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Does My Child Have to Have a Shot to Get Dental Work?

Salt Lake City dentist Dr. Thomas Brickey of Natural Smiles Dentistry discusses dental pain relief options for children who have a hard time with needles and getting shots. No one of any age gets shots in their mouth for fun, and fear of needles (trypanophobia) is a documented condition. Children may fear shots because they seem so unfamiliar, with a fear of potential pain. Does your child have to have a shot to get dental work? It will depend on the procedure being done, and what Dr. Thomas Brickey of Natural Smiles Dentistry advises.

Pain relief methods that do not require a shot include:

Topical anesthetic alone numbs the gums enough for most children to tolerate dental work.

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can relax a child but isn’t appropriate for all kids.

Oral sedation may be effective pain relief for young children receiving extensive care.
Laser therapies can eliminate the need for shots.

Some other ways to calm a child who fears shots:

Demonstrate a small pinch on their arm to show how a shot could feel, substituting words like “sleepy juice” and “tickling your teeth” that seem less scary. Don’t lie about pain— but avoid horror stories!
Have the child meet the dentist at a separate appointment where no dental work is being done so they can meet the staff, ask questions, and get more comfortable with our office at Natural Smiles Dentistry.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’re happy to help! Get in touch with Natural Smiles Dentistry today.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example: billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

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