General Anesthetic for 6yr old dental work, advice please?

lindseykim13

First up not strictly moneysaving or if even in the right place but pulling my hair out here!
Long story short- DS (6) complained of tooth ache before xmas, dentist refused to take it out and refered him to the hospital as he said he needed too much work done. We kept insisting that we weren't happy with a GA for dental work and he'd like the said tooth taken out. He went back 3 more time since and each time they refused to take it out.
Finally got an apointment with the hospital and they have said he needs 8!!! teeth taken out under GA.

One very unhappy mummy and although repeatedly asking for alternitives none have been offered. So basically feeling pushed into the GA which has been booked for the end of the month.

I'm really hoping for some advice from anyone who has had a similar situation with their child. Anyone who has found an alternitive? They have said the only reason they are doing it under GA is it would be kinder for him. However i'm not convinced as he doesn't want to 'go to sleep' nor am i happy to take the risk of a GA as he's never had one before either. I really don't know what to do for the best.

He only ever complained about 1 tooth and i think (but i'm no dentist) i would be happier for him to have them out 1 at a time as and when they start bothering him.

Gingham_Ribbon

It's against site rules to give medical advice. The staff at the dental hospital are the best people to ask.

McKneff

Please be guided by the staf at the dental hospital.

Im an adult and had all my top teeth out last year, all at once. No way would I have wanted to go 8/10 times.

Be positive about it when yu talk to him about it, hope he will be okay.

hitatotatus

Hi.
As far as I am aware dentist can no longer extract teeth in the dental surgery as a result some years ago of a child dying during the procedure because of the anasthetic and they do not have the backup required to deal with any complications. Therefore, extractions are referred to hospitals nowadays.

I can give you a little advice based on my experience with my son (aged 7 at the time). He has had a GA twice for dental work, once for a broken front tooth which had died and turned black! and then again for decay on three teeth. I was absolutely mortified when I found out he had to have GA for decay reasons and also terrified of the procedure, however, all went really smoothly.
He went in for the whole day and was in a group with about 15 other children. There are plenty of things to keep them amused from art, toys and PS2's and the support staff were great.
When they took him in, he had a small needle in his hand which put him to sleep in a couple of seconds. I then had to leave the room and wait back in the ward until him came back - about 15/20 mins from what I remember.
My son came round really giggly and a bit high and what with all the games and attention, he found it quiet a positive experience:eek:! Some of this kids were grizzly, but I suppose this is to be expected.

HTH.

mancitychick

Try posting on the health board, there is some dentists that post on there that seem to give sound advice.

I have to say I find it shocking that a child, especially a child of 6 has to have amy teeth let alone 6 teeth out. Unless of course they have been in an accident. Did you not look after there teeth or take them to the dentist every 6 months?

brook2jack

This is a really common problem with young children with lots of decayed teeth. These teeth are supposed to last until they are 11 or 12 and there is a difficult balance between sorting out their diseased teeth and not creating a dental phobic child who will continue in the same pattern for years to come.

Taking teeth out with a local anaesthetic requires alot of cooperation from a child particularly if it is an injection right at the back of the mouth. You cannot "force " the child as it is too dangerous with sharp instruments in a very small space. I have taken out teeth in children this age and younger but only when there has been one tooth affected and so they only have to be persuaded once. Repeated extractions when often the child is in pain with an abcess is a great way to give a child a dental phobia that will last for life.

Where there are many decayed teeth you are faced with the prospect of a poor child coming in many times with toothache and each time needing yet another tooth out. This is the ideal situation to make a child terrified.

If you are giving a child ga you take all the dodgy teeth out in one go so the child is not subjected to a ga again. Many of us prefer this approach in a young child where it is very unlikely that the baby teeth will survive to their teens. (baby teeth nerves are very large and baby teeth abcess really easily).

The difficulty is that parents will feel very upset and guilty that things have got to this stage so young. Take it is a positive... all the teeth that may very well cause problems are out and you and your child have a clean slate to change their diet and cleaning patterns so all visits to the dentist in future will be positive ones.

Kaz2904

My DD has had a tooth extracted at the dentist. She didn't have any sedation though. There's *very little* risk from an extraction, the risk comes from the sedation. That's why it's done at a hospital.
It probably would be kinder to your son to have his teeth out under GA, if he ends up scared of dentists forever at 6, that's not good for him. Our dentist was going to refer DD to the dental hospital if she messed around again as it was so stressful for all of us getting anything done.

littlepinky84

My son had GA nearly 2 weeks ago for dental, went in to the day surgry at 8.45am, and we were home for lunch. I was petrified but he was fine and there was plenty to keep him busy while waiting for his turn, Then he went i held his hand and after 30 mins or so he was done and awake,

I wasn't offered any alternatives, speak to the dental staff at the hospital, when your ds goes for his pre op assessment

mancitychick

hitatotatus wrote: »

Hi.
As far as I am aware dentist can no longer extract teeth in the dental surgery as a result some years ago of a child dying during the procedure and they do not have the backup required to deal with any complications. Therefore, extractions are all referred to hospitals nowadays.

HTH.

Dentists can remove teeth on a child, they can only do it under local anesthetic though. The child would be referred to the hospital if they needed the tooth removed under general anesthetic.

mrcow

hitatotatus wrote: »

As far as I am aware dentist can no longer extract teeth in the dental surgery as a result some years ago of a child dying during the procedure and they do not have the backup required to deal with any complications. Therefore, extractions are all referred to hospitals nowadays.

That is not true at all.

Where are you getting this information from?

Nicki

My DD had her two front teeth removed under GA at the age of 3 after she fell and pushed one of them up into her gum. It was quick and apparently painless, and she recovered really well from the GA. They only need to give a very light amount for something like this as it's not like they are doing major surgery.

No parent likes to see their child going under, but for 8 teeth, I suspect the dentists are right that this is the least distressing option for your child.