In the oral health world, sedation dentistry is a relatively new concept gaining popularity with patients anxious or fearful of dental procedures. In this kind of dentistry, a patient can receive treatment without the risk of feeling pain or discomfort. Since it is one of our specialties, we decided to cover it to an extent to help you release any doubts.
Sedation dentistry is a safe technique that uses sedatives to help patients feel more relaxed and comfortable during dental procedures, and it is suitable for people who have a high level of anxiety or fear of the dentist, people with gag reflex, those with special needs, or those who have difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia. It is also suitable for people who need to have a longer procedure or multiple procedures done in one dental visit.
What Are the Levels of Sedation?
The main types of sedation used in dentistry are oral, inhaled, and intravenous.
Oral sedation is the most commonly used type of sedation. It involves taking a pill before the procedure that helps the patient be put into a state of deep relaxation. Sometimes, the patient can fall asleep during the visit but can be easily woken up. If the patient uses this kind of sedation, they might need to be supervised after the procedure to check no side effects appear.
Inhaled sedation involves using nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to help the patient relax. This sedation is the safest option for patients (ranging from kids to adults). When you inhale the medication, you enter a state that allows you to lower your anxiety and pain threshold while remaining awake. This is considered the quickest option to feel the sedative’s effects and have it wear off completely soon after leaving your dentist’s office.
Lastly, intravenous sedation involves using drugs administered directly into the bloodstream to produce a more profound sedation effect. It is administered by the dentist through an IV, which gives the professional the option of amp or lowering the medication according to necessity. This technique can either make the patient feel very droopy but aware of their environment or put them under general anesthesia, making them entirely unconscious. The last case is used to help patients with high levels of anxiety feel more comfortable, as well as in cases where the patient has to endure complex and extended dental procedures.
Why Is Sedation Dentistry Used for Kids?
One of the primary benefits of sedation dentistry for children is that it can help them relax and make them more comfortable during a dental procedure. Having the children feel less scared and more confident about dental treatments can help them to build a positive relationship with the dentist.
Here are other ways in which it might benefit you to choose sedation for your family:
As previously mentioned, it benefits kids as it helps reduce their fear and anxiety during dental treatments. This is especially important for children who may have had a traumatic experience in the past or are being treated for a complex condition.
It ensures that the child remains comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure, allowing the dentist to work more efficiently and effectively, ultimately bringing a better quality of work.
Instead of becoming a dreadful experience, sedation can shorten the dental visit and more manageable for the child, allowing them to get the dental care they need without feeling overwhelmed or scared.
This practice can also reduce the risk of injury as the child is less likely to resist or move during the procedure.
Sedation dentistry can help reduce pain during the procedure, making the experience more pleasant for the child and allowing them to get the dental care they need more comfortably.
What Should I Consider Before Sedation Dentistry?
Consent and knowledge are always important when discussing any treatment involving our physical bodies and health, more so if it’s referring to our children. Before choosing a medical method, you talk to your dentist about any questions you might have about the procedure, the type of sedation, the medication to be used, and their professional experience working with these meds and techniques.
Before the appointment -in case of being a new patient- is usually that the dentist executes a pre-sedation check-up, where they will inquire about the age, health background, level of fear (if there is any diagnosis of high anxiety/mental health), or special need of the patient. Here they will also contemplate the kind of procedure the patient will undergo in order to make a recommendation to the patient or their legal guardians.
While there is no final proof about the necessity of fasting before sedation, some professionals do work with the 2-4-6 fasting rule, which indicates that the amount of time to fast before the dental visit is 2 hours for clear fluids, 4 hours for breast milk, and 6 hours for solid foods.
Recommendations for parents whose children struggled with fear of the dentist
If you are the parent of a kid who suffers from anxiety at the simple idea of visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings, we would suggest talking to your child’s dentist about ways to make the dental visit less stressful, such as providing a calming atmosphere in the office (i.e., our practices counts with playgrounds for our young patients, fish tanks and even tv screens to keep them entertain and calm), offering reassurances throughout the visit, and allowing the child to take breaks as needed. It may also be helpful to find a dentist experienced in pediatric dentistry.
And the more you make oral health an everyday thing in your home, going to recare appointments will become usual. For more tips on dealing with your child’s fear of the dentist, we invite you to check our previous article.
As parents, one of our biggest concerns is maintaining our children’s health to guarantee their well-being and chances of success in this world. But, when we think about taking care of their oral health, we usually do it to fix a current problem such as a cavity or to achieve a perfect smile as we mostly view our dental care as an esthetic issue, meaning that we avoid going to the dentist’s office unless we have reached a situation that brings us either pain or messes up our image.
