Myths About Sedation Dentistry

Fear of the dentist can run high among people of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest. In some cases, the anxiety can be strong enough to keep people away from accessing essential dental services, impacting their oral health tremendously for years.

However, modern dentistry has a solution to help people feel more at ease while in the dentist’s office: sedation. Thanks to it, people can feel more comfortable and able to sit through their procedures, ensuring all their oral needs are met.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about sedation dentistry which can also make people a bit anxious. And this is especially true for parents who worry about whether sedation dentistry is truly safe for their children. In this short blog post from Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry, we will discuss 3 common myths about sedation dentistry, and see how much truth there truly is to them:
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1. Sedation Puts the Child to Sleep

There are actually multiple types of sedation, and not all of them will put the child to sleep for the procedure. For example, laughing gas, a very popular form of sedation for both adults and children, leaves the patient fully awake during their visit. The nitrous oxide simply helps the patient relax and stay calm while the dentist inspects their oral health.

While general anesthesia does put the patient to sleep, it is only necessary for very long and complex procedures. In most cases, the dentist will recommend a mild sedative instead.
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2. Sedation Is Only Necessary for Big Dental Surgeries

Sedation can be quite useful even for just the simplest dental procedures. For instance, if the child has difficulty sitting still for too long because of a disability, or if they are very anxious, a mild sedative can help them sit through the procedure.

It generally depends on your child and the likelihood of them being able to comfortably sit through their dental appointments.
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3. Sedation Leaves Long-Lasting Side Effects

There is no evidence that sedation will leave a long-term impact on children or adults. Some mild sedatives like laughing gas have such a short lifespan that the gas will completely pass through the child’s system by the time they leave the dentist’s office.

Other sedatives may need more time to pass through the system, but the symptoms are generally mild and pass without a day:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Mild nausea
• Headaches, etc.
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Still Have Questions About Sedation for Your Child? Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry Can Help

At Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that parents can feel anxious when the topic of sedation dentistry comes up. We assure you that we will never recommend unnecessary or dangerous procedures for your child, and if you have any questions about sedation or other procedures, we are more than happy to answer them.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Julie Hantson online today.