Fretting about son's dental treatment (extractions) - help!

[Talith]

Me fretting not him! Although he's anxious too understandably.

My 12 year old needs to have four teeth removed to have his braces and they're really reluctant to offer a general anaesthetic.

I had the same done when I was his age but just with local anaesthetic injection and I remember it clearly and they aren't good memories at ALL.

I've also had sedation as an adult (which is the only other thing they offer) and that made very little difference to me. And the pain and the dry socket afterwards was grim. So yes, my experiences are colouring things.

Am I unreasonable to pursue anaesthesia, even though the dentist made me feel like the worst mother in the world for contemplating putting my son through it when the dentist didn't consider it necessary. I know there's risks, honestly I do, I just want to prevent him going through something I have and which I know can be truly horrid.

If your kids had extractions without how did they cope? how long to recover? I'm getting myself in such a flap about it and I don't want him to pick up on it.

I mean.. even if he did have a general, he'll still wake up to the same pain and socket problem surely? Generals are not as safe as the local, he'll be fine with local!

My kids haven't done it. But really, he's twelve, try to relax. I do understand, I'd be terrified about it too as a mother! But perhaps focus on thinking about what kind of things will make his recovery easier after; straws, a special treat for being brave etc etc. It'll be okay!

My DS had to have 10 extractions to be ready for braces when he was 13. The dentist did it over three appointments (so 4, 4, 2) and it went absolutely fine, DS was sore for the day but no trauma, no pain as long as I kept him topped up with paracetamol. It couldn't have been easier tbh. We're lucky as our dentist is lovely but there's no reason your DS's experiences shouldn't be as plain sailing.

DD had a tooth extracted when she was 6 with just a local, she was a bit scared but the dentist was very patient and stopped each time she asked him to stop and was very encouraging and it went well. She's since had a filling without even a local and managed very well.

I had two extracted when I was about 7 or 8 and I remember the fear of it being much worse than the actual process so definitely try to keep your anxiety about it to yourself so he doesn't pick up on it. I think it would be much better to not push for the GA so he doesn't think it's a big deal. I had another tooth taken out when I was 14, so a bit closer to your son's age than my daughter, and it was not a big deal at all at that age.

Absolutely no straws. Sucking dislodges the blood clot and risks dry socket.

Thanks so much for the replies. Honestly it's true what they say your own experiences jump up and bite you on the bum when your kids go through the same thing. So hard to shove those feelings down but really am trying!

Bloody hell 10 extractions in three sessions - WitchSharkadder now THAT'S brave!

Dd had 3 milk teeth extracted without anything, even a local. It was fine.
Are they adult teeth?

Whoa @nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut ! So noted for the future, I had no idea. Thanks for the tip!

Yes they're adult teeth one on each side top and bottom, next to the canine, not sure if they're the molar ones.

Oh gosh so interesting.
We live in Australia where they recommended general for my son to have 6 teeth extracted and I went to an English dentist who agreed to do them under local.
He did two appointments to allow one side to recover before starting the other.
Ds hated the injections but didn't mind the pulling and extracting at all. We were in the appointment for fifteen minutes max each time and he was out and about by lunchtime with a bit of calpol.
Personally I hate the thought of unnecessarily risking a general and I was glad ds didn't have all six out at once which would have made eating and drinking after so much harder

DD had four extractions under local without any notice (we mentioned to dentist she'd be referred back to him soon by the orthodontist, he'd just had the letter in and did them there and then alongside her checkup). She was fine, just hadn't eaten for a few hours. Luckily she could managed spag bol less than two hours later.

Hope it goes well.

It doesn't help that my son has some what you could call sensory issues, very twitchy when he has his haircut even etc and flinches when they dentist is just doing the usual exam. I can see him getting in a panic for a longer procedure with needles and shoving and pulling.

Christ I'm never going to be able to cut the bloody apron strings am I

I’m petrified of dentists but had a big back tooth out a few months ago with sedation. It was great!
Took paracetamol before hand and only had a couple more later that day. I was paranoid about dry socket so made sure I followed the instructions to the letter.
He’ll be fine with sedation,

With a good dentist, an extraction isn't painful or problematic and there's no need for general anaesthetic with all its attendant risks. Unfortunately there are an awful lot of bad dentists around.

those sound like pre-molars, which are not so deeply embedded as back teeth, so should come out easier.
please try no to impose your fears on your child. they take in so much.
they will be unconsciously taking on your attitudes and behaviour, that's what up-bringing is, for good or ill.
could someone else take him to the dentist for this procedure, his father or a grandparent/aunt/uncle, so that the atmosphere could be more neutral.
you must know that whenever possible, one should avoid GA. this does not warrant the risk. always do the least intervention.
perhaps you could seek counselling from a specialist dentist to cope with your PTSD. good luck to you both.

Yes I think I'll ask his dad to take him, he's much more no nonsense. I can do the cuddly fussy mum thing when he gets home!