And though having a beautiful smile can have a wonderful effect on boosting our self-esteem, helping maintain our emotional well-being by increasing our self-confidence, and helping us create stronger connections with the people in our lives, we often forget how our dental health can impact our overall health.
Cavities and Tooth decay
While cavities tend to be the most common issue in children in America, when they are not treated correctly and in due time, the cavities can transform into tooth decay which not only affects a child’s physical appearance and speech, causing shyness or limitations in their social interactions but can also cause infections, that brings along significant pain. Having a mouth infection can bring issues in your child’s mood, mental well-being, capacity to sleep, and learning abilities. And in some cases, tooth loss has also been related to both weight loss and obesity as a person gets older.
Doctors are also noticing a connection between a lack of good oral health practices with suffering heart conditions since mouth infections can cause inflammation in the heart and its valves. Meaning, having inflammation due to tooth loss or gum disease can translate into Endocarditis and Cardiovascular disease.
Maintaining health in Pandemic times
We are aware of how our lives have changed and continue to change in pandemic times, which has led many of us to take a lot more precautions around any type of respiratory conditions that could endanger our little ones’ bodies and immune systems to get sick.
A good dental practice is an easy way of prevention since oral bacteria have also been linked with causing Pneumonia by passing the bacteria from the mouth to the lungs, which can either cause the condition or worsen it.
Diet and the pleasure of taste
Nutrition is a big part of this too. When we suffer from oral pain, our capacity to enjoy our diet is compromised, and so is our digestive system. If we can’t chew our food properly we may experience stomach aches, a lower capacity to process the nutrients we consume, intestine failure, irritable bowel syndrome, or many other digestive issues.
And, if we live in constant pain, we decide to opt for foods that are easier to chew instead of what they give us in dietary value or even in enjoyment; the quality of nourishment and pleasure our bodies receive goes down the drain when avoiding discomfort becomes the priority.
Cancer, eating disorders, immune system disorders, pregnancy complications, and low weight at birth are also side effects of complications due to poor oral care.
Prevention is the key
Although fixing a cavity can seem as easy as making an appointment in your dental office, the price to pay for the pain and all the side effects the condition can cause in your daily life simply doesn’t make sense if they are avoidable.
Living with pain or even an emergency visit to the dentist can signify missing school which also leads to poorer school performance. So, when we talk about oral health we are indeed talking about the increase or decrease in the quality of life of your family. And while in the past few paragraphs, we’ve explored the infinite ways in which dental health can influence our general health and your children’s, our focus is to showcase how it can also help us prevent many of these cases.
By teaching and implementing good oral hygiene practices into our daily lives, as well as our kids’ lives, we can create a positive change in our overall health.
A good dental health practice
Some of the ways you can do this are:
-Teach your kids how to brush their teeth for at least two minutes after every meal.
-Don’t forget brushing their tongues is part of brushing their teeth.
-Make sure to get a new toothbrush every three months.
-Use dental floss every night before bed.
-Introduce water as your child’s main hydrating beverage.
-Include Vitamins A and C in your kid’s diet helps prevent gum disease.
-Avoid sugary foods, especially between meals. Candy is best consumed after meals, not as snacks.
-Schedule periodic check-ups at your dentist’s office. Twice a year seems to be an appropriate minimum.
-Apply Dental sealants to your kids as a prevention measure. They are shown to avoid cavities in 80% of the cases in the first two years after applying.
-Be aware of bad breath, bleeding, or discomfort of your child in case of needing dental care outside of the periodic check-ups.
Make it fun
And remember that the best way to teach your kids about incorporating new practices in their lives is not by telling them to, but by showing them your example. You can make your dental health time a fun way to share family time with games, songs or simply spending time together.
When you make dental care a fun thing to do, and you choose to work with professionals in pediatric dentistry that are committed to making their space and practice an enjoyable experience for your kids, you don’t have to worry about them being afraid or refusing to go to their check-ups. To learn more, check out our previous article on the importance of re-care appointments.
When you have a child that uses braces, finding brace-friendly meals and snacks can be challenging. The first few weeks or months can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to feed them or how to cater to their needs. The good news is that when your child gets new braces, the first week of orthodontic therapy is actually the worst for your child’s teeth. Your child’s mouth will have sore teeth, just like yours would after you receive dental work. But it’s just temporary, so here are some suggestions on meals and snacks you can give your child that they can enjoy with their braces on! We are also including some easy school lunch ideas you can try out for your little one.
