Treating Dental Anxiety With Behavior Guidance Techniques
At smiles4children in Catonsville, Ellicott City, and Eldersburg, we know some children have dental anxiety. This is perfectly normal, and we do not judge our patients for feeling anxious as their appointment begins. Fortunately, we know that when our cheerful chair-side manner is not enough, we can provide additional options to help our young patients be more comfortable with a dental procedure to create a positive dental visit. Let’s take a look at some of our behavior guidance techniques and sedation methods available to help put children at ease while getting necessary dental work completed:
- Nitrous Oxide: “Laughing Gas,” an odorless gas that is an effective means for managing minor pain and anxiety. It comes in flavored masks the patient can take home.
- Conscious Sedation: Oral conscious sedation is a medicine given by our doctor and taken orally before the procedure to profoundly relax a patient. Patients are monitored throughout the process to ensure safety.
- General Anesthesia: If a patient’s dental or medical needs far outweigh what they can tolerate in an office setting, we have the ability to have the patient treated at the local hospital to complete the treatment.
Which type of sedation and behavior guidance technique is right for my child?
You know your child best, so it is important that you offer input regarding the level of anxiety your child might have. Once we have a better understanding of the severity of their fear, then we will be able to make knowledgeable decisions and appropriate recommendations regarding the behavior guidance technique that will allow them to have a positive experience every time they visit the dental chair at our state-of-the-art pediatric dental office.
Request time to speak to the team at smiles4children in the Catonsville, Ellicott City, and Eldersburg areas and beyond.
If you reside in the areas of Catonsville, Ellicott City, or Eldersburg, we welcome you to call one of our office locations to request an appointment. We can be reached at the following phone numbers to request a consultation at the office that is closest and most convenient to you.
Catonsville (410) 788-4555, Ellicott City (410) 203-2410, Eldersburg (410) 549-1212