Milk tooth extraction

[mdpis3]

Have had this in childrens health for a while but decision day is tomorrow and I'm terrified. DD6.5yr has an abscessed lower molar. It's been a problem tooth for a year or so with repeated fillings as the crap ones our dentist uses kept falling out. Anyway, losing filling after filling has obviously lead to a deeper infection and now we have a gumboil the size of a bright yellow petit pois. Original dentist said extraction only and special DD has a range of medical issues she will be referred to the special care dentistry hospital for a general anaesthetic. My face was as she has brain damage and we have to work tirelessly with anaesthetists prior to any procedures she has. Anyway, it lead me to research gum numbing gels and the ability to have the tooth removed at the dentists with a local anaesthetic injection so we have a second opinion scheduled for tomorrow. Apparently this tooth will also need a space maintainer fitted as it's a good few years before the other molars will come out.

Anyway, have any of your children had an abscess? What treatment was offered? Have they managed to have standard extraction at the dentists without the need for sedation or a general anaesthetic?

And to make it relevant, AIBU to be terrified at the thought of them yanking a tooth from her perfect little mouth

*and because DD has

Stupid phone

To add, DD has been on slow release antibiotics for 10 days. The abscess literally came up over night last week with only a mention of a tooth ache at dinner the night before so this isn't a long standing abscess. If that makes a difference.

My 9 year old daughter had an abscess under one of her back (milk) teeth. She had it out under gas and air. I was not able to go with her, but my husband tells me that they used an injection to numb the gum once the gas and air had taken effect (told her they were spraying it with water!). She says she really likes the dentist she saw that day and wants to go there again - which suggests that it 'went well'.

My son had an extraction prior to orthodontic work - no abscess. He was about 11 and very stoical but I think would have found it hard with local if he was younger.

I think it is also important for them to be still - don't know how bad your DDs medical issues are but would suspect if you struggle with an anaesthetist present then it maybe v difficult indeed under local. Plus an abscess makes it all much more painful.

See what the 2nd opinion says but I wouldn't be too dismayed if they suggest the same.

My daughter had a milk tooth extraction by a paediatric dentist at a special clinic, she was 8 I think, which was organised through her orthodontist. They numbed the gum then injected then pulled it out. It was really quick and no pain. Can you get a referral to a paediatric team who know exactly what they are doing.

My son had four teeth extracted by a special care dentistry unit, not because of any other health issues but because he was only 2 and therefore too young for the paediatric dentist . There were other patients attending the clinic with very complicated situations. Based on that, I would think the dentistry hospital might be worth a shot. I assume that they would be able to offer extraction with a local as well as GA. On the other hand we had to wait more than a year from referral to treatment so I would investigate waiting times as well.

My son had to have an upper molar removed when he was 5.5. Took him to a paediatric dentist and he just had local anaesthetic, no gas or air. He is very good at the dentist so it was an option, most of my friends children are terrified of dentists and won't sit still so have had to go down the general anaesthetic route for tooth removal.

To be completely honest, it did hurt, DS was quite distressed and screamed a bit but it was all over in under five minutes and he is still quite happy to visit the dentist. I too was terrified of him haviNg a general anaesthetic which is why I chose this route and I am happy I did even though it was horrid having to watch him suffer.

Oh and he didn't like the numb feeling afterwards at all. Almost the worst bit but it wore off after about an hour.

I also asked about the space saver thing as had read bout it on the internet and he said not to bother is we didn't. I guess different dentists have different opinions.

Good luck, I feel for you, was awful when we were going through it all but seems a long time ago now even though it was only a few months ago!!

I had a back tooth removed because of an abscess when I was 7. I had it under local anaesthetic and cant even remember it, so it cant have been very traumatic. My DN has also had 3 teeth out when she was 6. She wasn't knocked out and she was fine. I would definitely ask for a second opinion.

My DD had a milk tooth removed it was coloured and seems to have been knocked and had an infection above it - I suppose this was an abscess? We left it for a long time to see if healed and it didn't.

The whole thing was really quick ( it was front tooth and easy to get too).

They gave injection into gum, DD was a little shocked but fine, then had some pliers and after two yanks got it out.

DD was shocked, shed a tear.....but she has never ever had any dental work before...normally quick sit in seat and a sticker so I think it was all just totally shocking, but she was fine after literally ten minuets...

