DD has to have oral surgery! Update.....

[walkerag]

Took DD7 to the dentist yesterday for cleaning. I noticed 2 of her upper teeth have been slightly loose for a while but didn't think anything about it, I figured they would just come out when they are ready but the dentist did x-rays and these teeth are causing the permanent teeth that have not come in yet to crowd so they have to be extracted
Also, the enamel on all four of her 6 year molars is weak so she has to have fillings in all four. She is also going to be fitted for a retainer that she has to wear for about 6 months to help all of those teeth spread out since he said her uppper jaw is not wide enough and she has a bad bite

Obviously, she will be under light sedation for this but has anyone dealt with this? I know I'm just being a nervous Mom. How would you explain all of this to a child that cries when she has to get her teeth cleaned?? and how do you calm your fears about sedation even when it's light sedation

Am I just overreacting?

 

[mnasmom3]

It's hard to say without seeing the actual case, but none of it really sounds like a huge deal, so try to relax so she doesn't pick up on your fears.

I'm guessing the light sedation is so that they can do all her work at one visit instead of having part of done and returning for the rest. Because the work is scattered all over her mouth, it's not wise do it one visit with the typical local numbing injections that would be done for a filling or extraction because the dr would have to numb up her whole mouth. Can't have that. The solution is the sedation she'll be getting.

Try to think about the issues individually. A filling....no big deal. A baby tooth pulled no biggie. I think it's the idea of them all done at once that makes it scary. Really, though, I think you and your dr are going about it the right way. Especially if she's nervous about the treatment. Just do it all at once and get it over with. That's how *I* would want it done if it were me. They'll likely give her nitrous oxide right away and then move into the rest and she'll come out not even remembering a thing.

 

[walkerag]

Thanks mnasmom

I do agree, if it were me, I'd want them to do it all at once but I guess I'm most worried about how she's going to do once we get there. She cries at the drop of a hat, she's a very happy child but she'll start crying if she's even a little scared. Like really crying, snot and all

How do I go about telling her what they're going to do without her freaking out? Thus far I've given her a heavily sugar coated version of what's going to happen.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had 10 teeth extracted as a child - 4 baby, 6 permanant, and I don't remember it being a big deal. Dd6 had a cavity filled when she was 3, she's the biggest baby, and she was fine. Two of my kids have had two surgeries each, and were put out completely, so light sedation wouldn't bother me much.

 

[mlynn]

My dd6(5 then) had 16 teeth pulled Dec 07. They rotted from the root up nothing showed until it was to late to save the baby teeth.

We took her to Childrens hospital of Philly. I was worried sick!!!!! But they gave her some liquid that made her looping and then fall asleep then they put her under. they tried to save each and every tooth. But she was only left with 4. Let me tell you my daughter was great!!! She only used the RX tylenol for one day. She will need braces.But she still loves going to the dentist.

Of course your going to worry.It is your child thats your job. Just sit her down and tell her why they have to pull them and make sure you allowed to be in the room while they are putting her under.She will do fine and you will get through it. Big hug Just don't show her your concerned.

 

[disneybridetobe]

I can't even count how many teeth I had removed between the ages of 7 and 15! She'll be just fine. I promise. Just be strong for her, don't let her think there's anything to be afraid of.

 

[walkerag]

Of course your going to worry.It is your child thats your job. Just sit her down and tell her why they have to pull them and make sure you allowed to be in the room while they are putting her under.She will do fine and you will get through it. Big hug Just don't show her your concerned.

Thanks, her dentist did tell her that he was going to give her some "Koolaid" to drink when she comes back. She will sit in the lobby with me for 45 minutes or until she starts getting drowsy and then they'll take her back for the procedure. The hygenist said they'd give her some gas if she wasn't relaxed enough with the sedatives. Thanks everyone for your help

Maybe I should be on the worry warts thread

 

[disneybridetobe]

Thanks, her dentist did tell her that he was going to give her some "Koolaid" to drink when she comes back. She will sit in the lobby with me for 45 minutes or until she starts getting drowsy and then they'll take her back for the procedure. The hygenist said they'd give her some gas if she wasn't relaxed enough with the sedatives. Thanks everyone for your help

Maybe I should be on the worry warts thread

It's totally natural to worry-- we're moms, that's what we do!!

 

[mlynn]

Thanks, her dentist did tell her that he was going to give her some "Koolaid" to drink when she comes back. She will sit in the lobby with me for 45 minutes or until she starts getting drowsy and then they'll take her back for the procedure. The hygenist said they'd give her some gas if she wasn't relaxed enough with the sedatives. Thanks everyone for your help

Maybe I should be on the worry warts thread

they called it giggel juice for my daughter. Boy did she laugh. I asked if they could give me some because I was a mess.

 

[walkerag]

they called it giggel juice for my daughter. Boy did she laugh. I asked if they could give me some because I was a mess.

I know I'll be a mess too since DH cannot get off work I'll be waiting alone

 

[mlynn]

I know I'll be a mess too since DH cannot get off work I'll be waiting alone

Maybe you can have a friend go with you.

 

[momtomatthew]

DS (4 at the time) had his front two teeth pulled in Oct. He had fallen 2+ yrs ago and had trauma, but had managed to keep them until that point. He did WONDERFULLY! He was a little dopey when he came out, but had no pain, no complaints, no anything- such a trooper! Kids are much more resiliant than we give them credit for!
I'm sure your DD will be fine

Good luck!

