What a day! What a year!
Today, TEN MONTHS after discovering that DS needed 3 root canals and a filling, we finally had it done! I am so relieved that it is finally over, and so happy that my baby has teeth again.
DS was a preemie and developed preemie caries as soon as his teeth started coming in. He was seen by multiple dentists and in November we started moving forward with his dental work. You can see my post on that, here.
Over winter he developed multiple cases of bronchitis and was diagnosed with asthma. Our pediatrician did not feel comfortable with in-office sedation due to the asthma, so for MONTHS I have been working on alternatives. It's been an insurance nightmare.
After a ton of appeals, thanks to our fantastic pediatrician we ended up being approved to go to the hospital, get prepped for general anesthesia, and then trying oral sedation first before the more invasive GA. It worked! They gave him an oral sedative (something that looked like melted chocolate- it was thick and they used an oral syringe. He loved the taste. ) and then I nursed him until he fell asleep, about 30 minutes. I was able to stay with him the WHOLE time! They also gave him 50% nitrous and he was OUT. He snored through the whole thing. He absolutely amazing pulmonologist showed up out of the blue and sat with him through the whole procedure and the anesthesiologist was there, too. It was so great to have everyone there; I couldn't believe we had such great support. Our ped. really wanted us in the hospital so DS could be monitored closely, and I felt like this was the best choice for us.
After he fell asleep, the whole procedure was over in 27 minutes. He had three root canals and a filling, all on his front teeth, and all with white crowns. To me, his mouth looks... different.... but I think he'll be better for it.
Plus, DS is still nursing. For the past year, his chipped and decayed teeth have left scratches and wounds on my nipples. Now that the teeth are fixed, nursing is no longer excruciatingly painful for me!
Today, TEN MONTHS after discovering that DS needed 3 root canals and a filling, we finally had it done! I am so relieved that it is finally over, and so happy that my baby has teeth again.
DS was a preemie and developed preemie caries as soon as his teeth started coming in. He was seen by multiple dentists and in November we started moving forward with his dental work. You can see my post on that, here.
Over winter he developed multiple cases of bronchitis and was diagnosed with asthma. Our pediatrician did not feel comfortable with in-office sedation due to the asthma, so for MONTHS I have been working on alternatives. It's been an insurance nightmare.
After a ton of appeals, thanks to our fantastic pediatrician we ended up being approved to go to the hospital, get prepped for general anesthesia, and then trying oral sedation first before the more invasive GA. It worked! They gave him an oral sedative (something that looked like melted chocolate- it was thick and they used an oral syringe. He loved the taste. ) and then I nursed him until he fell asleep, about 30 minutes. I was able to stay with him the WHOLE time! They also gave him 50% nitrous and he was OUT. He snored through the whole thing. He absolutely amazing pulmonologist showed up out of the blue and sat with him through the whole procedure and the anesthesiologist was there, too. It was so great to have everyone there; I couldn't believe we had such great support. Our ped. really wanted us in the hospital so DS could be monitored closely, and I felt like this was the best choice for us.
After he fell asleep, the whole procedure was over in 27 minutes. He had three root canals and a filling, all on his front teeth, and all with white crowns. To me, his mouth looks... different.... but I think he'll be better for it.
Plus, DS is still nursing. For the past year, his chipped and decayed teeth have left scratches and wounds on my nipples. Now that the teeth are fixed, nursing is no longer excruciatingly painful for me!
So THANKS to everyone who came forward with advice, education, and support! I really needed it and really appreciated it.
