Children sedated for dental procedures...should i allow my child's pediatric dentist to hospitalize my child?

giving my child gas and putting my child under terrifies me. i want her to be healthy and have great teeth but is it necessary to do this while my child is so young? my child is 7. Do any of you have any experiences with this? my child will not cooperate with the dentist because my child is scared. Could i wait til my child is a little older and more cooperative? putting even an adult under is dangerous. what do you know?

Children sedated for dental procedures...should i allow my child's pediatric dentist to hospitalize my child?
There is risk in everything you do. I am a dentist and don't do sedations. To hospitalize a patient means they are way out of control in the chair and the dentist fears they would do damage to themselves if not fully under. If this is not your child then seek another opinion. If your child is afraid but not combative in the chair then mild sedation (liquid versed or chloral hydrate ) can be used and your child would be sedated enough to not to feel much but not completely out. Is there risk...yes...but if left undone there is also risk....just read the story about the boy who died because he couldn't be seen by the dentist quick enough...infection spread to his brain or so they say. But this would be rare...almost as rare as death from mild sedation. If I were you I would shoot for mild sedation with the nitrous gas...it's safe and reliable. I wouldn't wait.


As a side note...try to calm your child...tell her won't be bad. Do not discuss "shots". Help them cope with it and be sympathetic. Don't get angry if they are scared...makes things worse...trust me.


GOod luck with everything
Reply:DID YOU MEAN INHALED NITROUS OXIDE, aka, laughing gas?


THIS IS VERY SAFE FOR EVEN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. IT WILL HELP THE CHILD TO RELAX, IT WON'T PUT THEM TO SLEEP.


I WOULN'T WAIT FOR THE CHILD TO GET OLDER, BUT WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE PEDIATRIC DENTIST A.S.A.P.
Reply:Is this your child's first dentist? Pedodontists specialize in taking care of children's dental needs. If your child is that stressed about going to this particular dentist, find another pedodontist.





If they are referring to Nitrous Oxide, it does not put children (or adults, for that matter) to sleep. It's for relaxation purposes.





If your dentist wants to hospitalize your child for routine dental treatment,under general anesthesia, again I would suggest to find another pedodontist who has experience with your child's high level of fear.





Best of luck to you both~ I'm sure there's someone who can alleviate your daughter's fears and turn her around...Don't wait until 'she's older'.. she won't grow out of this... she needs to learn to trust the dentist.





The only time I've heard of a dentist doing dental treatment in a hospital setting was if they were 'special needs' patients or someone already admitted (to the hospital) with serious dental needs.. aka needing dental treatment prior to open heart surgery...
Reply:she will be fine. find a dentist with atleash 15-20 yrs of expierence

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