 

[Miss LD]

We recently had some dental work done under sedation for my son.
What really threw him for a loop was that in order to do the work they had to put him in a different room than he was used to.
This really threw him for a loop and he freaked out. (In the end everything was fine). He was totally out of his element.
Also, they suggested bringing a stuffed animal or toy. Excellent advice.
It is so much worse on the parent than on the child.

 

[tracyncj]

My DD9 is getting her braces off tomorrow **hurrah!**

Part of her treatment was to have a frenectomy (sp?). Ya know the muscle in your mouth that connects your top lip to your gum? Yeah, she had to have that snipped. She had never had any type of shot in her mouth, but handled the novacaine like a champ. No sedation, just the numbing.

You will all do fine! Truly, kids pick up on our nerves, so go into it like it's no big deal.

Good luck!

 

[drtlc1990]

I am a dentist and I know that little children can be challenging. He could have explained exactly how they are going to sedate your child so you might have felt better about it but most of the time, they do start off giving them a liquid to drink which is geared according to their weight. It will make they groggy or maybe even cause them to go to sleep. Then they will either work on her that way or give her some nitrous oxide (laughing gas) too. I refer a lot of kids for this kind of treatment and they all do great. The fillings should be easy and if those baby teeth are that loose, it means the roots are hardly there so she shouldn't have major complications after she gets them out. The retainer may cause some discomfort initially but shouldn't last long. I bet you will be surprised how well it all goes. Just remember, he is a professional and has done this many times so she is in good hands.

 

[walkerag]

I am a dentist and I know that little children can be challenging. He could have explained exactly how they are going to sedate your child so you might have felt better about it but most of the time, they do start off giving them a liquid to drink which is geared according to their weight. It will make they groggy or maybe even cause them to go to sleep. Then they will either work on her that way or give her some nitrous oxide (laughing gas) too. I refer a lot of kids for this kind of treatment and they all do great. The fillings should be easy and if those baby teeth are that loose, it means the roots are hardly there so she shouldn't have major complications after she gets them out. The retainer may cause some discomfort initially but shouldn't last long. I bet you will be surprised how well it all goes. Just remember, he is a professional and has done this many times so she is in good hands.

Thanks I do trust this dentist. He is a very reputable pediatric dentist and is great with her even though she is scared of everything (she won't even let them use the little vacum thing on her, because the sound freaks her out ). I have been a little concerned about the retainer and wonder how she's going to handle not being able to take it out but they did explain that it's best since kids her age don't really take proper care of them. She has ADHD, inattentive type, so it's very possible that she would lose it which would be awful considering how much they cost

I am worried too about my own ability to "wind it" at home and if she'll be cooperative about it

Worry, worry, that's what I do best

Thank you to everyone for all of your encouragment

 

[dyna]

1 of my DD's did not loose her baby teeth had to have them all pulled except for her 2 front teeth that she knocked out as a toddler that she had to have gums cut away from to expose them to get front permnament teeth.

After her baby teeth was pulled she did not grow permnament teeth so off to oral surgery again to cut the gum away from all her permnament teeth except for the 2 front teeth. I was worried sick over it. DD ate a Big Mac on the way home an the next day went babysat for neighbors she was 13 at the time an ate a whole 1pound bag of the big pretzel rods. IN other words DD had no problem with the oral surgery. I won't go into details about the pulleys she had in her mouth when her teeth still did not come in tho lol

 

[MoniqueU]

My DD about 5 at the time knocked out 6 teeth in a freak scooter accident. Including two permanent. They were able to replant one with no sedeation. My DH was home which was rare and he took her while I freaked out in my driveway so bad my neighbor slapped me litteraly to get me to calm down. Now my mom is the one that takes the kids to the dentist for the most part although I will be going for a consultation about invisign braces to see if it is even a possibility for the DD that knocked out her teeth.

The koolaid and the sedation sound better to me then what my DD went through. Be grateful they offered you that.

 

[walkerag]

My DD about 5 at the time knocked out 6 teeth in a freak scooter accident. Including two permanent. They were able to replant one with no sedeation. My DH was home which was rare and he took her while I freaked out in my driveway so bad my neighbor slapped me litteraly to get me to calm down. Now my mom is the one that takes the kids to the dentist for the most part although I will be going for a consultation about invisign braces to see if it is even a possibility for the DD that knocked out her teeth.

The koolaid and the sedation sound better to me then what my DD went through. Be grateful they offered you that.

I would have been hysterical too!

 

[lindsmom]

We're in the middle of DD (also 7) getting her baby teeth removed. Back in December, she had her front 4 bottom teeth pulled. I gave her liquid valium about an hour before the appt, then when we got there ("Mom, I feel reeeaaaallly heavy") she had "Mr. sniffy nose" aka laughing gas, plus "jelly" - numbing gel and then "squirty juice" - novocaine. Haha... To give you an idea of how medicated DD was, she has a FEAR of any movies with a bad guy - Cinderella, Mermaid, etc. This girl sat in the chair with the bright red gas mask on her nose and watched the tornado scene from WIZARD OF OZ! I knew she was feeling no pain then.

I worried about how she'd feel afterwards, and had planned an extra quiet day but she wanted to play games and eat lunch and everything - I had to hold her back because I feared the dental work would be showing it's effects. She really only complained about some headache / discomfort around dinner time, had some motrin, and she was all set. I was pleasantly surprised.

We're going back in a few weeks to have two more pulled and get fitted for a lingual arch, and I feel much better having seen the process.

Normally I'm not a fan of all the meds but she had had a VERY bad last experience at a previous dentist so we couldn't risk another bad visit - she would never go to the dentist again!