. While these emotions are certainly understandable, it’s important that your children are able to attend these important dental visits in order to lay the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health.
At Love Brushing Dentistry, we are sensitive to the unique needs of our child patients, and we work very hard to make their experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible. One of the ways we accomplish this goal is by offering sedation dentistry for children who get nervous or anxious when they visit the dentist. We also often recommend sedation in situations where your child needs to undergo a long, complex procedure.
Dr. Khavari has found sedation dentistry to be an effective way to reduce the stress experienced by our child patients. When performed by an experienced dentist, sedation dentistry is very safe for children. However, there are certain precautions which must be taken to ensure the process is administered according to the highest levels of safety.
Steps to Take Prior to Sedation
To ensure optimal levels of safety, it’s important for you to understand the process and help prepare your child for sedation. Before coming to our office, you will need to:
- Comply with all pre-sedation food and drink restrictions provided by Dr. Khavari. This is very important since the sedative agent can increase the risk of your child’s stomach contents being vomited and inhaled into the lungs.
- Dress your child in loose-fitting clothing. This will make it easier for our staff to attach monitors to be used during sedation.
- Provide Dr. Khavari with your child’s full medical history, including a list of all medications and supplements being taken.
- Inform Dr. Khavari if your child develops a fever, ear infection, chest congestion, or other medical issue prior to sedation. If so, your child’s dental visit may need to be rescheduled once the condition has cleared up.
When you arrive at our office, you can help your child stay relaxed and comfortable by taking the following steps:
- Bring along a favorite toy, stuffed animal or other comfort item for the child to hold.
- Hold your child’s hand prior to undergoing sedation.
- Sing one of your child’s favorite songs to him/her prior to undergoing sedation.
Your Child’s Safety is our Top Priority
When administering sedation dentistry to children, safety is our highest priority. Throughout your child’s procedure, our team will closely monitor their blood pressure, blood oxygen level, heart rate and temperature. Our team has the extensive training and experience necessary to ensure your child’s sedation experience is safe and comfortable throughout their procedure.
Steps to Take after the Procedure
We recommend that you are present when your child wakes up after sedation in case they feel confused or nervous. In some instances, children may feel nauseous, dizzy or sleepy after sedation dentistry. For this reason, we recommend that you keep them out of school or daycare for the remainder of the day.
You should have another adult present to drive home with you. This person should sit next to your child to monitor breathing. For the next few hours, you should carefully monitor your child. If any vomiting, fever, severe pain or severe bleeding occurs, call our office at once.
Contact our East Houston Dentist
Please contact Love Brushing Dentistry using the form on this page or call 713-490-2088 today to learn more about our sedation dentistry services for children. We serve patients in Baytown, Pasadena, Channelview and throughout East Houston.
