Has anyone's child had teeth out under a GA?

[CreatingHavoc]

I've agreed for my daughter, aged 7, to have surgery to remove some decaying teeth. She has sensory issues and really struggles with brushing and the dentist so this is our last option really. However, I'm terrified. Really, really scared. I would never choose for her to have teeth out in this way, it's a last resort and I don't know if I should just wait a bit longer to see if she gets any better at the dentist. I've just found a really good one who is very patient and understanding but her surgery is meant to be in 2 weeks time and I'm having a major wobble. I'm so scared of her having the GA. The fear is so intense it's making me want to cancel it but then I'm also worried about potential abscesses etc. I don't know what to do for best. 😢

Tooth extraction is the number one reason for children to have GA in the UK. If she can’t stand having her teeth brushed properly then I very much doubt she would cope with tooth extraction without a GA.

My daughter is due an operation (different to yours) and initially I put if off in part due to the worry about a GA. Then she needed a GA for an emergency operation last year and it all suddenly seems less scary. The anaesthetists were amazing and even managed to get her cannula in without her realising.

Not yet but on Friday my ds12 is having 4 teeth out under GA. They grew through with no enamel on them so it was inevitable they would have to come out eventually. DS also really struggles with the dentist so he was referred on to have it done under GA. I am not that concerned about the op itself but I do think he’s going to struggle with the recovery!

The actual time they’re going to be out for us really very short and I think it’s a much better option for them than being awake or sedated if they hate the dentist anyway. If her teeth are already decaying then they will soon start hurting so better to have them out asap.

It sounds as if it'd be quite traumatic for her to have a tooth extraction without G.A-It's traumatic enough for many adults.

@Onlywords that is impressive! I had a G.A last week and still have a massive bruise where they botched up shoving the canula in!

Yes, my DC had GA for this reason. I was a little concerned, but I think having them removed 'normally' would have been very traumatic for him. All went very well.

Yes, my DS 12 had to have a couple out prior to having a brace fitted. No problem at all.

He'd previously had a GA at six months for a very complex & serious op at GOSH ... again, worrying (for parents) but no issues at all.

I had teeth out under GA as a child. Far less traumatic for me than the filings the dentist did with gas and air. I remember recovering really well. Was home in the afternoon and eating.

They are taking about 6 or 7 teeth out apparently. She has problems with her enamel as well, when she was a baby her top 4 front teeth came through with brown marks on them. One dentist suggested it could have been down to me having to have a lot of antibiotics when I was pregnant and just after her birth. So that coupled with her sensory issues (likely adhd and possibly spd) means she's had a rough time of it teeth wise. Her molars are already causing her discomfort so I think realistically I feel like we don't have much choice. I'm just so terrified of the GA itself.

I was this child, though a little older. No way I would have been able to stay still and calm enough for a filling. It was a fine experience, though I was obviously very nervous. I struggled to sleep the night before so I remember not even hearing the anaesthetist doing the count down. That is honestly the only thing I remember about the whole experience. It wasn't traumatic at all.

Yep. When he was about 8 I think.

Was in and out in no time at all. Also had GA for a abdo surgery at 7. Totally fine.

Not teeth related at all but my daughter had major surgery under GA last year and the anaesthetists were amazing. They let her choose iv or gas mask anaesthetic for which she chose the latter. They let her choose a flavoured lip balm to coat the mask in so it smelt nice. All cannulas were then put in when she was asleep.

The nursing staff had put numbing cream on the area on the ward but they were practised at distracted little ones by explaining the equipment and it was done in a matter of seconds. They said if they couldn’t get her to cooperate with a cannula they would have to use gas to knock her out first which can be distressing for the parents.

GA are very safe now and prior to surgery both the surgeon and anaesthetists will come and talk to you separately. You stay with your child until their unconscious (you will be all gowned up) and then a member of staff will help you put of the room. And they will get you as soon as their conscious again.

Mine had them out when he was 4, he was upset after the GA as he was coughing a lot (they brought up a lot of gunk from his lungs which I think he'd suffered with for years!) but fine after a cuddle. The actual prep, GA, op, staff were amazing.
No way could he have had them out without GA.. tooth extraction is brutal.

