[Pudding]

Hey my ds has a cavity. He is three years old and somewhat apprehensive. They want to fill his tooth in a surgery center under general anesthesia. I am befuddled by this......When we were little they did not do this kind of crazy stuff. Don't you think that putting him under general anesthesia is much more risky than a local with something to relax him? Has anyone had a small child with a cavity filled the old fashioned way? Has anyone let it ride till their child was maybe six months older??? Help so frustrated! I don't think that this is worthy of surgery????


Beth

[becky]

I think it depends on how bad the cavity is. But I would certainly ask about other options. Is this a pediatric dentist?

My daughter has had 11 cavities...most filled without even novacaine...starting at age 3...so I am not sure why they need to do it under a general unless it's a really bad cavity and they fear it will be very painful??

[Pudding]

The cavity is not that bad and yes this is a pediatric dentist. I am as confused as you about why they would want to put him under general......

Beth

[DPline]

The only reason I can think of for using a general is if it was going to take a long time and they thought he wouldn't be able to stay still even with gas or if they thought he was going to fight them and it would be hard to get the work done.

But in my opinion I think you really need to ask the dentist why they are recommending this over nothing or using some gas though. So you know where he/she is coming from. It is not the norm in my experience for a filling, but there may be some valid reason that they are suggesting this. Also, is there another pediatric dentist local to you where you could get a second opinion? Just like with adult dentists, different pediatric dentists are going to have different opinions on the 'best' way to do things. My son had two crowns when he was 2 and they were able to get them done using just some gas, but there have definetly been posts here about children who needed more extensive work that was done under a general in a surgical center.

Good luck!

[shelbydog]

My son had 3 cavities at age 3 - the ped. dentist used gas. It relaxed him and put him in la-la land and they had NO issues or trouble. I would ask for gas! And then ask about having his molars sealed so he doesn't get anymore. My son has "crevice-y" teeth - lots of nooks and crannies, so unfortunately he was just prone to cavities. We no longer allow fruit snacks, raisins or anything that can get "stuck" in the crevices. Ask for gas! No way would I allow my child to be put under for a cavity.

[krafmatic]

I'd go for gas.
If they want something stronger, can they use a liquid drug called hydrochlorate...not as heavy as general an. so you don't have to do it in a surgical center.
Both my kids have been sedated several times for MRI and minor surgical procedures. With the MRIs at the neurologist office they get hydrochlorate which they drink...no IV, just a pulse oximeter. It is heavier sedation than gas, but not a huge deal. They act drunk when they wake up but it gradually wears off as the day goes on. For the surgeries and the MRI at the children's hospital they do a general an. with an IV (usually a blend of drugs). Not a big fan of this. Same drunkeness, but sometimes they get really mad because they are dizzier and more disoriented.

Good luck

[dance_muffin]

My older dd had a baby root canal at 3; she was not put under. We have another ped. dentist now and he too does not use anesthesia on kids. Mollie has had major dental work; the top two front teeth were chipped severely into half moons. My ped. dentist rebuilt her teeth w/o anesthesia. He also filled a cavity. Her teeth are beautiful and you can't tell that she had the work done.

Granted, it is somewhat stressful to the child (and the parent) having extensive dental work done. I would check out another ped. dentist.

[sak9645]

Do be aware that "laughing gas" (nitrous oxide) does not work for some kids.

Becca needed to have some teeth pulled because she was going to start orthodontia and her teeth were way too crowded together. We used the orthodontist's wife, an oral surgeon with lots of "kid" experience, and she recommended that Becca have the procedure in her office, with a light dose of laughing gas.

Well, she gave Becca a small dose. No effect. She tried a slightly larger one. This went on until Becca was getting a full adult dose and it would have been unsafe to give more. Becca was carrying on a normal conversation, could walk normally, and did not show the slightest bit of goofiness.

Becca was not unduly anxious, and does not have huge sensitivity to pain, so the oral surgeon just went ahead -- with my daughter's permission and my own -- and extracted the teeth, as quickly and painlessly as she could without anesthesia. The choices were to do it this way, recognizing that there was absolutely no response to the laughing gas, or to use general anesthesia, and we all felt that if Becca was willing to try it without medication, so much the better. Becca was quite a trouper through it all and preferred NOT to have an audience; I was obliged to wait in the waiting room.

I expected to see some change in behavior due to the gas, but she walked out normally, carried on a normal conversation, etc. She remembered every detail of the procedure. When she left, she was less concerned about pain and more concerned about the fact that her gum was still bleeding quite a bit, which meant that she'd have to hold off on getting a promised milkshake! She did want a little Tylenol because of the sore gums, however.

