Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
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Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
We will always choose the most conservative treatment options available to your child, and we seek to use non-invasive procedures whenever possible. However, there are times when your child may need to be sedated to care for them properly. Ultimately, their safety and comfort are our utmost concern.
Laughing gas is the common term for nitrous oxide. This is a safe and mild method used during dental procedures. Your child will be awake and responsive throughout the procedure, in a more relaxed state.
Because this type of dentistry is short-lived with a gentle effect, it is often used for children. Nitrous oxide puts patients at ease so they can remain relaxed during dental procedures allowing the anxious child a more pleasant dental experience! Dr. Kim customizes each case individually and will discuss sedation only if necessary.
Oral conscious sedation (OCS) is a safe, effective, and non-invasive method to help increase cooperation and reduce anxiety and discomfort/pain associated with dental treatment. Oral sedation is a moderate sedation where it is more effective than laughing gas alone but it is not as deep as IV sedation therefore kids are relaxed and sleepy but will respond when spoken to or with a light tap on the shoulder. Various medications can be used to sedate a child and are selected based on your child’s age, overall health, level of anxiety, and dental treatment recommendations.
Many children suffer from dental anxiety, feeling extreme fear that keeps them from attending dental visits. We want all patients to receive excellent dental care in spite of their dental anxiety. To this end, we offer in-house IV sedation dentistry from an anesthesiologist, to ensure the comfort of our patients. If your child suffers from a fear of going to the dentist, call us today to learn more about intravenous “IV” sedation.
In some cases, it may not be possible to perform dental treatment on a child safely while they are conscious, and nitrous oxide sedation may not be effective. In such situations, the dentist may recommend general anesthesia. This is especially true for very young children who require extensive dental work or children with high dental anxiety or special healthcare needs that may cause them harm during dental procedures.
At Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we understand the importance of safety and comfort for your child. Dr. Kim has hospital privileges at Vanderbilt and Hendersonville Hospital where our practice works closely with the anesthesiology team.
We take the time to understand your child’s unique needs, evaluate their health history, and discuss the different options available to you. We will also provide you with a comprehensive overview of what to expect during the procedure. You can trust that your child is in good hands with Dr. Kim and her team.