My son had same with two teeth for same reason. Also adhd... let me tell you that it was far worse witnessing him in constant pain with them crumbling during lockdown and not being able to have the op done. It was very very quick and they were amazing and it was fine: I didn't go and my dh did. I had just had an op... it really was fine there was a children's app which does a walk through the hospital and all the areas so he was prepared. Stop worrying

Yes it was fine. My ds who has learning disabilities had a tooth out this way. He came round very quickly.

I amsesthetise for dental lists they're very straight forward and low risk

If you do decide to cancel please make sure you tell them ASAP so theres time to find a replacement patient as we ended up with an empty theatre all afternoon today sfter parents changed their mind but didnt let us know in time to reuse the slot which is a terrible shame given how long the waiting lists are

Just revisiting this thread as her surgery is booked for this Thursday. I'm still very nervous but we have the app that let's you look around the hospital, which is helpful. I think they're taking 6 or 7 teeth out. All baby teeth thankfully.

Good luck @CreatingHavoc

You’ll both be fine.

My son, unfortunately, has had lots of operations, including dental.

The staff will talk you through what to expect when you arrive. You should be allowed to go into the first part of theatre (where she goes off to sleep) if you want.

She is unlikely to remember any of it.

You’ll wait on the ward or be told a time to come back and meet her there.

They will want to make sure she’s had a wee and possibly eaten something before she’s allowed home. You may be surprised how quickly she wakes up after surgery.

Yes, at about the same age, and with sensory issues and anxiety due to autism, but only one tooth. I was also worried about how it would go, but then while we were waiting for the appointment he ended up needing a GA for emergency treatment of a minor wound. It was honestly all fine. By the time we had the dental appointment my anxiety around the GA had diminished massively. My DS said he’d rather go back to the hospital to have his teeth out than go to school.

The medical staff weren’t judgmental and were really good with him. Just about every child in the waiting room was autistic with sensory issues.

The only time he was upset was after he’d come round, but it was a tired, groggy upset that could be fixed with cuddles.

The first GA I was in emergency mode and was being super upbeat because of that, by the second I was just able to treat it a bit like an exciting day out. DS wasn’t worried.

My son did and it was fine. See if they can seal any adult ones whilst she’s under. My son’s enamel hadn’t formed properly on his baby ones and they were crumbling. He was very phobic. But yes get them to do everything they can to protect her new teeth.

Hope it goes well.

Yes the gas can be terrible. My daughter had to have GA as a baby and had the gas. It was quite animalistic and inhumane. She had to have another GA at 4 and it was much better. I made it like a game. I put in on my face and then she had a turn and they turned on the gas. Worked really well

It will he perfectly fine. My daughter has done it twice. She is diagnosed with autism, was 30 weeks and 1.2kg at birth which made her have demineralised teeth. Last time they gave her a medicine which made her pretty much fall asleep. They said it would sedate her but she was out like a light

My ds had teeth out when he was 6. He didn't have GA so I can't comment on that bit but the recovery was really quick. He had a bit of Calpol on the first day and was back to school and eating normally by the next day. I was amazed as I thought he would be sore for longer.

I think inhumane is somewhat of an exaggeration- unfortunately some children arent very tolerant and that can make it unpleasant but the vast majority of gas inductions are pleasant where we either pretend to gas the Teddy to start with or allow them to blow bubbles through the bag or make it whistle. Or space masks or smelly pens they can make the mask smell first. we have many options available

Most kids are v cooperative. Some are at the in-between age when are a bit more anxious and fight the mask more. ..but 5mins of a mask held whilst being hugged by a parent that they have no memory of is in most instances better than repeatedly trying to stab the child with needles which is the only other means of getting them to sleep.... or cancelling them/wasting the slot/ ongoing issues from delaying the surgery and having to rebook

Not my child but me. I had teeth out at 7 under GA. I was fine. This was almost 30 years ago.

With the gas they just held very near my face, I turned my head away and they moved the mask with me. It wasn't pleasant as I did t like the smell but not traumatic.