DD had 4 teeth extracted to get ready for braces. She had them out over 2 visits. I worried myself silly as well but all was fine. We dosed her up on painkillers afterwards and did everything the dentist told us to for the aftercare. She went on to have braces on for 18 months and now has fabulous teeth. Funnily enough I was looking through some old papers at home on Saturday and found an old school photo of her before the braces. What a difference. It will all be worth it.

The roots of them have shrunk up so much, (if they are baby teeth) that they might be easier to take out then you are thinking.
Sometimes my sons tooth falls out and I wonder how they were staying in, there is hardly any roots.

I would definitely get a second opinion if your son has sensory issues. There are dentists that specialise in this and will help and advise you.

Regarding another post, getting10 teeth out???

I'm a consultant anaesthetist who does a lot of dental and maxillo facial work, and whilst I do understand your anxiety, I would encourage you to at least try the local anaesthetic route. The risks of general anaesthesia in a presumably otherwise healthy 12 year old for a minor procedure are not non existent but the probability of serious complications are very small. However, the disruption to your son will be much greater. For a start, the wait is likely to be considerably longer. Where I work the wait for non urgent paediatric dental work under GA (ie the child is not in severe pain) is over 6 months and I know some other Trusts with waits of nearly a year. That is part of the reason why GA isn't usually offered without good reason. I believe some Trusts simply won't accept referrals for extractions under GA for orthodontic purposes in fact. We do, but not as a routine - I can't imagine what the waits would be otherwise.
Then, having waited for however long you have to go through the rigmarole of hospital admission and pre op fasting. Often children (or indeed adults) who are anxious about the dentist are also anxious about hospital admission, coming to theatre and induction of anaesthesia too. We do our best to ameliorate that of course, but it isn't always easy. Then post operatively there is an increased risk of vomiting compared with having a local anaesthetic, often a sore throat from the breathing tube, the grogginess and tiredness some people feel after waking up, longer time off school probably, and the things you seem most worried about - pain and the risk of a dry socket - will still be there and would be managed the same way after a GA as a local. So having GA (for most people) is not dangerous as such but it is certainly not a panacea and the whole process of coming into hospital as opposed to going to the local dentist can upset some people even more.
I have worked with a lot of dentists over the years and there has definitely been a change in attitudes to anxious patients. When I first qualified it was very common for anyone nervous to be sent for a GA, but now most dentists are much better at dealing with anxiety and we see far fewer people coming to us because they have had bad experiences at the local dentist. As a previous poster has said there are some practices which specialise in dealing with anxious patients so you could ask if your son can be treated elsewhere if your own dentist isn't very sympathetic. But you may be pleasantly surprised by how well your son copes, especially if someone else can take him and that removes your own anxiety from the situation.
I hope everything goes smoothly.

I'm a dental nurse and we always go for local unless a patient is completely petrified. We then have to get them to come pelted a survey and refer it out the other practice it gets sent to then decides if the patient has scored high enough.
Your son shouldn't feel a thing under local but if he does all he needs to do is ask them to stop and they will numb more.

Sedation and GA for dentistry is so costly on the NHS that not everyone will qualify for it anyway and in our area you actually have to pay a certain amount towards sedation in some circumstances.

What teeth did you have removed? What teeth is your son having removed? Are they deciduous teeth? Some teeth have a different amount of roots/cusps and are easier to get out than others.

Complete*

Could he have 2 out one day and the other 2 out the following week that's what the dentist did with my Ds to prep for braces. They wouldn't take the 4 out all at once. He had no bother after the extractions.

God I love Mumsnet. I feel so much more positive about the local now and if his dad can take him I'll be able to drop part of the nagging anxiety which I can well imagine will infuse into his expectations if it hasn't already. And focusing on making the afterwards part better is something I can get a handle on. I'm taking on board all comments and appreciate both professional inputs and personal experiences.

Is sedation the one with the mask? I had 4 back molars removed at that age (to make room in my mouth) and I was completly out of it. I think maybe the sedation works more on little bodies? (It could just be me though, 1 Sudafed still makes me nap)

DS had to have a supernumerary canine tooth removed. He asked if I could go in with him and the dentist said, "Yes, of course". I wanted to stab her.

I didn't even watch and I nearly fainted. He was absolutely fine.

Honestly, OP, there is nothing to worry about.

I'm a dentist. Don't worry. He will be totally fine with local. Here ( Scotland) I am not aware of any hospital that offers GA for routine orthodontics extractions now. They argue that is for cosmetic reasons.
The teeth he is having are adult teeth, so do have roots, but they are very thin, and the ( lowers) in particular are conical shaped, so pop out really easily.
We use topical gel first so they rarely feel the injection, and I usually do it over two appointments. Totally fine. Also the risk of dry sockets is extremely small in kids. They are non smokers for a start, and very quick healers.