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W hile visiting a dental clinic can be a source of minor anxiety for adult pa- tients, for children the trip can be out- right frightening. Some pediatric den- tists give out candy to try and ease their young patients’ nerves, but this obviously can’t become a habit, as candy induces tooth decay. I’d like to share some of my professional expertise on getting the best out of your child’s behavior at their upcoming dental check- ups. helping children get the best care First, try using a calm yet stern manner in explaining the necessity of dental care. Tell them about the pro- cedure, let them touch the equipment and point out other well-behaved chil- dren in the dentist’s office. Turning on a cartoon may also help. Children who are over age 3 can communicate with the staff, so allowing the hygien - ist to speak to the child (in a similarly relaxing but direct tone) is also effec - tive. Of course, if the child behaves well, giving compliments and balloons is a must. A second option for children in ex- treme duress is having a parent or staff member help hold them in place. This is usually done while assuring the child that everything will be fine and that the procedure will be over soon, but because the restraint is usually done against their will, there is concern that it might lead to injury or mental trauma. As a result, this should be used as a last resort. A third possibility worth considering is sedation, namely, the use of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or an oral supple - ment (pocral syrup, midazolam, etc.). Though only turned to under extreme circumstances, these options have the dual benefit of both improving efficiency and preventing the children from having bad memories of the procedure. Sedation can be induced either lightly or in stronger dos - es, depending on the circumstances. Finally, general anesthesia may be used. Though this option might look scary, the procedure is both safe and efficient: The child will have no memory of the event, the needles or the sounds — nothing. This is especially help- ful for children who will be receiving invasive treatment or multiple proce- dures. The safest way, however, is to undergo the procedure without sed- atives, but if this is going to be too harsh on the child, we have to move on to sedation or general anesthesia. If carried out with care and precau- tion, these methods are not a risk to the patient’s safety. sedation: is it really safe? The substances used for sedative treatments are known to be very safe when administered by professionals in a clinical setting. It should be noted that children with conditions such as allergic rhinitis, tonsillitis, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or even a run - ny nose should avoid sedative treatments. In addition, the child should not eat or drink anything six hours prior to sedation, as many sedatives have the potential to cause vomiting. Sedative treatment is a double-edged sword; it adds to the convenience of modern medicine, but accidents can happen if it is carried out incorrectly. Like many medical procedures, sedative treatment is a helpful tool if the best practice guidelines are followed accordingly. Dental practices for children soothing a child’s nerves during dental procedures For more information or reservations, call Ms. Kelly Soe, the English coordinator at Yonsei University Dental Hospital. +82 2 2228 8998 +82 2 363 0396 idc@yuhs.ac 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul www.yuhs.or.kr/ en/hospitals/dent_ hospital/Conserv_ dentist/Intro COLuMN • yONSEi uNiVERSiTy DENTAl hOSPiTAl JE SEON SONG, DDS, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry Yonsei University College of Dentistry