Teeth extraction in 3 year old under GA

[busymummy77]

Hi, my DS is going in on Friday to have two teeth taken out. They are putting him under GA to remove them. Anyone had any experience and what shall i expect.

I am such a worrier.

I used to work in peadiatric theatres for a short while. What would you like to know?

I am sure i am worrying over nothing but the thought of them putting him to sleep upsets me. What will he be like when he comes round. I suppose i just want some reassurance as it is a simple procedure but i dont know anyone who has had a child go under GA.

The policy where I am is to allow a parent to go into the anaesthetic room with their child. He won't feel the cannula going in, they will put some cream on the back of his hand on the ward. He'll be distracted with a book so he won't see, then he'll drift off to sleep and the nurse will take you out. After they have removed the teeth he will stay in recovery until he wakes up, then they will bring him to you. He'll either be full of beans or have a nap. They will give you the teeth for the tooth fairy and make a fuss of him. He'll be given a drink and discharged later. They will give you info regarding tooth cleaning, oral hygiene and bleeding. The site will bleed but that's normal. It will not be pleasant for him, remember to get some ibuprofen and paracetamol for home.

I hope all goes ok. It can be hard for a parent to see a child go into the operating theatre but they will take very good care of him.

busymummy, my DS has had 4 GAs so far, and will have another 2 (at least) in the next year.

IME children sail through. The staff and anaesthetist are generally very experienced and it all happens v smoothly. It is VERY hard on the parent. They will ask you to cuddle your ds as he goes unconscious, and that is very emotional - but you have to keep calm fro the child - and it is awful leaving them, unconscious.

But for teeth it will be an incredibley quick procedure, and he will come round very fast. he may be woozy, and he might feel sick, although mostly anaesthetics these days aren't like the ones from the 'old days' and I think it's much rarer to be sick, now.

They will call you as he is beginning to come round - he won't ever be taken away from you while he is conscious.

Just be clear that you ask them about pain relief for afterwards - what they have given him, and what you can give. Remember you can alternate Ibriprufen and paracetamol.

Also, he will be hungry from not having eaten beforehand - so take something that he likes that he can easily eat - yogurt. And drinks - he will be thirsty.

My son had GA to have teeth out last autumn. He is 11 but has SN so is actually close to your childs age.
The put him in his bed and took him through to the theatre. They let him hold his fav toys which was a huge comort. He was given a local anestetic cream on his hand so it was numb and the Drs distracted him while they put in a nneedle to administer the GA. Dr told me to kiss him as he would go to sleep soon and he was out almost imediately.

When he woke yup he was just groggy and had a small amount of beelding but he was not really aware of that.
I had a very special gift ready for him for being so brave ( a baloo the bear toy).
He got fed up waiting for us to be let home but he was happy with the tv and DVDs.
He drank and ate and kept that down and then we were allowed to leave.
He had very little - no pain afterwards as i just used childrens neurofen as recommended.

Top tips - fav toy was great as a reward.
I took in a pudding for him to eat as they wanted him to eat but he couldn't eat their food.
If it will help ask if you can take him in to see the ward etc before he goes in. The hosp were happy for DS to do that and it made it less scarey.
Plus without being a pain I was quite persistent in talking to the staff about getting him home at the earliest oppertunity.

Take something to distract you while you wait. He was in the theatre for four hours and i nearly went crazy. Does that help

And yes - the moment he went under I wept for ages!

DS was always thoroughly cheeful when he came round. Honestly - full of beans as Avenanap said!

Hi, thanks for advice.

Fave toy and taking a drink/food in are good ideas.

They have decided to take them out as they are badly decayed and beginning to chip/split.

They dont cause him any pain but over the last few months he has had temps and red ears for a day and is then fine so not sure if that is connected.

I hope so, he is not very good with pain.

DH and me have the day of work and my little girl is at nusery for the day so he will have our attention all day.