Children's Dental Care Specialists: The Best Choice For Pediatric Cavity Treatments
Most dental appointments are quick and easy, requiring nothing more than an exam, dental cleaning, and perhaps an x-ray or two. However, when dental cavities are found, restorative treatments become necessary. Having a cavity filled is no one's favorite activity, but kids can be especially scared of the process. That's why it's a good idea to take your child to a pediatric dentist for their next cavity filling. Here are four ways that children's dental care specialists work to make cavity fillings easy and comfortable for kids.
1. Provide topical analgesics
Dentists strive to make cavity fillings as painless as possible. That's why local anesthesia is used to numb the area before drilling begins. However, getting a shot of local anesthesia can be painful in itself. That's why many children's dental care specialists provide topical analgesia before administering numbing shots. A pediatric dentist will apply a numbing gel to your child's gums before injecting a local anesthetic, which can dull the feeling of the needle entering the gums.
2. Use distraction techniques
Many things are more painful with anxiety and anticipation. That's why pediatric dentists are specialists at distracting kids. Your child's dentist can use a variety of distraction techniques to take your child's mind off the procedure. A vibrating tool may be placed against the outside of your child's cheek during the injection of local anesthesia to provide another sensation to focus on. Music and headphones can also be provided to take your child's mind off the feelings, sights, and sounds of the dental office during their procedure.
3. Go slow
When it comes to dental procedures, faster isn't always better. Slow injections and dental drills can sometimes be more comfortable for kids. With this in mind, many children's dental specialists take their time to provide a gentle experience for patients of all ages. Pushing lidocaine slowly into the gums can reduce discomfort. Dentists can also use drills with slower rotations to diminish unwanted sensations during the cavity filling.
4. Encourage kids to communicate their discomfort
Finally, children's dental specialists put kids' minds at ease by encouraging them to communicate throughout the cavity filling process. Children will be instructed to raise their hands if they feel pain or discomfort during their procedures. This will allow pediatric dentists to make the necessary adjustments to improve your child's comfort, which may include administering additional anesthesia or providing oral suction to remove saliva.
Reach out to a company like Dentistry For Children & Adolescents to learn more.