GA at hospital vs. IV at the office

[deadheadmomma]

does anyone know if there is any difference between having the GA at the hospital or the IV in the office. The dentist we saw today was going to have us do GA at the hospital until we told him we had no insurance and are in chap. 13 bankruptcy. He then said his partner could do IV in the office for a lot less to save us money. This makes me wonder if they are the same why do GA at all and if not what are the pros and cons? PS DS is 18 months.

I did google this and all I could find said they were about the same except that the IV in the office is more cost effective. I did find that patients under IV sedation breath on their own and that patients under GA need a breathing tube. This makes the IV sound better to me.

Anyone have any opinion?

[Chicky2]

We have gone thru this w/2 children. One in the hospital,and just last month, one in the office. I actually REALLY preferred the one in the office. I KNEW that the anesthesiologist and the dentist were working ONLY on my daughter, and not going back and forth between patients. I was updated every 15 minutes and saw her the INSTANT she began to wake. For this kind of a situation, it went better than I could have ever hoped. The anesthesiologist brought a nurse and an assistant, and everything they would have in a hospital setting. It was really amazing and as good an experience as it possibly could have been. And yeah, the price was much better, as we have no insurance, either. I would do it again this way if we have to, and the dentist called himself that night and talked to me for 30 minutes.

Oh, and my dh held her while they gave her a shot to make her go into a 'trance' like state so that they could use gas and then insert the iv. We kissed her and left the room (I was crying, lol). She does remember (she's 2) the 'boo-boo shot' and that daddy 'held her down while the man gave her a boo boo shot, and then daddy laid her on the table dentist'. She talks about it matter-of-factly, and after the first night (nightmares caused by the ketamine (sp?) is just fine. She says the dentist loves her and looked at her teeth.

[deadheadmomma]

Thanks so much for the info, it makes me feel a little bit better. I so wish they'd let me stay in the room, but I can understand why I can't (hysterical mom doesn't mix well with surgical procedures?). I'm sure I'll be crying too .

[Chicky2]

Sure, you will cry. It's ok, you're a mama and it *IS* nerve-wracking! I totally understand why they don't want us in the room, too. It would just distract, and you want them to do the best work possible. When you see your child go into the 'trance', it's very freaky. Just be aware. Also, when your child is waking up, I know it took a few minutes for my dd to really know it was me and daddy there. Then she wanted to nurse, but we waited a bit so she was more awake first.