Unfortunately, children are not immune from dental issues. There could be times when your own child faces the need of treatment that will require anesthesia. Here’s what you need to know.

 

Reasons a Child Might Need Anesthesia

 

While the dental issues in children don’t vary as greatly as they do in adulthood, there could still be instances where anesthesia is needed. During any difficult or complex procedure, your dentist could recommend sedation. This could be to relieve pain or simply to reduce anxiety in the child. Some of the common reasons for your child to receive anesthesia could include:

 

• Fractured tooth

• High levels of anxiety

• Tooth extraction

• Fillings

• Dental Cleanings

• Sealants

 

Before Anesthesia

 

Prior to allowing your child to receive anesthesia, you’ll want to review your child’s medical history with the dentist. This should include any medication they are currently taking as well as any allergies they suffer from. In addition, there are some questions you’ll want to ask your dentist.

 

• What medication will be used?

• How will the medication be administered?

• What are the side effects my child could experience?

• Is this the minimum level of sedation you can use to complete the treatment safely? If not, what are the other options?

• What training do you have to administer anesthesia to a child?

• Who will be monitoring my child during anesthesia?

• Can I remain in the room with my child during the procedure?

• What plan is in place for emergency medical needs during the use of anesthesia?

• How long will this form of sedation last?

• Are there any post-sedation instructions that I need to follow?

• Will my child be provided pain medication for after the procedure?

 

You will find that most dentists err on the side of caution when using anesthesia for a child. It isn’t done haphazardly and there is extensive training involved for dentists who provide this service. The likelihood of something serious occurring from a child’s usage of anesthesia is not common. Anesthesia has been widely regarded as a safe tactic in the use of healthy children. If you have further questions or concerns, be sure to share them with your Fort Lee, NJ dentist prior to the procedure.