Dos and Don’ts
Before we dive into the snack and meal ideas, it’s important to go over the basic dos and don’ts of foods for kids with braces. When your toddler or teen wears braces, they can still consume most of their favorite foods. However, their teeth could be a little sensitive after getting their braces put on and during subsequent adjustments. Up until the soreness goes away, it can be good to instruct them to avoid chewing on hard foods and to stick to soft foods, cold foods, and beverages.
It’s actually less about what to eat with braces and more about how to eat with braces when your child is ready to resume their regular diet. Food should be chopped or broken into bite-sized pieces for them to chew using their back teeth. They shouldn’t use their front teeth to tear at or bite into food.
Certain foods should be avoided when wearing braces, especially anything extremely tough, chewy, or sticky. When you have brackets and wires in your mouth, many of these foods are not only difficult to chew, but they can also harm your braces and necessitate a repair appointment.
Sticky foods to avoid when wearing braces:
Caramels
Starburst
Taffy
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Gum that contains sugar
Hard foods to avoid when wearing braces:
Popcorn (the unpopped kernels can damage braces)
Nuts
Hard taco shells
Pizza crust
Hard rolls
Hard candy
Corn chips
Ice
Chewy foods to avoid when wearing braces:
Very chewy bagels
Beef jerky
Licorice
Foods that require biting into:
Whole, raw apples and carrots (cut them into small, thin slices)
Corn on the cob (take it off the cob)
Meat on the bone (take it off the bone)
Healthy Snacks for Kids with Braces
The following is a list of brace-friendly snacks that you can grab from any grocery store at pretty much any time of the year:
Dairy products like cottage cheese, string cheese and soft cheese triangles
Whole apples (hard fruits and whole fruit should be cut into small pieces)
Soft fruits like bananas, watermelon, berries or citrus fruits are great healthy snacks to get vitamin C into your child’s diet
A sweet treat every now and then like ice cream or soft cookies is ok to satisfy that sweet tooth
Crackers or potato chips (cut them into small bite-sized pieces)
Jello cups
Easy & Brace-Friendly School Lunch Ideas
Foods high in protein are an excellent way to keep your kid full all day. Excellent choices include:
Hard-boiled eggs, thinly sliced cucumber with dressing, and a muffin
Tuna
Deli meats
Egg or chicken salad sandwich on soft sandwich bread and a clementine
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, sliced strawberries and a pudding cup
Pita bread with hummus, edamame and diced peaches
Turkey and cheese pinwheels (turkey cold cuts and cheese slices on a soft tortilla shell, rolled up and sliced into rounds), cherry tomatoes and veggie crisps
Marinated and baked strips of tofu, soft baked potato or wedges, and blueberries
Burrito bowl (beans, rice, shredded meat or tofu, salsa and avocado)
Pancakes with a nut butter of your choice, fresh berries and some yoghurt
Quinoa or couscous mixed with leftover roasted veggies and balsamic dressing, string cheese and a Jello cup
Veggie burger on a soft roll with sweet potato fries (or a bag of soft chips)
Cheese quesadilla with guacamole and/or salsa, and a banana
Whole wheat crackers (like Ritz), cottage cheese, and a fruit cup
Oatmeal and cubes of watermelon
Pasta salad, grapes, and a soft cookie
Pasta with meatballs and some snap peas
Greek yogurt, berries, and their favorite cereal
Salad made of sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, a soft bun, and applesauce
Bean and cheese burrito with some leftover veggies
Mashed chickpea salad (mash chickpeas with a fork and mix in some mayo, sliced grapes, and thinly shredded carrots), soft pita slices, and a fruit cup
Peanut butter and banana pinwheels (slices of banana and peanut butter on a soft tortilla shell, rolled up and sliced into rounds, steamed peas and carrots, and a yogurt cup
It’s also critical to maintain your child’s oral health, so you’ll want to ensure that any food particles in their teeth are removed after eating. If your child has crunchy snacks, hard candies, etc., they run the risk of breaking their brackets or injuring their braces, so it’s best to avoid these things. Sending your child to school with a toothbrush and toothpaste is a great way for them to keep their braces and mouth clean after lunch or snacks during school hours. Also, having plenty of water by their side is a great way to make sure they are staying hydrated (drinking water also rinses their mouths of food particles after they eat, so this is important). Steer clear of drinks that are high in sugar, like sports drinks, soda, and many fruit juices. You can add a few drops of lemon juice to their water bottle to keep them feeling hydrated and refreshed throughout the day.
We are here to take care of your child’s every dental need, so please call us at 801-948-8880 to book a consultation for your child today!
