Dd (6) has to have a GA to have some teeth removed

[OnlyWantsOne]

I have real anxiety problems at the moment.

Dd age 6 has got some dental problems that we have managed so far with an excellent dentist but now he thinks she needs three baby teeth removed (two front top teeth & one back lower one)

I feel very worried that she will be in a lot of pain. Any advice?

she wont feel anything wwhen under GA. when she awakes they will give lots of analgeia and recomend calpol etc.

my dd had teeth removed under ga; she was eating ice cream an hour after wards took calpol for couple days and was fine within a day or so.

Was the ga very traumatic?

I had one when 5 (but it was emergency surgery) and I still remember it now being horrific.

No, it really isn't.

Ds2 has SN and had to have some work done under a ga including tooth removal.
It was fine. Ds2 was not in pain, nor did it distress him.

Ok. Can some one tell me the process?

they should have sent you leaflet explaining? if not ask them .
or they can arrange for you adn dd to visit the ward before hand and be shown what will happen ask the play specialist.

they will fit canula first with numbing cream.

that is worst bit.
once canula in then the GA meds will go in that - she will go to sleep. they will take her to heatre.

worst bit is waiting around - what helps you calm down? reading/chocolate/coffee/walking/ipod? take something with you.

when she comes back will have wads stufffed in her mouth for any blood but it wont be that much, they willl give you after care pack and advice on what to look for ie reasons to call them if you worried. ask for a number to call.

dd was fine and able to eat within hours as i said, went home same day, took it easy for couple days you dont want them runnnig around the playground incase of knocks for few days!

If they use numbing cream then why is the canula so bad?

It isn't bad
It is just the moment that a child may find difficult because there in a needle inserted into their hand.

I expected ds to struggle with that. The staff tried hard to conceal what they were doing but, to my surprise he was fascinated.

I recognise that you mention your own anxieties in your op. I hope it doesn't sound patronising to say that your attitude to this will massively affect your dc.

We told ds what would happen in very simple terms 'cream on your hand and then a needle but it won't hurt. Then you will have a slep and when you wake up mummy and will be there. When you fel wide awake we can go home'

He had barely any pain and we had some treats for him for once the procedure was over.

I think it is hard to stress how straightforward and unscary it was.

I have anxiety about it but that's why I need to know the process so I can compose myself & explain clearly to Dd. for example I would like to reassure her that the needle won't hurt because the cream will numb the skin but I don't want to do that if it still does Hurt her

try not use the words hurt ect, as they will still feel it.

it best for the experts to explain to your daughter which when you go for an assessment they will.

I would really really caution against explaining anything yourself, it is almost impossible not to pass on anxiety, or inadvertently cause some. I absolutely agree with you that it's best not to say things won't hurt, because if they do DD might feel betrayed. If I were you I would answer any questions with a very honest " I don't know darling, lets write that question down and we'll ask the dentist / hosptial when we go to see them".

With regards to pain, there is absolutely no pain during the procedure. Ask about pain relief (it's been a long time since I did children's extractions with GA). I would certainly expect to give calpol + / or nurafen for at least 24 hours afterwards. I also highly recommend cold things to eat at first, icecream, jelly and ice lollies.

As I said, I've not been in this set up for a long time, so procedures have almost certainly changed. Certainly in the late 90's in a major dental hospital children were accompanied to the theatre by their parent, the anaesthesia was through a small nasal mask (bubble gum scented, most of the children seemed quite amused by that). Once the child was asleep a nurse would take the parent through to the recovery room. The removal of 3 teeth would have taken less than a minute, really astonishingly fast. Most children were unconscious for a couple of minutes maximum, and woke up with their parent with them. There were no needles at all.

there is also often a degree of amnesia following GA, so things that happen just before she goes under may be completely forgotten.

my dd has had a few cannulas with numbing cream, and the cream hasn't worked, so after the first time it didn't work i felt awful saying she'd not feel a thing. didn't help with the staff saying the same either.

i wouldn't even go into details about the cannula. the cream could well work, you just have to soothe her if it doesn't and tell her it's all done now, well done, you've done well. etc...

Do call the ward and ask if you can go I before to see the ward and have the procedures explained to you and dd. it is important you both know what will happen where you will be and so n. they will have leaflets and toys to explain. They are very used to doing this don't feel shy about asking what will happen.

It would be more unusual for you not to ask ! Normally explaining to yo and dd should be part of the whole process.

Is it a children's hospital or children's ward or paed dental ward ?

There is also a freezing spray or numbing spray which works quicker than the cream .