Does your child become nervous when visiting the dentist? At South Miami Pediatric Dental Associates, your dentists, Dr. Mario 
Martinez and Dr. Rebecca Lenard, understand those fears and can help your child (and you) feel more comfortable. At their South Miami office, this experienced and caring team know the whys and hows of sedation dentistry and will get your child the care that they deserve.
Dental anxiety
The Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology journal states that up to 20 percent of people in the US, both adults and children, suffer from dental anxiety to one extent or other. Some patients are so phobic they even bypass dental care altogether! This then causes extensive decay, gum disease and even systemic health effects.
Symptoms of dental anxiety include:
- Increased heart rate
- Crying
- Sweating
- Expressions of fear and nervousness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Inability to relax in the dental chair
When children have dental phobias, parents are impacted, too, as they strive to get their youngsters the care young teeth and jaws so crucially need. Sometimes, fear comes from a past bad experience with another dentist, or perhaps the child is a bit claustrophobic. Whatever the case, children take cues from parents—if Mom and Dad are relaxed, this helps the child.
Fortunately, South Miami Pediatric Dental Associates have the skill, experience, and compassion to make your child's dental visits comfortable. The entire dental practice is child-friendly, and the staff is specially trained to meet the needs of both fearful children and ones with special needs. This includes experience in sedation dentistry.
Types of sedation
Dr. Lenard and Dr. Martinez offer four kinds of sedation to meet your child's unique needs. They are:
- Nitrous oxide: Also nicknamed "laughing gas," this inhaled sedative allows the child to feel relaxed, and even a little giddy. Administered through a nasal mask with adjustments as needed, laughing gas still allows the child to respond to questions and commands, and it wears off right away.
- Local anesthetic: This typical "numbing shot" keeps the area around the treated tooth numb so that the child feels nothing during their filling or other procedure. The dentist preps the gums with topical anesthetic before injecting this medication, thereby avoiding any discomfort.
- Oral sedation: Valium and Versed are common tranquilizing pills used at the dental office. They help the patient feel relaxed—somtimes so much that they even fall asleep! However, the child is easily awakened after the completion of treatments.
- IV sedation: Administered through a needle in the arm, intravenous sedation generally allows a child to sleep all the way through treatments. Vital signs are fully monitored. This kind of sedation works well for lengthy and multiple procedures.
We can help
Your child can have a good experience at the dental office. Call Dr. Martinez or Dr. Lenard for a consultation on pediatric dental sedation, and put those fears to rest. Phone today: (305) 666-2068.