Sedation for 8 year old

MimiF

Hi,

My DS is at the dentists on Saturday for 3 fillings. He will be sedated and we have been told not to feed him for 14 hours beforehand so I assume it will be a general anaesthetic.

I am a little nervous about the whole experience and do not in any way want to pass this on to him. It would help ease the nerves somewhat if I knew what to expect.

Has anyone had a little one go through this (he is 8), what can I expect?

Many thanks

MimiF

wigginsmum

It is usual to sedate children for fillings nowadays? We just had painkilling injections when we were younger.

*zippy*

Both of mine have been and had this done. Hubby took them both so I didn't get emotional around them I waited at home, they had to rest afterwards, I think it was about 24 hours, so they had the following day off school, but both were fine. We curled up on the sofa and watched TV when they got back and the next day they were back to normal. Hubby said staff were lovely as they are used to dealing with children.

MimiF

Hi Wiginsmum,

I was offered the choice and as he is a sensitive lad and in the past, for blood tests it has taken 3 nurses, 1 doctor and me to hold him down we felt sedation was best. He still talks about that now and that was 3 years ago!

Our dental nurse is also a family friend and she was there when it was discussed and felt it was best for him.

MimiF

itsmylife_2

As a children's nurse who is used to children going under GA, 14 hours fasting is much longer than is needed!

As for sedating children for dental proceedures, its usually a pretty quick in and out, unless they need some extensive work... I would ring and ask the dentist what the intention is, if he is having a general anaesthetic (though I would expect he would be going to hospital for this then as a GA would require an paediatric anaethetist), or if not what the sedation proceedure is... being informed about what is going to happen helps make you less anxious so try giving them a wee call to put your mind at rest! We often let children who are going to theatre come up to the ward a few days before to let them see around and to explain what is going to happen, makes a huge difference to anxiety levels!

inkie

I would not let my child have a dental chair anaesthetic - GAs need to be done in a suitable environment with a paed. anaesthetist present, and resuscitation equipment to hand (not wishing to frighten you - but this is a requirement for any GA). I was of the belief that all dental chair anaesthetics for children were now done in hospital - they are in our Health Authority, hence the theatre lists being full of kids having simple dental extractions.

MimiF

Hi Itsmylife,

Thank god 14 hours is too long, although had a blood test earlier this week think I had to fast for 14 hours maybe I'm confused, wouldn't be the first time!! He eats more than an adult and depriving him for so long would have been very hard!!! :rotfl:

MimiF

itsmylife_2

Inkie, totally agree, here is Northern Ireland all dental GA work is now done in the hospital day proceedure units. I'm not sure if it is the same throughout the UK...

itsmylife_2

Mimi, we only fast kids for 6 hours for food and 2 hours for clear fluids - please check this out for your son!! Sounds like a typical boy lol The reason they cut down fasting times was that younger children were becoming dehydrated in that time.

Wirenth

When I went in for my op, I was told not to have anything to eat after 8pm at night. My op was at half seven the next morning. Although I am an adult, this is clearly more than 6 hours fasting.

MimiF, please recheck the fasting time with the hospital/dentist before you decide what time to feed your child for the last time. Don't guess, because the consequences can be severe.

MimiF

Hi Inkie & Itsmylife,

Just called them so thanks for that suggestion, it's not done at our dentists but a special centre where the dentist, an anaesthatist, a dental nurse and a recovery nurse wil be present. It is conscious sedation, safer than a GA apparently and we can stay until he is relaxed. They have all the resuss equipment so I feel a little comforted and at least I know what to expect whilst there.

Thank you.

MimiF