Getting a child to go to the dentist is like trying to pull a tooth from an angry tiger; it just seems impossible.
(prHWY.com) May 4, 2012 - Seattle, WA -- Getting a child to go to the dentist is like trying to pull a tooth from an angry tiger; it just seems impossible. A pediatric dentist based out of Orlando, Florida may have come up with the solution to make a child's experience at a dentist's office something that isn't so frightening.
"I have worked with children for over 30 years", said pediatric dentist, Dr. Willows. "Most of the children I come across are scared of the dentist and would rather be out playing with their toys or friends. That can really make my job difficult."
Dr. Willows specializes in sedation dentistry for children.
Sedation dentistry allows the child to feel calm and relaxed, which gives the dentist the opportunity to perform the dental procedures he or she needs to on the child.
"The problem with sedation dentistry is that many children don't like the strange after taste the gas can leave in the mouth", explained Dr. Willows. "What I came up with is a way to slightly flavor the sedation gas that I use, so children don't have to go through that nasty aftertaste."
Dr. Willows has created a sedation gas that can taste like a variety of flavors. Many sedation dentists have tried this technique in the past, but each time when the flavor was added to the gas it caused it to not work as well. Dr. Willows' method allows dentists to flavor the gas without decreasing the power of the sedation.
"It was a toss-up between giving children what they wanted and making my job a little easier", explains Dr. Willows. "I eventually decided to combine the two, and this is what I came up with."
Children who visit Dr. Willows' office have the opportunity to choose from a variety of popular flavors. Flavors include cherry, grape, bubble gum, strawberry, and mint.
"The most popular flavor is as you'd guess bubble gum", said dental hygienist Tristan Hughes. "The kids just love it."
Dr. Willows' dental practice has seen a 30% increase in patients since the invention of this flavored sedation gas. Local parents think very highly of the services provided.
"I always worried about my child's oral hygiene, but I couldn't get him to go to the dentist", said Sally Ruggers, mother of 3-year-old Jackie. "Now he looks forward to the visit because he gets to try a new flavor, and I can look forward to the visit because I know his oral health is being taken care of in the way it should."
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