At that age I wouldn't allow my child to have an extraction with local alone but would want to avoid GA. I'd want inhalational sedation.

My son had a tooth extracted for a tooth abcess under local by an extremely talented young dentist at seven and half years old. It was really tough for him and he is an exceptionally cooperative child. The dentist told him that he was easier to work with than many adults.

I think a lot depends on your child's level of understanding. Most six year olds would struggle to cope with a tooth extraction. What was your daughter like at coping with having fillings.

My son has had fissure sealents which have really helped to protect his remaining teeth. We had the same problem as you with NHS fillings being rubbish and I took my son to a private practice so that we could get the best fillings possible. My son also has an oral hygienist and fluoride treatment on his teeth to strengthen the enamel. Thankfully he has no fillings in his adult teeth and when his last baby tooth falls out he will be filling free.

My daughter who is 14 had surgery in November to remove an eye tooth which hadn't come through and was now lying on the roots of her other teeth.

We were referred and were told they wanted to do it under a local. Dd has 2 years of orthodontics to have, then jaw surgery, followed by more orthodontic work.

They wanted to do a local, rip her gum open and then file the bone down to then remove he tooth. I knew with the amount of work she is needing, I would never get her back in a dental chair. Théy offered gas and air but dd was not keen on that, so they put her for a GA.

So we got 3 options. I'd possibly suggest Gas and Air for your dd, but you know her best x

Just an update. DD is having the abscessed tooth removed with local anaesthetic tomorrow morning. The new dentist who we saw privately for a second opinion has said he's never had to refer a child for a milk tooth extraction in 22 years and that she will be in the chair for a maximum of 5 minutes. With the gel and no pain, just tugging, I pray she copes well.

Thanks for all your input.

How did she get on?

Well, she did wonderfully. DH and I were nearly passed out in the corner but she was a champ. It was a bit brutal in terms of the yanking and cracking sounds and boy did she bleed but from start to finish it was probably 4 minutes and 2 minutes of that was waiting for the local anaesthetic to take effect. Her tooth was a back molar that still had another 4 or so years left so the roots were loooong but it came out and she's recovering ok. It's sore and has bled a lot but she hasn't need any pain relief since the numbness wore off and given that she is hyper sensitive to everything (she has cerebral palsy and autistic) I am flabbergasted that she's coped as well as she has. It might not be for everyone but we will do anything to avoid further general anaesthetics so I vouch for always getting a second opinion.

well done to you both, personally as a dentist I agree with your dentist that practically any child over 5 should have extractions with local anaesthetic (not all
my own DD is 5 she doesn.t but if she needed an extraction after trauma or whatever it wouleeding d be local only I would avoid a GA if at all possible

sorry silly phone with typos

well done to you both, personally as a dentist I agree with your dentist that practically any child over 5 should have extractions with local anaesthetic (not all ie multiple extractions, some kinds of SN)
my own DD is 5 she doesn't but if she did need an extraction after trauma or something I would chose LA for her, I would avoid GA if at all possible

on avaerage it takes much longer for anaesthetic to work than it does for tooth to come out, most extractions take less than a minute never taken more than 5 minutes to extract a milk tooth and that was because it had fractured roots which needed taking out in pieces

I would say that even adult teeth on average take 2 minutes or less to extract unless broken or impacted ( like wisdom teeth)

It's great to hear from a dentist on here. I do understand where our original dentist was coming from, my DD is probably every dentists worst nightmare as she both mentally and physically disabled with limited control of her jaw, however it did seem like she was palmed off for a GA because of convenience. I totally get that it's probably easier to do it without a wriggly child however having had my own impacted wisdom teeth removed under GA the recovery was MUCH longer than when I had teeth extracted at the dentist during my teens to make way for braces.

It really was very quick and the numbing gel made it painless and easy. Getting her to do salt rinses after eating is not quite so easy

Glad she did so well!

Really glad it all went well for her x

Thank you x

A big well done to your DD for coping so well. I had 2 teeth out as a 9or 10yo and was absolutely traumatised, LOL. It was spontaneous so I left the dental surgery in complete and utter shock with big cotton wool things sticking out of my mouth.

The following appointment to have the next 2 removed (I have a small jaw, so he was making room for future teeth) I screamed and cried and refused to open my mouth LOL.

So she sounds very brave. A huge gold star and for her :)