Becca has very pitted teeth that get cavities easily. She had her first cavities filled without Novocain or sedation, and used Novacain only for one that was very deep. I think that she is simply less sensitive to pain than many people. I, for one, MUST have Novocain even for the slightest cavity, and I doubt that I could have tolerated having several teeth extracted without medication.

I know that some children with attachment disorder have extreme lack of awareness of pain, and you may worry that Becca has some problems in this area. Let me assure you that Becca is about the most balanced and attached kid you can imagine. She's been with me since she was 18.5 months old, and is a warm, empathic little person who just happens to be very mature about many things.


Sharon

[Hopingsoon]

My son is also three with his first cavity, and is being sedated when it is capped on Oct 20th. I'm giving him a small test dose of the medicine tomorrow (before the procedure) to see how he tolerates it (oral meds, not general).

I have to say, based on his first experience with the dentist just for an exam, I much prefer him sedated for the filling this time. The child went into hysterics over the exam - I partially blame this on Barney. I tried to prepare him for the trip to the dentist by reading him "Barney goes to the Dentist" several times. It backfired. The people were as nice as could be, and as gentle, but my son was was having nothing to do with them. In his case, I think he would have handled the first visit far better without any prep due to his age/maturity (just a month over 3). I would have never took him to the dentist that young had I not noticed a huge spot on his new molar, which ended up being a cavity. I really wish we could have held off on the dentist until he was a bit older and could understand better what was going on, but for now, I'd prefer he have as few memories as possible, and that future dentist visits hopefully won't be as traumatic for him.

[CRSR]

We went ped dentist and it was the worst experience we have ever had at a dentist. they refused to let me stay in the room and only let me back when DS was so hysterical nothing could be done except leave. We took him to our regular dentist who is exceptional! DS had 2 cavities filled and our dentist let him sit on my lap the whole time. The cavities weren't big and he didnt even have to give him novacaine. He sat for the entire fillling without a tear. I think me there for reassuance was the best thing for him.I would try having it filled w/o anesthesia and maybe only go to that extreme if all else fails. Sometimes just alittle extra patience on the dr part is all that is needed. Thankfully now my son is not afraid to go to the dentist for anything.

[guatparents2be]

i'd simply recommend a second opinion if you have questions.

julian has the start of a number of caries and i'm beside myself with the possibility of anything traumatic for him. we're in watch and wait mode right now.

[Pudding]

Thanks for all your responses. I think that we are going to try another highly recommended dentist. The thought of putting my son under general for a cavity just does not sit well with me.

Beth

[Christie.Josh]

Both of our kids had cavities at age 3 and 2 and we just used the "Hug blanket" and gas. The first place that we took our son to was against using anethsia so we did 13 cavities and one cap without anything but numbing jelly and gas. It went well - he even fell asleep during the drilling. However he really hated the numbing jelly that they put on and was afraid to go back because he ended up biting his lip when it was numb.
The second ped dentist we used didn't want to do it without anesthsia. He was really pushing for it for our 2 year old. We could not afford it and since it went well for our son we said we really wanted to do it without. I told him if he didn't feel comfortable doing it that way we could maybe do it with anesthsia - then he told me that he was able to do it, it was just easier for him to use that anestisia.
So look around every dentist is different. Do whatever you are comfortable with. We had no problems with our two year old who got 2 cavities filled.

[drjeanne]

Pudding,
I am a general dentist and I just wanted to ask if the dentist you took your child to has said why she/he wants to sedate your child? Is your child apprehensive to the point that this dentist doesn't feel comfortable doing the restoration while your child is alert and moving? or is the decay so deep that it's close to the nerve and it's actually more work than you think? Before anyone on here gives you advice they think is right based on what has happened with their own child, please seek a second opinion from another trained dentist! They need to meet your child, Xray the tooth and form their own opinion as to the type of treatment your child needs and what will be the best way to approach that treatment. It's true that not all dentist's treat all children the same way. We may all look at the same decay and the same child and come up with several different treatment options based on our backgrounds and what we feel comfortable doing...that's why you, as a parent, have to find a dentist you feel comfortable with treating your child! But, I think all dentists have the same goals in mind....treating your child the best way possible and helping treat the problem quickly, painlessly and correctly! I wish you the very best. I know it's difficult! I hope you find someone you feel you crust your child's dental needs with! It's so important to build a lifelong relationship with your dentist!