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3 yo under general anesthesia
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hellojello
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Ok, so I know this topic has come up before, but I am in need of some reassurance as it gets closer to the date that my kid will be put under to get dental work done. That's right. I am the bad mama who gives candy and ice cream and sweets and thus created the decay in my kid's teeth. Now I religiously floss and brush those teeth, but it's a bit late for prevention since I can see those bad boy cavities growing before my own eyes. We've already tried to take care of them without general anesthesia but she is much too squirmy and can't even get the bitewing x-rays done without her moving.
Has anyone been through this? Was it so scary? How did your kid handle it? Please, any tales of reassurance would be greatly appreciated. The warnings of things that could go wrong with general anesthesia are a real scare, but then the signs of growing cavities are a real scare too. My mother swears 3 year olds should never have to be put under for their teeth and that I should seek other options or opinions. "I grew up with cavities til I was 10 and I'm still alive!" That does not help. I am sure that this is the right thing to do, but that voice of doubt gets incredibly agitated by this unwanted advice. |
Anonymous
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Although I don't have experience with this with my own children (yet) I did endure a very painful dental procedure as a teen while awake. I had my 4 impacted wisdom teeth pulled with just novicane and I will spare you all the gory details. Needless to say I still have issues with dentists 20 years later. I think it is better to have your child put under rather than have them endure a very tramatic experience that could affect how they feel about going to the dentist for the rest of their lives. Good luck and hang in there.
Oh, and I just have to say it but I hope you got a second opinion on what work needs to be done. I have heard so many horror stories recently about dentists pushing $1000s of dental work on very young children where other dental professionals would advise a much more conservative approach. I hate the thought of doctors willing to inflict painful procedures on young kids just to make a buck! |
Anonymous
| This isn't intended to scare you but if you talk to an Anesthesiologist they might raise some concern. A good friend of mine of mine is an Anesthesiologist and he warns about the dangers of dentists administering anesthesia. He recommends that any procedures involving GA be done in a hospital. |
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hellojello
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| Hi, OP here. this indeed is being done in a hospital, has already been cleared with the pediatrician, and this is actually the 4th dentist I've gone to since discovering the problem. These are the reasons why I'm so sure this is the right thing to do. Plus, we already tried to get them filled without the general anesthesia and they couldn't even get started because she was so unwilling to be still. |
Anonymous
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At age 4, my son had anesthesia for both placement of ear tubes and getting a cavity filled. It is scary, but worse the first time because it's something your child has never experienced before. With the cavity, it was a lot shallower of a sleep than with the eartubes. He was just barely under. I asked to and was permitted to sit with him the entire time and I held his hand through the entire procedure. It was a completely benign experience. But, I don't think I would have been offered the opportunity to sit with him had I not asked.
As an aside, with the eartubes, I was not permitted to be with him when they brought him out of the anesthesia and that was quite scary for my son. |
Anonymous
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I understand it is a frightening. My two year old was under general anesthesia, and I was very worried. It was a quick procedure, but the time I spent in the waiting room seemed to take an eternity.
I was glad that I was able to go in to the OR with him, and hold him, while the mask was put on his face. We had practiced what it would be like before hand, so he didn't panic. He did wonderfully, didn't really fight it, until just before he went to sleep. Then I kissed him good-bye, and left for the waiting room. When he was awake, he was a bit groggy, but had a great smile for me. We sat and had some water and crackers, and waited to make sure there were no adverse effects from the anesthesia. He wasn't allowed to take the stairs for the rest of the day, since he may have still been groggy. |