dd, 2.5yo, having major dental work

[livingfree]

i need advice from mamas who have BTDT. dd has major decay. we've been watching it since before she was 2 and had surgery scheduled for shortly after her b-day (no one would do anything before she was 2) but then we moved and had to start all over again with another dentist, etc., so it's taken awhile to get the surgery set up again.

dd's top 4 front teeth are completely rotten. the 2 side ones are completely brown and broken off, almost at the gum line. the 2 front ones are about half rotten and starting to break off. she also has decay in all her molars...3 need fillings and one will get a cap.

her surgery is next thursday. they are doing it under IV sedation. she will be given something to make her loopy and then have the IV put in. they told me that i won't be able to go back with her, but i'm going to insist on being back there until the IV is in and she's out. it's supposed to take about 2 hours. they're pulling the 4 front teeth and filling/capping the back ones.

what should i expect afterwards? will she have pain? a lot of bleeding? is there anything i need to know about the procedure itself, what to expect at the dentist's office? dd has never had anything like this done before and i'm really nervous about it.

[livingfree]

please, anyone? i need advice. i also have more concerns now, having just gotten off the phone with the dental office.

they said she can't eat for 6 hours before the surgery and nothing (no liquids or anything) for 3 hours before. her surgery is at 2 PM. that would mean she would be going like 18 hours without food. i would have to make it through breakfast and lunch without feeding her.

also, i found out that instead of just giving her something to make her loopy, they will give her a tranquilizer shot that will put her to sleep. then they'll take her from me to do the surgery. i don't want her getting a shot...i don't vaccinate, she's never had a shot before.

i'm so nervous about this. is there not a better way?

[Nan'sMom]

If it were me I wouldn't use them based on the shot thing.Can't type much, crying baby. Good luck and hang in there. It's rough stuff!

[bobandjess99]

That's weird abotu teh scheduleing...around here, all the surgery on the under-5 crowd is like, first thing in the morning, like 6, 7, 8am - so they have fasted during teh night without being aware enough to be hungry...i don't think i would accept a 2pm surgery time, to be honest.
Personally, i would LOVE a shot while she is in my arms..here, they will only give the kid a sip of valium, then the kid has to go back, still awake, with the nurse, then they get the IV and are put out. Sicne my kid will NOT separate from me while awake, and noone around here will even consider putting her out in my arms, or even just letting me stay with her until she ius out, we have been putting of the surgery for over 6 motnhs...

[True Blue]

Not down with their procedure, but....if she can't eat for 6 hours before, she can have breakfast before 8am.

[livingfree]

the dentist office claims it's not their scheduling, it's the anesthesiologist. apparently 2 is the first surgery appointment of the day. dd doesn't usually get up until around 9 or 9:30. i guess i could wake her up earlier to feed her, but then that means she's awake longer without food. and the last 3 hours without food or drink...i don't know how i'll do that.

[True Blue]

Can you find another dentist? Those hours are ridiculous. Does she nurse? There is good reason to believe nursing doesn't count, there are various articles out there (kellymom has some too) that have anesthesiologists who say bm counts as a body fluid, not food.....

[livingfree]

i'm thinking about trying to use another dentist in this practice. but if i switch dentists, then another anesthesiologist may not do things the same way and i'm pretty comfortable with the way this one works. i guess i can ask and make sure before i change her appointment.

[Lordy5]

LivingFree:

It sounds like your child's teeth are in horrendous condition. I am so sorry for that. Dental work is rarely as bad as we imagine it. Usually pediatric dental work goes very smoothly. I urge you to address the decay right away, as it is dangerous and very unhealthy.

Best of luck!

[livingfree]

yeah i just decided to go ahead and do what we had planned. so her surgery is next thursday. so i'm freaked out about it and i know it's not going to be a pleasant day, but we'll get through it. and then not have to worry about it anymore!

[esokitty]

Best of luck to you and your DD.

My son had 1 extraction and 7 caps under general when he was 19 months.

A few things: Be prepared. Talk with your surgeon about what might change after he gets in to the mouth and starts poking around. Brady was initially supposed to have 4 caps (upper front 4) and fillings.

Find out about recovery and when you will be able to get back to your daughter. At the hospital where b had his work done I held him while he drank his versid, then carried him back and laid him on the table and held his hand while they put the mask on and until he went to sleep. I was also allowed into the recovery before he woke up.
His face was bloody and a little swollen when I first saw him, but not too bad, although I have a strong stomach. They warned me he might wake up crying, and he did stir, and cry the saddest cry I've ever heard, then fell back asleep for 15 minutes or so. The sound of this cry was probably the hardest part.

He recovered VERY well. Although the discharge instructions said no nursing due to the extraction and the possiblity of dry socket, the dentist on call after the surgery told me to go ahead and nurse him when he was inconsolable.

Overall, the experience was much better than I had anticipated, feared, etc.

Best of luck and hugs to you.