Surgery to Have Some Teeth Filled

H., you want to be the first one she sees when she wakes up. We went through this twice once when my daughter had her tonsils and adnoids out and when she had a crown put on her tooth and a root canal, she was six. Also let her take a favorite toy, blanket or anything familar. She will probably want her mommy.

Our daughter had two crowns right when she turned 2. It wasn't that she didn't brush her teeth, the enamel hadn't formed properly. Anyway, they gave her a nose to put on that smelled like bubble gum. She thought that was pretty cool. It hooked up to the gas where they completely knocked her out while they drilled. She was loopy right away, then went out after a few minutes. She woke up a couple hours later and wanted some TLC, but she never complained of pain. We did give her motrin for the rest of that day and the day following. She was so excited about the "jewels" in her mouth, and she started showing them off right away.

Also, if they have told you do not give her anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely do not give her anything - not even a single sip of water or one bite of anything before the procedure. It will make her vomit.

My 6 yr old daughter had a couple fillings and a crown done when she was 4. They didn't put her under, just gave her the laughing gas and she was just fine, no issues at all.

I take my kids to a dentist specializing in pediatrics. There are 2 dentists there and they are both great with the kids and they kids have never been afraid of them or gotten upset or anything.

You should get a second opinion, or if you are not seeing a pediatric dentist, go see one as they are used to dealing with kids this age.

My son who is 7 now had to have dental surgery when he was 4 but they had to cap his bottom ,front 5 teeth and he was scared to death of the dentist since he was 2. Our Dentist gave us the option if doing it at the Out Patient surgery center at the hospital or in his office with laughing gas. He strongly suggested we do it at the hospital because it would be easer on him. It was a breeze he was a little cranky when we first started to wake up but that did not last long. I have to agree with the other Moms there is no need for Dental surgery for a few cavities I would really be asking alot of questions. Dental surgery is very expensive for just a few fillings. Good luck
A.

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!

I happen to thing Pediatric Dentist's are God's Gift to children. I had such horrible experiences having dental work when I was a child that I am unable to go to a dentist as an adult. I have been held down with the dentists knee while he drilled on a tooth that was half numb, had abscesses from incorrectly done dental work that made my face look like I was from "The Planet of the Apes", rubber dams in my mouth for hours at a time, I was even fondled by the Oral Surgeon who removed my wisdom teeth.

K had 4 fillings and 1 cap put in when she was 4. It was the best experience. Children's Hospital in OKC opened it's new wing the day we went in for the surgery. The only negative thing about the experience was she had to wait too long to go in, she had been NPO since midnight and she was the tiniest bit hungry (K's appt. was around 1:30 pm I think). She isn't a big breakfast eater so that was normal for her. There was a baby about 12-13 months old waiting to go in before us and that baby was very hungry...so if your little one is a big breakfast eater see if the dentist can arrange it so your child can go first.

We watched tv in the pre-surgery area and when it was time for her to go in she got to breathe in a gas of some sort then they put the IV in to administer the general anesthesia. She was gone from the room about an hour, she woke up fully in another half hour or so and we went and ate soft food and came home. She had no pain, no side effects, no sensitivity, no problems whatsoever.

To be able to sleep through a dental procedure and not have to experience the shots, the pulling on the lips and face, the bad flavors from the drilling and other stuff, being held in place to finish the work, to not experience all those negative things is wonderful in my book.

Pediatric Dentist's are a different breed of Dentist. K loves going to see Dr. Lee in OKC, both kids went today, as a matter of fact and K talked about the visit all the way down. J turned 2 in December and Dr. Lee put him totally at ease. J just laid there on the reclining chair and let him do whatever he wanted. He even let the ladies clean his teeth and put fluoride on them. He never fussed, never even looked worried. They understand children. He can make any child happy to be there I think.

I am so glad to hear you are taking this step. Good luck!!!!

PS...I think they call it dental surgery because they use an operating room in the hospital for the procedure and general anesthesia is used. They could do it in an office setting but they use the hospital in case of an emergency.

My daughter had to go in for surgery for a couple of fillings and to correct a problem with her molars growing in sideways. She was 4 when it happened. The only thing that she was not happy about when it was all over was the IV in her foot. They put it there because they said that it was safer, kids usually don't move their feet as much during the procedure. She got to drink some soda, which she loved because she does not get that much at home, and once they thought she had drank enough she got to come home. She really did not have to many side effects. She was still a little sleepy and took a nap after she got home, which was great because we did to (we had to be at the hospital at like 5:00 in the morning). When she woke up, she was fine. We had to not give her solid food for that day, so she ate ice cream, cottage cheese, and soft tacos for that day. The next day it was like she did not have the surgery. She was great!

My son is now 4 he had dental surgery at 2. He started grinding his teeth horribly from the time they came in which caused decay. Going in to surgery we discussed pulling 4 and capping some. The dentist instead pulled 10 and left 6! Not to scare you but tell them if anything changes once they get in her mouth to tell you BEFORE they proceed. It was not fun when he woke up, I felt horrible. We use a pediatric dentist that offers in office sedation which is liquid demeral/laughing gas or full blown sedation in a surgery center. I'm sure your daughter will be fine, but I don't understand why they are not using office sedation. With ofice sedation you arrive a hour before the appt. the child takes the meds. and usually is a sleep or close to it by the time the gas is given. Good luck,

I've never heard of surgery under general anesthesia to have teeth filled - I'd get another opinion first. I've only ever had it done under local anesthesia, which is a shot of Novacaine in the mouth that numbs it for several hours. Is there some special concern that would require them to put her out in order to do a couple of fillings?

Our children have also had a few fillings under the local anesthesia (spelling?) but not considered surgery. They numbed the area with some novacaine on a swab so not even the shot was felt. I am a little puzzled by the need for what you refer to as surgery for fillings. Maybe something else is going on medically for your little one that we didn't have. Our procedures went without problems and they were eating and drinking normally within an hour or two. Good luck!

My son is 5, he has had a few fillings and was never put under. they give him "laughing" gas for a few min. then they get started and it only takes about 10 min. It's always been a really easy procedure for us.
Best of luck to you and your daughter:)