AIBU?
to think more could/should be done to help a 3yo in pain?
create · 09/05/2011 20:45
My nephew fell of his bike 2 weeks ago and broke a tooth. You can see it has 3 cracks, 2 of which run into the gum.
He's in pain, crying constantly and his mouth is bleeding daily. He's not sleeping and barely eating.
He was seen by his dentist the day it happened and his mother was told the tooth needs to be removed, but that they won't do it for such a young child without a general anesthetic. They're still waiting for an appointment, at the hospital dental clinic, to have it done and in the meantime he's still suffering.
Apart from the issue of the wait, does it seem right to you that he should have a general anesthetic? I thought it was generally considered they should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. I'm obviously no expert, but how hard can it be to remove a broken milk tooth with little root? Obviously wouldn't be any fun, but at least it would be over quickly.
Does anyone have any advice for my poor sister?
millymollypeeps · 09/05/2011 20:52
sorry, haven't logged in for ages. wanted to make sure password correct!
have been in just this position and it is terrible. it is almost as if teeth aren't seen as medical iykwim. my daughter had to wait ages to have teeth taken out under general. walk in clinic sounds like a good idea, i wish i had done more. she really suffered!
it's not on at all, if an adult was in that much pain surely it would be dealt with quickly.
you have my sympathy.
Carty80 · 09/05/2011 20:55
My 3 year old nephew fell over and cracked one of his teeth right in the middle all the way to the gum and had to have it out under a general so must be the norm I would have thought. He was fine, glad when it was out and he could start cleaning his teeth again properly! They had to wait weeks and weeks for an appointment to get it out, so unfair on the little one. Hope your nephew gets seen quickly.
create · 09/05/2011 21:03
Private treatment isn't an option for political reasons, which I'm not about to argue with my sister over atm (my ethics went out of the window when I had DC 
)
A&E and GP have both said calpol/neurophen are the only things they can suggest for the pain.
I guess they have to wait then. Good to know others have been told the same thing re tooth extraction in young children. Thank you
Silverlace · 09/05/2011 21:14
My DS, aged 2 at the time, fell and knocked one front tooth clean out and pushed the other into his gum. I took him to A&E and he had to go back the next day for a GA to remove it. He was fine and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The trauma of having him awake would have been awful. He recovered quickly and soon got used to not having his front teeth.
Can she go back again and see about more pain relief?
twoiscrackingup · 09/05/2011 21:33
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
create · 11/05/2011 17:48
My sister has taken the ethical view that her child's pain is not more important than another child who's parent's can't afford for him to queue jump. Whilst I don't think I could do it and would get my own DC the treatment as quicklyas I could, her view is perfectly valid.
The overall argument is that, if everyone (including those with influence and/or money) used the NHS, it would be better.quicker as influencial people wouldn't put up with having their child wait like this. Those of us who put our own and our own children's need before the wider good are just been selfish! (which is after all absolutely true)
Thank you for your experiences with GA in chlidren.
DirtyMartini · 14/05/2011 17:15
But then wanting your children to have anything that others cannot have is by extension selfish surely, as the world is currently unfair in so many ways? I mean ... my child's hunger is "not more important" than the hunger of a child starving halfway around the world. I do what I can to make that imbalance better, but I don't not feed my child, or feed them only roots from the garden or something.
It sounds a bit silly, sorry. And cold. As for the overall argument I'm not even sure that holds water.
FabbyChic · 14/05/2011 17:26
My child was that young when he required teeth to he removed, they only remove teeth from children with a general. Do you know how distressing it is for a tooth to be removed?
I'd take him to casualty if the pain is that bad, no child should be in constant agony a toothache is horrendous in an adult.
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