Children’s Dentistry when Sleep Dentistry is involved: What Parents Should Know

Taking your child to the dentist is a normal and important part of a child’s healthcare. A quick check-up, a clean, a chat about brushing — nothing particularly dramatic. All children are unique and some children find these visits much harder than others.

For parents, this can create anxiety; You know your child needs dental care, but you also know how upset and frightened they can sometimes become once they are in the dental chair.

This is where children’s dentistry and sleep dentistry can overlap. Calm, positive dental visits are still the goal to build trust between the child and the dental team, but for particularly anxious children, sedation or other forms of supported treatment may sometimes be discussed between a dentist and parents.

At New Lambton Dental Care, children’s dental care focuses on; prevention, early intervention, and helping young patients become comfortable with looking after their teeth and visiting the dentist.

Why Children Struggle at the Dentist

As adults, it is easy to forget how overwhelming a dental appointment can be for a child.

The unfamiliar people, bright lights, dental instruments, strange noises, and someone asking them to keep their mouth open while they work. 

Past experiences matter as well. A difficult appointment, toothache or even hearing another person describe a frightening dental experience can make a child more apprehensive the next time.

The response is different for each child. Some become quiet and withdrawn. Others cry, refuse treatment or simply cannot stay settled in the chair.

This does not mean the child is “bad” at going to the dentist. It might just mean they need more reassurance, time or a different approach.

When Can Sleep Dentistry Help

The phrase sleep dentistry is used to describe treatments where sedation or anaesthesia is used for the comfort of the patient. Importantly, there are different levels of sedation, and being sedated does not necessarily mean being asleep.

At New Lambton Dental Care we offer nitrous oxide sedation which allows nervous patients to remain awake while feeling deeply relaxed. We do also provides dental treatment under general anaesthesia for certain procedures.

For children, the important thing is that sedation should not be viewed as the first answer to dental anxiety. In many cases, simple communication and a calm introduction to dentistry will be all that is needed.

Building Confidence Through Children’s Dentistry

Familiarity is an advantage of Preventative dental care that people tend to overlook.

A child who regularly visits the dentist from an early age is given an opportunity to slowly become familiar with the surroundings and understand what a dental appointment involves. Over time, the experience can become much less mysterious.

Good children’s dentistry also gives parents an opportunity to pick up small problems before they become bigger ones. New Lambton Dental Care’s children’s services include regular check-ups and cleans, oral hygiene education, fluoride treatments, fissure sealants and monitoring of tooth and jaw development.

Parents can help as well. Try to keep explanations simple and positive. There is no need to give a detailed description of every instrument or procedure before your child arrives. Try saying, “The dentist is going to have a look at your teeth and show you how to keep them healthy”.

It can also help to tell the dental team if your child has had a difficult experience before. 

When Should You as Parents Ask About Sedation?

It may be worth raising the subject if your child;

• has significant dental anxiety
• struggles to tolerate routine treatment
• has previously been unable to complete necessary dental work
• becomes extremely distressed during appointments.

The conversation should begin with the dentist.

A proper assessment allows the dental team to explain what treatment is needed, discuss ways of making the appointment easier and determine whether sedation is appropriate. At New Lambton Dental Care, both Dr Suha Ravichandran and Dr Sri Selvaraj are trained in nitrous oxide sedation techniques.

For more complex situations, general anaesthesia may be considered. This is a different process from nitrous oxide sedation and requires appropriate medical and dental planning.

For parents, understanding the difference is important. “Sleep dentistry” is not one particular treatment. It is a term used for several approaches designed to make dental treatment more manageable for people who are anxious or unable to cope with treatment in the usual way.

A Positive Dental Experience Starts Early

The goal of children’s dentistry is not simply to get through one appointment. It is to establish healthy habits build a level of trust with dental providers.

For some children getting there takes patience, and additional support such as sedation may be useful along the way.

If your child is due for their first dental visit or is nervous after a difficult experience New Lambton Dental Care provides family dental care with a focus on gentle and personalised treatment.