3 Suggestions to Make Your Child's First Cavity Filling a Pain-Free Experience
With almost 35% of Australian parents reporting that their child only brushes once a day, it's no wonder why tooth decay has become a major concern within the country. If your child has not been diligent in maintaining their dental health, you're likely going to have to take them in for a cavity filling once in their lifetime. Getting cavities filled can be a very stressful and scary experience – especially with the scary dental equipment that is used. You want to make the experience as pain-free as possible for your child so that they don't end up avoiding the dentist in the future. Here are 3 suggestions you should keep in mind.
Switch to a Desensitizing Toothpaste Weeks Prior
Switch to a desensitizing toothpaste containing potassium nitrate 2 to 4 weeks before the dental appointment in order to help numb your child's gums and teeth. The potassium ions will depolarize the nerve endings that are exposed in the pores of dentin. This will prevent the nerves from sending pain signals out and reduce overall sensitivity. Your child will feel less pain and discomfort during the procedure.
Give Them Ibuprofen to Reduce Inflammation
After the cavity has been filled, the gums surrounding the affected tooth will be inflamed. Sometimes, it is not the procedure itself that is causing the pain and discomfort, but the inflammation. Keep inflammation to a minimal by giving your child ibuprofen before the dental appointment. Ibuprofen will help reduce pain and inflammation.
Request for Topical Sedatives As Well to Numb the Pain of Injected Sedatives
To numb the area that is being worked on, most dentists recommend injecting a sedative directly into the gums. While this is effective, the pain from the injection can scare off many children. To prevent this from happening, request the dentist to apply a topical sedative on the gums before the injection. This way, your child won't feel the injection. They may not even notice it if they are distracted.
Conclusion
Most children tend to shy away from dental appointments, as they find sitting in the dental chair to be scary. In addition, many dental procedures can be rather painful or uncomfortable. Filling a cavity is a big moment for them. You should definitely put in the effort to try to make the experience as pain-free as possible, so that your child won't feel scared of the dentist or try to avoid going to their dental appointments in the future.
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