What are the Benefits of Pediatric IV Sedation?

Have you noticed that your child is especially stressed out about coming to the dentist? Know that this is an incredibly common reaction that usually subsides over time. Anxiety associated with going to the dentist is all too common among both adult and pediatric patients. Combatting this fear at a younger age may help your child overcome it and have a better outlook on dentistry.

However, for the children who may need a little extra care, we offer pediatric IV sedation. Essentially, IV sedation is administered intravenously. There are multiple reasons why this may be a beneficial option for your child.

Works Quickly

While there are other sedation options out there, IV sedation works much more quickly than other alternatives. This means that your child will be calm and relaxed quickly, which will put both the patient and their parents at ease.

Offers Pain-Free Experience

Most children are afraid of the dentist because they fear that the procedure will hurt. While some procedures require anesthetic injections, this is administered after the sedation. This can be especially comforting to children who have a fear of needles. Giving your child a pain-free experience can help ease their minds for the future.

Reduces Anxiety with Future Visits

IV sedation allows patients to calm down and relax. This will help create new feelings associated with dentistry. Once a child has one good experience, they are more likely to feel better about coming to the dentist in the future.

Limited Memory of Treatment

It is not uncommon for patients to remember very little about the procedure if they have IV sedation. For some children, this is a better outcome since they have such negative feelings associated with coming to the dentist.

Short Recovery

Some parents are concerned about the recovery following IV sedation. However, because the dentist can control the dosage, there is a shorter recovery period.

Patient Remains Conscious

It can be difficult for parents to agree to allow their child to undergo general anesthesia, so IV sedation can be a better alternative. The child will remain conscious throughout the treatment, but will be kept calm and comfortable until the procedure is complete.

Allows for Better Treatment

Children tend to move around a lot once they settle into the dentist's chair. When that happens, it can make it especially difficult for the dentist to do their job. Add anxiety to the mix, and it is even more difficult for children to sit still throughout the procedure. Once the child is relaxed, the dentist can work more quickly and effectively to accomplish the process. This is especially beneficial for longer, more complex procedures or if your child happens to need more than one procedure completed.

Don't Forget Your Year-End Benefits and Flex Spending Accounts

Are you considering pediatric IV sedation? If so, it may be the perfect time to schedule your appointment. It's that time of year where year-end benefits and flex spending accounts need to be used before they expire. What better way to use it than to provide a little extra comfort and support to your child? It's certainly a worthwhile investment that will benefit your child immediately as well as the future of your child's dental health.

Overview

At Fort Worth Children's Dentistry, we understand that our patients may have a bit of anxiety about getting into the dental chair. We want to make the experience as comfortable as possible for them by offering IV sedation. If you think your child could benefit from this service, please reach out to us. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment. We look forward to serving you!