6 months ago, I took DD to the dentist for the first time when she turned 3. She liked the woman, I liked her too. She was patient & gentle and it was a good experience. Turned out she had a cavity (actually, the dentist felt it was an enamel defect) right on the front of a front tooth. So, we went back a week later & had it filled. Did the laughing gas thing & DD was FINE! Not a whimper!
So... we go back last week for the 6 mo. f/up and it turns out there's another tiny cavity in the very back molar. So, we go back this morning to have it filled. Well... it was an AWFUL experience! The assistant got DD situated & started the gas and numbed up her gum with the gel (now that I think about it, the gel Q-tip was only in DD's mouth for a minute or 2) and we sat there for a good 1/2 hour just WAITING for the dentist to show. Then, the dentist gives her the numbing shot - well like 3 shots (YIKES!!!) and DD is SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER! There's a nurse holding her legs and I'm holding her hands down. It just broke my heart!!! To their credit, they did work very fast & it was all over in about 15 minutes, but I can't get that screaming out of my mind - she's never screamed like that before in her little life.
I don't understand what happened? I'm not that familiar with the laughing gas - never had it myself. Was it not enough gas? Was it too long of a wait between starting the gas & waiting till the dentist started? Why didn't they stop and do something to calm her? I thought the gas was strong enough to relax 'em to the point that she wouldn't care? The mask was a bit big for her little face & the assistant did have me pinch it at the nose a bit to keep it in position.
Anybody have an insight into this? Should I switch dentists? She didn't bother to explain anything about why DD was so distraught. Maybe I should call & talk to her tomorrow for an explanation - too bad I didn't think of that today! Grrr... I hate it when my mind works slow!
So... we go back last week for the 6 mo. f/up and it turns out there's another tiny cavity in the very back molar. So, we go back this morning to have it filled. Well... it was an AWFUL experience! The assistant got DD situated & started the gas and numbed up her gum with the gel (now that I think about it, the gel Q-tip was only in DD's mouth for a minute or 2) and we sat there for a good 1/2 hour just WAITING for the dentist to show. Then, the dentist gives her the numbing shot - well like 3 shots (YIKES!!!) and DD is SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER! There's a nurse holding her legs and I'm holding her hands down. It just broke my heart!!! To their credit, they did work very fast & it was all over in about 15 minutes, but I can't get that screaming out of my mind - she's never screamed like that before in her little life.
I don't understand what happened? I'm not that familiar with the laughing gas - never had it myself. Was it not enough gas? Was it too long of a wait between starting the gas & waiting till the dentist started? Why didn't they stop and do something to calm her? I thought the gas was strong enough to relax 'em to the point that she wouldn't care? The mask was a bit big for her little face & the assistant did have me pinch it at the nose a bit to keep it in position.
Anybody have an insight into this? Should I switch dentists? She didn't bother to explain anything about why DD was so distraught. Maybe I should call & talk to her tomorrow for an explanation - too bad I didn't think of that today! Grrr... I hate it when my mind works slow!
