Removal of baby teeth

[momto3inmn]

Hi,

I have identical twin girls, age 8, and one is special needs (spina bifida, hydrocephalus, ADHD, anxiety). Today we are making arrangements beacuse both kids need to have baby teeth removed (beacuse of crowding). My one daughter has to have 2 pulled, and my daughter with special needs is having 6 done! They are having it done by an oral surgeon, and having general anesthesia, there is no way I would put my one daughter through 12 novacane shots!

My question is, has anyone else with special needs kids had baby teeth extracted? I know baby teeth usually aren't a big deal, but I am a nervous wreck!

This poor kid also has a surgery scheduled the end of March, thankfully she will only be in the hospital for 1/2 day, no overnight! She'll be able to come home to recover!

We are in the process of planning for a Disney Cruise on the Dream August 16, 2011 and we can't wait!

Thanks!

Deb

 

[jmartinez1895]

It really is no big deal at all. Our son has had to have it done and they also put him under heavy sedation to do 3 fillings and he did great with that as well. The gums might be a little sore for a few days, but not like if you or I had to have a tooth out. Tylenol worked with our son and he was eating chips and hot dogs the next day.

 

[Karalynn]

Hi Deb! The roots of baby teeth absorb over time, so they are generally not as hard to remove as permanent teeth. I think that she will do just fine! Plan lots of special treats and soft foods for a day or two. Smoothies, shakes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, soup, stuff like that. Oh, and take a deep breath!

 

[SilverMickey]

Can they schedule the tooth extraction and the surgery for the same day?

(One stop medical shopping)

We had more than one doc at our son's day at out patient surgery.

 

[brenalexacamp]

It's your baby and the special needs makes you even more protective-my child has down syndrome-at the time needed 8 baby teeth out-I am a dental hygienist and was freaking out- we did it in the hospital, they let me go in to put him to sleep-he was too little to understand so we told him nothing- he woke up and cried a bit-from the anesthesia and by the time we got home-he was flying around the living room-ate like normal, I was ready to collapse, got a new movie and planned to lie down on the couch all day but he was busy. a little tylenol- that's it! He doesn't remember it. Teeth cam in a little straighter- he's 16 now and we are planning on braces- just waiting a bit for him to tolerate it-He understands now. So worth it-definitely be put to sleep
took 20 minutes- the roots are mostly resorbed- they really do just pop out.
Watch your wording- the dentist is going to help the teeth see the tooth fairy!

 

[tavettava]

My dd who is 14 (autistic) has had ALL of her teeth pulled out. The last six were last June. Some of the teeth are now just poking through. Her dentist pulled all of them and a few had really long roots. She did fine, no gas, just numbed up.

 

[momto3inmn]

Thankyou for all your advice and encouragement! I am feeling much better now! My DD is such a trooper (these will be her 10th and 11th surgeries!) Funny thing is, she handles them so much better than her mother (I can never get used to it when they put her to sleep!) She has found out about her teeth removal surgery (thanks to her older sister) and she's more excited that she gets all the pudding and ice cream, and a day off from school than anything else! Thanks again for all your help!

Deb

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to move this to the disABILITIES Community Board, where it will be more on topic.

Hope the OP's child does well.

 

[Brer Shay]

Had this with my DD. My first recommendation would be to have her fully knocked out, and I see that's already your plan. Second, which you may well have experienced already, is that they cry when they're coming out of the anesthesia. That's not a big deal when you know why they're crying, just unsettling when you think it's from pain.