With a new year and new objectives on the horizon, it’s critical to ensure that your dental health is one of the top concerns on your list. Your dental benefits will have been renewed in January, so you can begin using your dental insurance! Whether you are taking routine care of your teeth or considering a larger surgery such as braces, your dental insurance will assist you in achieving these goals. Make 2023 the year of your best smile!
What’s Covered?
One significant advantage of the majority of dental insurance plans is that procedures such as dental cleanings, X-rays, oral exams, and fluoride treatments are entirely covered without the need to meet a deductible. This means you can begin caring for your teeth whenever you choose. Perhaps you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, so the start of a new year is an ideal opportunity for a basic dental checkup and cleaning.
A ‘basic procedure’ is the second sort of dental procedure. During a dental checkup, you may discover that you have a cavity that needs to be filled or that you require tooth extraction. When these types of cases occasionally happen, most insurance policies will cover 70 to 80 percent after reaching your deductible. Coinsurance and copays will also influence how much you pay out of pocket.
If you have a deductible to meet, going to the dentist for more routine maintenance will help you meet that deductible, allowing your insurance to cover any big procedures you may need. Furthermore, your dental coverage may be beneficial in the long run. If you didn’t have dental insurance and didn’t receive regular oral checkups, you might discover later that you have a few cavities that will take a few months and a lot of money to fix all at once. It’s critical to understand that most dental insurance policies cover you for a maximum of $1,000 – $2,000. So you could have a variety of procedures performed until your limit is met.
Most dental insurance policies or health insurance plans will allow you to add on orthodontic insurance to cover these costs and make corrective treatments more reasonable for you and your family in order to receive coverage for orthodontic treatment such as braces and other corrective solutions. If you are thinking about getting braces for your child or yourself, talk to your family or local orthodontists about different insurance options and what they recommend for your life and goals.
Consider Opening an FSA or HSA to Save Money on Taxes While Also Receiving Necessary Dental Care
Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts (FSAs and HSAs) allow you to deposit a specific amount of pre-tax money for use on medical expenses, including dental, during the calendar year.
FSAs are sponsored by employers and can only be utilized once per year, whereas HSAs can be started by an individual, and the amount rolls over to the next year. You can determine which account is appropriate for you.
Regardless of the plan you choose, the ability to spend pre-tax money on dental treatment can help you compound your savings if you also optimize your health insurance advantages!
Get Your Dental Work Done in One Year to Meet Your Deductible!
If your dental plan has a deductible, you are liable for all treatment costs until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum. This is usually around $50 for an individual and $150 for a family. This means that if you require dental work, you should schedule it all at once.
Once you’ve met your deductible, it’s up to your dental insurer to pay for your dental care until you reach your yearly maximum. If you combine numerous procedures such as fillings, crowns, or dentures, you may ensure that you use the full amount of your advantages within a given year!
Fit Your Appointments Into Your Schedule
January is the most convenient month to schedule a dental checkup. Why? One of the slowest times of the year for dental offices is the few weeks following the holidays. Because your dentist is seeing fewer patients, you have more flexibility in scheduling appointments. You’ll also have extra one-on-one time with your dentist to ask him or her questions.
Catch Dental Problems Early
Keeping your smile healthy is mainly a matter of prevention. Cavities do not normally hurt in the early stages, but your dentist can identify them during your visit. You’ll be able to get them treated before they ruin your day with a toothache. Furthermore, you may save money by treating cavities with fillings rather than waiting for the condition to worsen and require a more expensive procedure such as a root canal.
Start the New Year With a Fresh, Bright Smile!
You’re not alone if you’re self-conscious about your teeth. According to studies, four out of every five adults dislike their smiles. Your dentist is here to help! Cosmetic procedures, in addition to cleanings, can help you achieve your ideal smile. Whether your teeth are discolored, damaged, gapped, or misaligned, your dentist may help you feel more confident in 2023.
We care deeply about your oral health and will do everything in our power to help you keep a healthy, beautiful, and confident smile. Getting a dental checkup as soon as possible in the new year allows you plenty of time to set smile goals for the next 12 months. Our dentists also love working with children and helping to keep their oral health in tip top shape, so book an appointment with us for your child today! Make 2023 the year you and your loved ones finally get the dazzling, brilliant smiles you all deserve!
Contact us at 808-948-8880 to schedule your professional cleanings or treatments. We hope to see you in the new year!
You cuddle up with your child, and as they open their mouth, you discover their breath isn’t so fresh. You’re not the only parent dealing with it, whether this is the first time you’ve noticed your child has foul breath or it has been an issue for some time. In fact, 37.6% of the children who took part in a 2014 study that was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene experienced halitosis (bad breath).
