My six year old needs tooth extracted.. eek

[SammieG]

My DS 6 had no enamel on one of his molar teeth and although we have worked hard to keep it, its giving him pain now, so it needs to be removed.

Has anyone had a child this young that has had to have a tooth removed? I am terrified for him (and I dont mind the dentist one bit!)>

I am scared that I will be pathetic and cry if I see him in pain..
I am scared it will put him off the dentist for life.
I am scared that they wont be able to do it in the chair and then he will have to go for a general anaesthetic..

Any advice greatly appreciated.

DS whilst absolutely lovely is a complete drama queen (no idea where he gets that from ) so telling him to be brave is almost a waste of time.

Im in to bribery.. but I dont think that will cut the mustard either!
Any advice?!


Thanks
Sammie x

 

[catherine]

My DD (8) has the same problem! We went to the dentist this afternoon and she has to have hers filled! So I feel exactly the same as you! I am going to explain to her basically what is going to happen, so that she is prepared before we go in. I remember when my sister was young and she had to have a filling, she screamed the place down and the dentist had to give her an injection to help her to relax. She didn't like the vibration of the drill!

Even though my chidren have never had there teeth removed I've been in operating room when children have had general anaesthetic to have teeth removed. A lot of the time the younger children handle everything a lot better than the older ones!

 

[mandymouse]

Aw bless him

I'm big into bribery too (LOL), and when my DD had to have a tooth out, it wasn't that big a deal as she didn't feel it (and she is very afraid of the dentist). So it was straight into town to buy her a new top for being so good.

I think I found it more harrowing than her

Good luck

Mandy

 

[wideeyes]

well I can see how it is upsetting for you. It horrible to see your child go though such things. I would explain to him what is happening or maybe get your dentist to explain to him. If he knows whats coming he maybe less scared

well as for bribery it seems worth a shot. maybe a reward or special treat afterwards.. I trip to the cinema or toy shop or something.

An idea could be telling him he IS brave and you know that he will cope very well, rather than asking him to be brave.

good luck..

 

[Deedee]

My DD had to have teeth removed when she was younger, they put some cream on her gum which numbed it slightly so she didn't feel the injection go in.

 

[AnitaCB]

Poor thing! Here are some hugs for you both

Perhaps you could both have a little treat afterwards - him for being so brave and you for not fainting!! Having said that I go to pieces everytime I go to the dentist so he's much braver than me!

 

[alisonbestford]

Loads of hugs to you but, from experience, you will be fine and put your best 'mummy head' on
(You'll probably need several stiff drinks later but that can be your bribe to yourself )

The enamel on Eve's baby teeth was poor and, after developing a tooth abcess at 5, we visited the dental hospital and were told she needed 10 extractions!!!!!!
EEK

We bought ourselves some time, courtesy of a private dentist (who had more time to calm down a worried 5 year old than our stressed out NHS dentist ) and my 'Westfield' healthcare.

Regardless, she still needed a tooth out a year later and was fine (if a little sorry for herself for an hour or two afterwards) The dentist used gas to make her 'woozy' (she's an extremely anxious individual - and, when it comes to the dentist, I'm a wreck! - my 'mummy' work head head is good tho ) and then an injection of local anaesthetic to numb it.

Yet another 9 months down the line she had to have several teeth removed, at the dental hospital, under general anaesthetic, and has never looked back since

It was a horrible time but the problem was more mine than hers
Like you I felt so afraid for her.

Bribery is good - for both of you
Whatever it takes - a bottle of wine, weekend away, new video game.....and something for you too maybe........

Kids eh?
What they put us through.................

 

[SammieG]

thanks for all your help!
I will keep you posted. I need that tooth out tomorrow..
Weirdly, I actually quite enjoy going to the dentist - I think its the fact that I cant actually do anything other than lie there with my mouth open!
And Im usually a very busy person, so thats a nice feeling

Well I hope my Theo will be ok tomorrow - I will keep you posted.

 

[Minniespal]

Hope everything goes well for Theo today Sammie

 

[wils]

How'd it go? Hope you are both OK

 

[SammieG]

thanks for asking Jo.. I meant to post a reply..

We went along to the community dentist who specialise in treating kids and nervous patients..
theo was very brave, until the "magic wand" .. read "injector thing" arrived. They numbed his gum and used this magic wand with a tiny needle on it to numb him up. This was a molar tooth so needed 3 goes and he didnt like that one bit.
I think it was the sensation of going numb he didnt like.

However by the third time it was ok.. it just drips anaesthetic in slowly so it takes about 10 minutes in total..

Removing the tooth was easy..
he didnt like the blood much.. but actually he was very brave indeed.
The molars have HUGE roots on them.. wow.. I was amazed.

I now realise how much it must have hurt him before it was taken out, as he is so much happier since it came out.. I think it was rumbling away before.

So, we are glad its all over..
Theo was a good boy for the most part and I dont think he is scarred for life!

Sammie xxx

 

[wideeyes]

well its good that it is over with and not he is not in pain anymore.

 

[catherine]

I am so happy to hear that everything went ok. I have been thinking about you and your DS

 

[mandymouse]

Aw bless him, I'm glad it went well in the end and that he's pain-free now

 

[Minniespal]

Happy that everything went well

 

[alisonbestford]

This post brings back so many memories but, over, and above all, I know that DD felt so much better after she had her troublesome tooth / teeth removed

Hope you all got your promised bribes.....................

 

[SammieG]

yes a trip to Toys R Us was on the way back! He didnt even ask for a playstation! But some Yui Gi Oh cards seemed to have done the trick!