Dental Sedation For Patients With Autism

Dental care is important for overall good health. However, for children on the spectrum, a routine visit to the dentist can be traumatizing and painful. It can also be difficult for their parents. Since forgoing dental treatment is not an option, sedation dentistry offers a way to safeguard your child and ensure their oral health needs are met.

There Are Sedation Options

General anesthesia is often the first thing people think about when it comes to sedation dentistry. However, it is just one option. Conscious sedation is another option for patients with autism. Conscious sedation involves the use of a gas, such as nitrous oxide, which can make the patient feel calm or happy, or a sedative that can put the patient in a calm or sleepy state. 

These two options will help patients with autism feel more relaxed and comfortable during the duration of the office visit without the use of heavier sedation options, such as general anesthesia.

Safety Is the Top Priority

It is vital that all parents realize safety is of the utmost importance to your child's provider. All the sedation options that a dental provider offers patients are safe. However, the dentist will assess the health and comfort of your child, as well as the type of treatment that is being performed, before determining which option is appropriate. 

Take general anesthesia, for example. If the procedure is too short or there are medications or other health concerns that could interact with the anesthesia, the provider will not administer this sedation option. Rest assured that your child's overall safety will be evaluated. 

Patient Providers

As a parent of a child with autism, their comfort is your top concern. As such, many providers and other oral healthcare professionals who work in offices that provide sedation dentistry also believe in taking their time with each patient.

If this process involves sitting down with your child and discussing how the sedation will be performed and ensuring their overall comfort, then the staff will do just that. Even if this goal involves you and your child visiting the dental office before the day of treatment, all the providers in the office will exercise patience. 

If you have concerns about your child's visit to the dentist, it is always important to ask questions. Whether it is sedation options or another concern, a provider will be more than happy to help. For more information, contact a clinic that offers sedation dentistry.