HELP! 10 yo DD is wittering wreck at the dentist. She went for two fillings today, but became a trembling weeping mess as the chair manouevered into position. Obviously couldn't do the fillings. She is an intelligent child and knows, rationally, that she has to have the fillings, and that leaving it will just make things worse.
She was fine with the dentist until a year ago when a molar tooth, which had not developed properly, became rotten, and very painful. My old dentist planned to extract under local anaesthetic, as she felt general was a last resort. However, the nervousness kicked in while the anaesthetic was taking effect, and even though she agreed that she couldn't feel it hurting, she refused to allow the dentist's fingers anywhere near her mouth. End result, after the usual amount of tedious messing about that the NHS insists on, was extraction under general in hospital.
If the fillings are not done, the teeth will get worse.
The dentist unwilling or unable to prescribe sedatives eg Valium, (not clear from phone call if it's 'can't' or 'won't'), but willing to treat her under the influence of sedatives if my GP is willing to prescribe them. Awaiting call from GP, who (of course) is on leave today.
Has anyone had any experience of hypnotherapy with a child of this age?