To think that general anaesthetic is a little dangerous for a tooth extraction on a 2yr old

[Shelly32]

My DD was born 7 weeks premature and as a result , the enamel on her teeth wasn't prepared when she was first fed. One of her teeth developed a hole (the rest haven't thank goodness!) and for the past year she's lived without it causing any pain. Now she is complaining of pain and the dentist has advised that she should have it extracted at a Children's Hospital at the end of Jan. She will have to go under anaesthetic...Is there anything else they can do such as mild sedation that I could ask for? I'm really concerned that she's too young to undergo general.

My dd2 had a GA for 3 teeth out the week before Christmas, she is 6. They really check them over before to check they are well before they do it. I was really worried, she was not out for long and was well enough to go home under 2 hours after. It is much better under GA as they won't remember it being done. We did have to wait a long time. She was referred in July and seen December we had the pre opp visit in October

I had 10 teeth taken out as a child (for orthodontistry not rotten teeth), the first one when I was 7. I remember every one with horrifying clarity - it was extremely traumatic. I also have a ds who had a ga at 14 months (for something totally non-tooth related...). It wasn't great leaving him on the operating table unconcious, but I'd choose that for him for a tooth extraction over what I went through!

I use to do this - wee while ago now! We use a very gentle short acting anaesthetic as the tooth removal itself is very fast! It would be very hard for her to have a local I think, and mild sedation may not be enough. All our wee customers coped very well with it and the anaesthetist doing it will be very experienced, with a good team of assistants. She will probably find the whole thing way less traumatic than you will! (And I know what it's like on the parent side as 2 of mine have had anaesthetics!)

My 5yo had a tooth removed with local anaesthetic last year. It was horrific. She screamed bloody murder, and I ended up having to pin her down. Awful.

GA has GOT to be the better option imo.

DS1 had 2 GA's in a very short space of time when he was 4 - for adenoid removal and then for taking out his front teeth after he broke them on a concrete step.

The GA for the teeth was nothing like the "proper" one - he was out for less than 2 mins, and was able to walk out about 10 mins later, completely fine. Didn't even appear to have any pain! In fact, he was eating about an hour later. After the adenoids, he was very distressed, which was apparently a side effect of the heavy anaesthetic, and wasn't himself for several days. The dental one really didn't faze him at all.

It is terrifying though - I am very unemotional, and rarely cry, definitely not in public, but did on both of the above occasions. So be gentle with yourself!

Hi im really worried my 6 yr old son has got to go to a specialist childrens dentist hospital to have some teeth out coz of constant tooth ache some are rotten eating too much fruit and really scared of the trauma he goin to go through no doubt he will scream the whole building down like he did when he had to have his vaccine and coz of his age will he wake up ok im so scared of somthing happening coz of it im a worrier all the time but this is just going to push me over the edge

Sorry to hear that hswain but hopefully you can take comfort from most of the messages on this thread.

ODP and mum here, ds had a general at 14 months as a day case and was as right as rain afterwards. Hungry mostly. I was upset but the theatre team and play specialist were brilliant.

On the work side can I reassure you that ALL your little people are our babies whilst we are looking after them in theatre. Each and every person I care for as an anaesthetic practitioner or care for in Recovery is really important and the most important person in the room.

Sounds trite I know but it's true

fantastic thread,thanks op

my son age 6 has to go for a consultation next week for 2 out and he's really starting to worry,ive tried to explain they are just having a look and wont do anything on the day,but obviously the next visit they will

can i ask how were your dc's were with the injections and going in??

many years ago my eldest son (this was 10 yrs ago) had a tooth removed and prior to the GA he was really frightened,crying having to drag him in im so not looking forward to it,but have taken some comfort from this thread

sorry for hijack

GA is very safe now and she will be at a hospital if she does react (very unlikely) so they can deal with it. I would rather my toddler had a GA rather than be traumatised by remembering the extraction and never want to have her teeth looked at again. I volunteer at a wildlife hospital and we use general anaesthetic on tiny very sick wild animals to examine them with only a little bit of training and I've never known of an adverse reaction to it.

DS had to have a growth removed from his tongue at just past his 2nd birthday under GA. On an adult a LA would have been enough, but how can you explain to a 2 year old to stay still while a surgeon's got a scalpel in his mouth?!

He was fine under GA, just disorientated when he came round.

And I agree about using GA for tooth removal - wish I had the option when getting 3 teeth out as a teenager. Was numbed through LA but could feel and hear every wrench of the pliers.

I had teeth out as a child under local and like the poster above I remember every one very clearly and it gave me a major dental and needle phobia. I had two wisdom teeth out under sedation about 18 months ago and "woke up" during it - also very traumatic.

The last two came out under general - because I'm needle phobic they gave me a small amount of gas first before doing the canula for the main anaesthetic so I knew nothing about it.

Obviously I'm an adult now so it's different but I think it's probably the least traumatic approach for children (and grown ups!)

My son had a GA for grommets at age 2, it wasn't traumatic at all. The anaesthetist sang nursery rhymes to him while gradually moving the mask closer and he just fell asleep in my arms. I was the one who was a nervous wreck! Good luck with it all xx

I'm an anaesthetist, please don't worry. GA is very safe and she will be in excellent hands, closely monitored through-out and in the safest possible environment should anything go wrong. Speak to the anaesthetist and let him or her know your concerns, let them explain everything to you and ask all the questions you need to ask. I promise you, we are used to patients (and parents) asking questions and having concerns. I remember one of my teachers when I was training saying only 10% of theatre anaesthetics is drugs, the rest is keeping the patient (or relative) calm and reassured. :)

OP - hope all the replies have made you feel better. My DS had a GA for his teeth at 13/14 - I think you worry at whatever age. I was with him right until he was wheeled into theatre and I felt like crying. I am sure at your DD's age they would only do it if absolutely necessary