Let’s dive into the various reasons why this could be happening to your child, and what you can do about it.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Consider whether your child has regularly practiced proper oral hygiene up to this point, even though you might be brushing their teeth frequently because they have bad breath. Although it’s always a good idea to start brushing and flossing regularly, if your child already has plaque or tartar accumulation in their mouth from previous bad brushing practices, the damage may have already been done.
Scaling and root planing are procedures used by dentists to eliminate plaque and tartar. Brushing your teeth will not help you get rid of it. Food particles lodged between the teeth can harbor bacteria that cause cavities and tooth decay if not removed. Don’t forget to brush your tongue as well. Bacteria that cause odor connect to skin cells on the back of the tongue.
Food caught between the teeth can cause bad breath, but so can plaque and dental infections. Bad breath and decay can also be indicators of gum disease, so it’s crucial to get your child’s mouth checked by a dentist to see if more serious action is required.
Stinky Foods
Foods with strong odors are a primary cause of halitosis in children. The digestive process begins with the first bite, so garlic, cheese, onions, and other pungent foods begin to break down in the mouth first. resulting in a foul odor. Making matters worse, both garlic and onions contain sulfur compounds that remain in the mouth for hours before being absorbed into the circulation and released when your child exhales. Fortunately, this sort of halitosis is brief and does not signal a problem with your child’s oral health. Unfortunately, brushing will not entirely eliminate bad breath produced by sulfur-producing meals in a child, and you will have to wait it out.
Morning Breath
Morning breath is not only a common source of bad breath in teenagers and adults; it may also cause bad breath in infants and toddlers. This is because everyone, regardless of age or number of teeth, has odor-causing bacteria in their mouth. Because saliva production slows down during sleep, this bacterium is not rinsed away. When children wake up, their breath smells. Morning breath will go as soon as your child brushes their teeth and their saliva flow resumes.
Dental Issues Such as Infections, Cavities, or Loosened Restorations
If your child develops dental decay (a cavity), it implies the tooth is decaying, which doesn’t smell very good. Food is also more prone to become stuck in the broken portion of the tooth, worsening children’s bad breath. Because it is an infection, abscessed teeth and mouth sores can both create intense bad breath in children. If your child has a loose or cracked dental crown or filling, bacteria will build beneath the treatment, resulting in halitosis.
Dry Mouth
Xerostomia, or dry mouth, creates foul breath in children in the same manner as morning breath does. Because not enough saliva is generated, bacteria and food particles are not rinsed away, and the mouth begins to stink. While morning breath fades quickly, dry mouth can persist when caused by a medical condition or medication. If dry mouth is caused by dehydration, having your child drink extra water is a simple foul breath treatment.
Gum Disease
Gum disease can affect children as well. The bacteria and toxins in plaque can cause the gums to become inflamed and infected if soft plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) build up around and under the gum line and in between the teeth (gingivitis). Infection never smells nice, which is why recurring foul breath is a hallmark of gum disease in children.
Breathing Through the Mouth
Mouth breathing promotes foul breath in toddlers and children because it produces dry mouth, which is related with stinky breath, as we’ve discovered. If your child is breathing through their mouth due to a congested nose, the halitosis should be temporary and will disappear after the congestion has dissipated. Mouth breathing in youngsters can also be a habit that causes not just foul breath but also orthodontic concerns that must be addressed. If found early, it can be reversed, so if you suspect your child’s bad breath is caused by persistent mouth breathing, have it tested.
Sinus Infection
In babies, toddlers, and people of all ages, sinus infections can produce bad breath. Mucus frequently drips down the back of the neck and settles on the tongue. When bacteria feed on the gunk, they emit foul-smelling gases.
Big Tonsils
If your child’s tonsils have deep pits or are prominent, oral and nasal secretions, food debris, and bacteria can become stuck. Tonsil stones (tonsilloliths) may also form in the pits and emit a foul odor when they decompose.
Other Health Conditions
Diabetes, thrush, infections (including the sinus infection mentioned above), gastroesophageal reflux, and, in rare cases, liver or kidney disorders can all cause foul breath in children. Bad breath in babies and children does not necessarily indicate that something is wrong with your child, but if the dentist has ruled out other causes of halitosis, it wouldn’t hurt to see your pediatrician.
Give us a call today at 801-948-8880 and book an appointment for your child. Our offices are child-friendly and our dentists are dedicated to your child’s oral health, so you know they are getting the best service and treatment they deserve. We hope to see you soon!
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