A Parent’s Guide to Emergency Dental Care

Posted on: 2 February 2017

Brushing your toddler's teeth is an important daily activity; however, it can be hard to do in some cases. Toddlers are often very independent and may prefer brushing their own teeth. If they do, they may not brush them well and may end up with a cavity. If your toddler gets a cavity on a baby tooth, the dentist will want to remove it and fill it in order to protect the tooth. You may be wondering how this is possible without putting the child to sleep, though, and here are a few things to understand about dental work with toddlers.

Dentists understand the challenges

A pediatric dentist is fully aware of the challenges he or she will face when completing dental work on toddlers. Toddlers have a hard time sitting still while having dental work done, and they can also be very scared of strangers, including dentists. In addition, toddlers can cry easily if they are scared or if something hurts. These are all very common challenges dentists expect to face when performing a filling on a toddler, but pediatric dentists also know the importance of fixing problems with baby teeth.

The health of baby teeth is important for permanent teeth

A lot of parents do not understand that healthy baby teeth is almost just as important as healthy permanent teeth. Many of your child's baby teeth will be in his or her mouth for many years. If there is decay in one of them, it can spread to other teeth, cause bad breath, and cause decay on the permanent tooth that is underneath.

These are some of the main reasons dentists do not simply leave decay in a baby tooth. They will generally recommend removing the decay and filling the whole, unless the tooth is close to falling out. If the tooth is loose, the dentist may simply recommend extracting the tooth instead of filling it.

Dentists use several types of sedation during procedures

When a dentist has to perform a filling on a toddler, the dentist may recommend two different types of sedation. The first is a liquid syrup the toddler must drink prior to the procedure. The syrup is usually Midazolam or Hydroxyzine, and these are both safe and effective. Both types are designed to help a child relax in order to sit still during a dental procedure.

The other type of sedation is called nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. This is administered through a device that your child must wear over his or her nose. As the child breathes it in, it will help him or her relax even more. By utilizing both of these options, your child may be able to get the filling completed without being squirmy or upset.

For more information, contact a business such as Schererville Family Dentistry.