Here at Weaver and Stratton Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that every child deserves a fun and enjoyable dental experience. In order to establish a healthy relationship with dental care from a young age, it is extremely important to create positive experiences and associations early on that will allow children to cultivate healthy dental habits throughout their lives. Part of the process for ensuring these positive experiences is to present an environment that cultivates kindness, care, comfort, and control – providing your child with a sense of relaxation rather than anxiety.
Our Jacksonville, FL, team makes it a priority to ensure that each child feels comfortable in our office, though we realize some children may be nervous and need help warming up to their dental appointments; that’s why we offer dental sedation! With dental sedation, children are provided with medications that help to manage anxiety and depress certain nerve receptors (this includes calming the gag reflex and relieving sensory stimulation). Aiding children in becoming more comfortable in the dental office helps to establish a more positive relationship with dentistry – thus, leading children to better care for their smiles in the future.
If your child is feeling nervous about their upcoming dental visit or has special needs that may need extra attention, please read below to learn more about our sedative options. If you have any questions, give our office a call!
IV Sedation
IV sedation is a sedative administered directly into the bloodstream to produce a quick calming effect. We will deliver this medication into a vein located along your child’s arm or hand. Often reserved as a more powerful form of sedation than nitrous oxide, the use of this form of sedation is designed to ease your child through a more lengthy treatment, keeping them relaxed and comfortable throughout their entire appointment.
Our providers maintain precise control of the sedative your child receives throughout their visit – ensuring they receive the proper dosage to feel completely comfortable throughout the treatment duration. While IV sedation is considered a conscious sedative, your child will likely feel as if they slept through their procedure and retain no memory of the visit.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a form of sedative that is administered as a gas inhaled through the nasal passages. During your child’s appointment, we will attach a small mask to their nose, where the gas will quickly begin producing a calming effect. The gas helps to eliminate any feelings of fear or anxiety, while also keeping your child responsive – capable of following instructions or answering questions during their procedure.
Advocates For Your Child's Comfort
At Weaver and Stratton Pediatric Dentistry, our providers are always looking out for your child’s wellness and comfort. Establishing our primary objective as expert dental care professionals, we also aim our focus towards keeping children in control. What that means is we take great care in recognizing stress signals and reacting to them accordingly; this may include performing services at a slower pace to accommodate the child, talking your child through our processes to keep them aware of what’s happening, and recommending sedation in necessary cases.
Overall, we do everything we can to advocate for your child’s care and comfort. By doing this, we can only hope they are able to build confidence in the dental office, and eventually see the space as a safe environment to thrive and grow!