How to Prepare Your Child for Dental Sedation

Is your child afraid of the dentist or needs some complex dental services? Then your Ashburn pediatric dentist may have brought up the topic of sedation dentistry.

Dental sedation is an important part of dentistry. Without it, many people could not have access to even their most basic dental health services. Children are one of the most common types of patients to receive sedation, for various reasons:

• They are too young to sit through the procedure
• They are scared
• They have a strong gag reflex
• They need oral surgery, etc.

Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry offers sedation to help your little one stays perfectly calm and relaxed while we improve their dental health.

If your child is about to receive sedation, here are 5 tips on how to prepare them for it:

1. Help Them Fast

Your child can’t eat anything the night before they will receive the oral sedation, to ensure the medication will take effect properly.

This can be somewhat tricky to navigate, so it may be a good idea to fast together. This way, they won’t feel like they’re alone, knowing that someone they trust is there for them. Moreover, fasting with your child helps them realize that fasting itself is not a type of punishment.

2. Explain the Process to Them

It can be scary to go through the entire sedation process if your child is completely left in the dark about it.

The better approach is to simply sit them down and take them through it. Let them know why they need the sedation and even the dental procedure itself. You can also contact your pediatric dentist for more information or even resources on how to discuss the topic with your child, or take them in for a visit.

3. Make Them Comfortable

Even if they know and understand what’s about to happen, it can still be a rather scary situation. It’s best not to add anything to their discomfort and try your best to make them feel at ease.

Here are some tips on how to do that:

• Let them plan an activity for after the procedure
• Allow them to choose what they want to wear
• Spend the entire day with them
• Bring another family member or close friend that the child trusts

4. Stay Calm

If your child sees you’re worried, anxious, or stressed, they will immediately pick up on these signals. Children learn by mimicking their parents, so it’s very important to show your child that sedation is nothing to worry about - literally.

Bring Your Child to Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is here to help the little one’s smile stay happy and healthy long-term! Whether it’s routine oral care or something that requires more expert attention, your child is in very good and capable hands.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jonathon Konz online today to get started.