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Dental phobia, also known as odontophobia, is a serious condition that refers to the fear of dentists. There are many reasons why a child may be afraid of the dentist. It could be fear of the dentist, which may or may not have originated after a negative experience in a specific dental office. However, much like how “white coat syndrome” occurs with adults, dental phobia can exist in children even if they have not had a negative experience with another dentist. Children may also be worried about pain or about needles if they’ve previously had dental work. The sensation of tools inside your child’s mouth may also be a trigger for them, as well as the bright lights, smells and sounds.
This type of sedation is a stronger option than nitrous oxide. This medication is administered orally and allows your child to relax fully during the dental procedure. Your child does remain conscious but may fall asleep due to the sedating effects. There are some lingering effects after administration, so your child may experience grogginess after your visit.
Sedation can prevent psychological trauma, especially in children who have dental phobia. Without sedation, visits to the dentist may worsen an already several dental phobia, which could affect your child’s overall health.
