So nervous about my 2yo's dental work tomorrow!

[Lilypadsmom]

This is my first time posting here and normally I would have never dreamed that I would need to seek some support out in the dental arena as I am a dental hygienist. However, now that I'm a mom with a wee girlie who wound up having not one but 2 supernumerary teeth erupt, I'm definitely in my worried to death mom mode! BTW, supernumerary teeth are teeth that are 'extra' or in addition to the normal number of teeth. There are normally 20 primary teeth but Miss Lily has 22. One of them isn't a problem but the other came in overlapping 2 other incisors and it looked as though the enamel was malformed on the tongue side. I knew it was going to be hard to keep the area clean and had a bad feeling that decay would get a quick foot hold. Sure enough it did, despite my efforts and after taking Lily in to the only pedodontist in town who allows parents back for all procedures, I found out it is fused to one of the teeth it is overlapping! So, she goes in tomorrow morning and will be on Versed. They don't papoose either! The super. tooth probably has decay involving the nerve and the Dr recommended that it would probably just be best to ext it (and of course the other incisor it is fused to) at that point and then she also needs a filling on the central incisor on the other side.
I am just a nervous wreck over anticipating this ordeal! Lily is also still nursing and I am worried that the post-op discomfort may cause her to strike. I'm also a breastfeeding counselor and was prepared with many articles on caries and extended nursing to give to the Dr if she dared tell me to wean or the like! So, I would really, really like to hear from someone whose little one had an extraction(s) up front and was able to continue nursing. Lily is my last nursling and I will just be devastated if she weans over this. Also during the procedure I am wondering just how out of it she will be? I really think I will have to leave during the extraction. I've watched tons of extractions but of course this is on my sweet little Lily and I just don't think I can bear to watch. Sorry this went on so long but I just can't wait to have this behind us.


Heidi

"A babe at the breast is as much pleasure as the bearing is pain." -Marion Zimmer Bradley

[slightly crunchy]

I'm so sorry you're going through this!

I can understand your anxiety...last week I posted just before my 14 mo. old was to undergo some work on his front teeth, and I was going out of my mind! (I ended up postponing).

I can't answer your specific question, just offer sympathy.

I don't know how you feel about homeopathy, or if you have read through the archives, but there are several remedies recommended by Smilemomma to help after the extraction. I know one of them is Arnica. I think it's in the thread called "sedation/hypnosis" but you could do a search for arnica, extractions.

I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow; your little one will probably want momma milk first thing after the procedure (it fixes just about everything, doesn't it?)

[malamamama]

My dd had two extractions at 2 & 1/2. The top two middle ones. Dentist advised no sucking for 24 hours after to prevent restart in bleeding.
She wanted to bf that night but I held off until the next morning. She was fine. She rinsed a lot with salt water to aid the healing. She didn't even seem to be in any pain. And she didn't even consider letting up on the bfing!!!!!! I actually was hoping the opposite...that she would lighten up some.
So don't worry about your dd weaning. If she loves it like my dd does, she'll come right back. (My dd even had the trauma of only a local and the papoose.) I was pretty full by the next morning, so dd was a happy camper!!

Are you familiar with Rescue Remedy. I took it for my emotions and gave it to dd too. Also, the other two essential oils that are in the archives is supposed to be amazing too. I want to say...Roman....something....rubbed on her feet to relax her and you!!!!

Keep breathing and surround your dd with lots of light. This time too shall pass.....

[Smilemomma]

[simonee]

Check this thread in the archives, notably smilemomma's post near the bottom, which starts "Sorry about the bump" It has a lot of info on bf-ing after treatment and with trauma, which is of course what an extraction is. Probably more in that thread, too.

Mostly I want to send you s. I know how scary it is, but I've also learned that afterward it's much easier and the trauma is often biggest for mom (esp with Versed. My dd had a great experience using that ).

[Lilypadsmom]

We're back from Lily's appt!

Well it's all done! I'm so glad it is over! The Versed didn't make her groggy like I was hoping, just giggly and a little more relaxed so I opted for N2O which she probably only rec'd minimal amounts of as she kept taking off the nosepiece once tx was started. Just prior to the appt I had also applied some lavendar and chamomile EO to her feet as well as gave her some arnica and Rescue Remedy (I took some as well!). It was very difficult being there watching the extraction and I had to look down for a bit while holding her and just trying to tell her that mommy was there. After the supernumerary and #d were out the Dr was examining the socket and saw a boney area and said something like, 'What the heck?' and looked at the xray and back again and said that the other tooth, #e was fused as well. So she said it needed to come out as well and she quickly popped it out. UGH! It looked just awful this large area of ext sites right in front in my precious girl's mouth! We stuffed some cotton rolls there and I held her as I kept pressure on it. She stopped crying about a minute later! The Dr said in her 20 years of dentistry she had never seen anything like those teeth, all 3 being fused together!! Fortunately she said it doesn't appear that the other super. (between #f and #g) is fused. I have the teeth and Smilemomma you should see them! It is really interesting! What a mass when you fit them back together where they were fused. I also had them print me a copy of the xray for her baby book.
So, it was just difficult for a few minutes and then all over! We are home and Lily is just perky as ever! I made her a nice fruit smoothie and her daddy will go to the store soon for some other nice soft goodies for the rest of the day. I just can't wait for the site to heal up as it is just so ugly to look at. I hate she lost # e as well. The space is just such a big one to have for 4-5 more years but better than the yucky decaying supernumerary that was there (that would also cut her lip anytime she happened to fall and bump her mouth!) at least not to mention I'm glad the active decay is totally eradicated from her mouth!
THanks for the support and hugs y'all!!


Heidi

[malamamama]

Yey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good to hear the good news...and the little ones heal so quick too