What Does Hospital Dentistry Mean for Your Child?
Does your child have a disability preventing him or her from getting the pediatric dental care that is needed? Does your child need extensive dental work? If you have answered positively to these questions the pediatric dentist you are visiting with your child may recommend hospital dentistry for child at a Children’s Hospital where dental services are provided to children that need it most.
Continue reading to understand why dentists may recommend hospital dentistry for children and have to help your child on the day of their first appointment.
The Benefits of Hospital Dentistry
Many pediatric dentists often recommend hospital dentistry for children that need extensive work done or children with special needs. Hospital dentistry is often beneficial for children with:
- Multiple oral health issues that need to be treated.
- Disabilities.
- Dental anxiety or fear.
- Behavioral issues.
- Weak immune systems.
- Low resistance to infection.
The hospital recommended by the dentist will be fully equipped with infrastructure and the staff needed to manage the needs of children appropriately. The dentists attending to children in the hospitals have received additional education after dental school to offer comfort treatment for kids lovingly whenever they are approached with an issue.
What Happens If the Child Needs Extensive Procedure
Many children need procedures that are long and traumatic. Hospitals are aware of this problem and have anaesthesiologists working with them for offering sedation treatment for kids. Children can often be noncooperative depending on their age and cognitive ability and may not understand why they have to hold still for an extended period as the dentist drills their teeth. To overcome this problem dentists are offering sedation treatment for kids with general anesthesia to make sure the child sleeps during the procedure.
Sleep dentistry is also a good option for children having difficulties controlling their movement because of a physical disability. Dentists have a goal to ensure comfort treatment for kids is offered when receiving pediatric dental care. The anaesthesiologists will monitor their child’s breathing and vitals during the procedure.
Preparing Your Child for Hospital Dentistry
It is suggested that you follow the steps mentioned below to prepare your child for an expensive procedure at a hospital by a trusted pediatric dentist:
Schedule a Physical Exam
You must schedule a physical exam with the pediatrician attending to your child. You must provide them with all medical information and conditions about how your child could respond to any treatments or anesthesia if available.
Update Health History
The latest health history of your child must also be provided to the pediatric dentist with information about whether the child is being provided with any new medications. You can accomplish this goal by calling the hospital before your child’s appointment. Certain medications may affect how the child responds to general anesthesia if it has to be administered for a lengthy procedure.
Follow the Dentists Instructions
Keep the child away from food on the day of the procedure because to prevent complications with anesthesia. This applies even to milk and the office at the hospital would have provided you instructions on how to prepare your child for their first appointment. If you have any concerns or questions before visiting the hospital you can inquire with the staff who will be happy to answer any questions you have.
Meeting with the Anaesthesiologist
If your child is going to be administered general anesthesia you will have a meeting with one of the anaesthesiologists who will examine your child and review their medical history. They will begin preparing the child for sedation treatment for the procedure after confirming everything is in order.
What Can Be Expected After the Procedure
You will not be allowed and the treatment room when the procedure is being conducted but will be requested to sit in the waiting room. After the procedure has been completed you will be called to be at the side of your child as they wake-up. Your child will be groggy upon waking which is quite normal. You will be suggested to keep your child at home away from school or daycare to monitor them for the rest of the day as the anesthesia wears off. Instructions on how to manage the child as they recover from the procedure and the anesthesia will also be provided to you.
Pediatric dentists at Kids First Dental in Lancaster SC are dedicated to helping your child maintain a beautiful smile. If you want to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists you can call our clinic in Lancaster for an appointment and have any questions answered before the appointment.