We just found out that my 3 year old son has a cavity in his front tooth and will need to be sedated to have the work done. Let me first give some background on this....We have a WONDERFUL Pediatric Dentist. She came highly recommended by our Pediatrician and by a few friends. My daughter (who is 5 -almost 6 years old) has absolutely loved going to her since she was 18 months old. She is really great & patient with children, she plays movies for the kids while they are being examined, gives them prizes for good behavior, her waiting room is like a playground - just full of fun things for kids of all ages to play with, etc. My son, however, has never enjoyed going to the dentist. We took him along on several appointments with my daughter, so he could see what the procedure was, and how well my daughter likes her. She has really never done anything more than brush and look at his teeth, but you would think she is torturing him! He kicks and screams and cries the whole time - it is horrible! I have brought him to the office several times just to get him acquainted and let him play. He is fine while we're in the waiting room, but the moment we sit in the dentist's chair, he gets upset and starts the kicking & screaming tantrum. Just to give a bit more background, he is also not crazy about the doctor (but does much better with the doctor than with the dentist), he hates getting his hair cut, he has never really liked brushing his teeth (though we've worked really hard with him & he has gotten much better). He also, in general, has always had issues with his sense of touch - for example, he did not like the feel of grass on his legs for the longest time - I used to have to carry him to the playground, every time we go to the beach he has to get "reacquainted" with sand, he does not like to go barefoot, doesn't like his hair brushed, etc, etc. Lastly, my son was also speech delayed, so he had a hard time expressing his feelings - when he was upset he kicked & screamed and thru a tantrum. He has been in speech therapy for about a year and has just recently learned how to communicate, but still sometimes reverts back to the tantrum like attitude when he is upset.
So...back to this dental procedure. We just had his check up and he has a cavity on his front tooth, plus she has never been able to give him a very good, thorough cleaning. She said she would have to sedate him in order to fill the cavity and then at the same time she could really give him this much needed thorough cleaning. She indicated that in our state, the law is that she would have to do this procedure in a hospital, where they would give him a liquid sedation. The other option would be to refer me to a friend of hers, who works in another state, where they could do an IV sedation, right in the office. I am terrified of either option, but I think would feel more comfortable to at least be in a hospital where if something were to go wrong, there would be a full medical staff equipped to respond. Has anyone ever had either procedure done and what are your thoughts? What are the risks? Have you had any problems since? I know we need to do something, as this can effect his permanent teeth, but I'm just not happy about sedating such a young child. Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
My vote would be the hospital. There are specialists there that are used to working with children.
M.
when my son had hip surgery, he was given a "kiddie cocktail" to sedate him prior to the IV. He has NO memory of any of it.....& he requested "kiddie cocktails" from that point on. Even the bloodwork was done after the cocktail!
At my pediatric dentist, light inhaled sedation via nitrous oxide (they put a mask over the nose) is standard operating procedure for pediatric dental work. Is there any reason that's not available? It's very common, wears off as soon as the mask is taken off and my kids have had it multiple times with no ill effects.
ETA I just googled this and it seems to be common in your state. Unless your doc has a specific reason to not try this first, I would try to see how he does with this process. My oldest was very much like your son and was always fine with nitrous for his many, many fillings. You could try it and if he's still not cooperative enough to let them put the mask on, then schedule something more sedative. Again, my kids have had a lot of dental work done (my youngest had half a tooth taken out and a crown put in when he was four) and this light sedation worked really well for them.
My pediatric dentist shows movies during cleanings. Any chance you could try that? I'd make sedation a last resort. But if you DO go sedation route, definitely opt for the hospital where trained doctors are on hand in case something goes wrong.
hmmmmm.... our pedi dentist here does it in office. there is two options.
to give them laughing gas and then numb the gum and do the procedure... or use a drink that puts them in a very calm place to almost sleeping, but not quite and then do the procedure. I have heard of some kids getting put under for teeth pulling or something major but it is still in the office.
I think my friend decided to put her little girl under at 3 for a cavity and it was not a big deal other then the meds made her throw up after when she woke up.
I have done the laughing gas and twilight drink and it was not been any big deal.
My three year old goes in for his first fillings on the First....I too am a little concerned on what they are gonna do to get him to lay still. He has a Sensory Disorder...So, he can flip out at the drop of a hat if he doesnt understand what is going on around him...
My middle guy had to have 7 plus root canals done when he was three...He was out patient at Childrens for it though. They had to knock him out completely. IV everything. It was harder because he was at the hospital for like 6 hours total. Doing at the Dentist office would have only been about two. Given the amount of work they had to do though it was really the only way to get him to allow them to work.
I am surprised she needs to sedate for one cavity. I am not a dentist though. My son two teeth in the front..one cavity on each..His dentist said the front ones are the hardest to fill. So, that is why they probably want to sedate.
Since I have only had one with major work done and it was in the Hospital I want to say do it there. But given it is just the one tooth and all going to the hospital may be a bit much.
I have no great advice I am finding as i type...I would do a bit more research on it maybe and then talk again with the Dentist to see what her final thoughts on the matter are.
I do remember with the hospital trip, we had to go see his pedi doctor two days before to get him weighed and checked out..So, there are added steps if you do decide to go that route.
.
As long as it's being done by a licensed anesthesiologist, calm down!! I understand how scary that is, but I can't tell you how many times my brothers and I had to be sedated for one reason or another and we're all FINE. Stop googling it; it's only bringing up the negatives, thus upping your 'fear factor'.
I'd rather sedate my child and have that painful cavity fixed than them having permanent dental damage.
Like I said, make sure whoever is putting your child under is licensed and has experience in pediatric sedation, and I hope he feels better!!
Hey mama!
My 3 yr old had to have this done too but it was her whole mouth! I was a blubbering, sobbing mess! I think the nurses were more worried about me than her! I was scared to death and you know what? She was just fine! They gave her the" cocktail" and she was real loopy. Be sure to hold on to him because he wont be able to walk! She went back with the nurse with no problem where the administered a iv thru a pediatric anesthesiologist and got all the work done at once. It took about 25 minutes start to finish and was the best decision we ever made! To this day she still loves her dentist. Just trust them dear. They know what they are doing and will take good care of him.
Yes, do the sedation. It is painless, the parent is the person it is hardest on. Can you imagine what it will be like to him to be partially awake for this. He'll be fighting even though he's in a dreamlike state.
We love our pediatric dentist too. J sat through cleaning at 20 months and just laughed the whole time. The dentist is experienced and knows what he is doing. He puts them to sleep while at the out patient surgery center at 3 different hospitals in my town.
K did very well with hers, she fell and broke her front tooth and got a cap plus some fillings. She woke up from the anesthesia and wanted to go play and eat.
J did okay, he has some different reactions to anesthesia. He wakes up like a screaming banshee. He just wants to be held and comforted until the anesthesia is all out of his system then he is back to normal.
Another thought, you are describing a child with sensory issues. Have your child evaluated for Sensory Integration/Processing Disorder. He sounds like a classic case.
