General Treatment: Our practice can provide a wide range of dental services for your children. Our flexibility in our services saves you time and keeps your total dental care within one practice. Our emphasis is on total preventive care for our patients. Total care begins with regular hygiene visits, regular checkups and continued home oral health routines. We provide many preventative measures to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy, including sealants and fluoride treatments. We also educate the parents in early detection of some common problems children may face, including thumb sucking, bruxism and baby bottle tooth decay. Our primary goal for your children’s dental development is to achieve and maintain optimum oral health through advances in techniques, technologies and by maintaining their scheduled dental exams.
Sedation Dentistry: Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. Sedation is most commonly used during extensive procedures, for patients with dental phobia or for patients who find it difficult to sit still. There are two different types of sedation: IVGA (Intravenous General Anesthesia) sedation and oral sedation. Here at Children’s Dental Care we only offer IV sedation. IV Sedation services are administered and monitored by Mark A. Saxen, D.D.S., PhD. and Kyle Kramer, D.D.S., MS. Dr. Saxen and Dr. Kramer are from Indiana Office Based Anesthesia, located in Indianapolis. Dr. Saxen & Dr. Kramer visit the Batesville location weekly. More information on Dr. Saxen & Dr. Kramer and their services can be found on the link below. IVGA refers to the use of medication through an IV to put patients to sleep. In very young patients with dental phobia, low pain tolerance, physical handicaps or strong gag reflexes, who require major dental treatment, general anesthesia may be the preferred form of treatment. In older pediatric patients, procedures like fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, extractions, cosmetic procedures and periodontal treatments often can be completed comfortably with local anesthesia and sedation. Sedation is endorsed by the American Dental Association and is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. Before using a sedative or anesthetic, it is important to tell your pediatric dentist about any medications or medical treatments your child is receiving. Before administering any sedative or anesthetic, your pediatric dentist will talk to you about the process of sedation and pre- and post-sedation instructions.
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Nitrous Oxide: More commonly known as “laughing gas”, Nitrous Oxide is often used as an inhalation analgesic during a dental procedure. The gas is administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect, as well as blocking some pain perception, that helps phobic or anxious patients relax during their dental treatment. Because it is a mild sedative, patients are still conscious and can talk to their pediatric dentist during their visit. After treatment, the nitrous oxide is turned off and the patient breaths oxygen for a few minutes to help allow any remaining gas to be exhaled. The effects wear off almost immediately. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects, although some patients may experience minor nausea or vomiting. Your pediatric dentist will provide you with pre- and post-appointment instructions
General Anesthesia Dentistry: General anesthesia dentistry refers to the use of a general anesthetic during dental treatment. A young child with a dental phobia, low pain tolerance, physical handicaps or strong gag reflexes, who requires major dental treatment, may not be able to tolerate the necessary treatment with local anesthesia or even sedation. Some medical conditions may even rule out the use of sedation. These patients may benefit from having all needed treatment done during a single session while under a general anesthetic. This is accomplished most often in a hospital or surgi-center. A complete medical history will be taken by your pediatric dentist and a thorough physical exam will be completed by your pediatrician prior to this treatment, to protect your child’s health and well-being. The guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry list the following indications (reasons) for the use of general anesthesia:
•Patients who are unable to cooperate due to lack of psychological or emotional maturity and/or mental, physical or medical disability;
•Patients for whom local anesthesia is ineffective because of acute infection, anatomic variations or allergy;
•The extremely uncooperative, fearful, anxious or uncommunicative child or adolescent;
•Patients requiring significant surgical procedures;
•Patients for whom the use of deep sedation or general anesthesia may protect the developing psyche and/or reduce medical risks;
•Patients requiring immediate, comprehensive oral/dental care.
If your child requires general anesthesia, your pediatric dentist will discuss pre-surgical and post-surgical issues with you and answer any questions you may have. A frank discussion about the risks, benefits and options will be a part of the planning for your child’s visit to the hospital. General anesthesia facilitates the delivery of quality comprehensive diagnostic, restorative and/or other dental services that would be otherwise unavailable to many patients.
Digital X-Rays: We offer one of the latest technological advances in dentistry with digital radiography (X-rays). A sensor is placed in the mouth, and a computer generates an image in seconds as opposed to the general 4-6 minute wait time for images taken on dental film. These X-rays can also be enhanced on the computer and enlarged.
Not only are they friendly to the environment, they are much safer than traditional X-rays. Digital radiographs reduce radiation.