Toddler Tooth Extraction

[fci5767]

My foster son will have one of his front teeth pulled tomorrow morning. I love his dentist and I know they are very experienced but I'm so nervous. They described all the steps they do to get him comfortable but I think I'm going to need some of the gas they are giving him.

Anyone have any experiences they can share?

[Laura]

My ds was not a toddler (he was 5) when he had to have a lower front tooth removed. I remember that he was quite frightened going into the process, but handled it really well. Even the shot didn't bother him.

[Kathy B]

Kids definitely pick up on their parent's vibes, so make yourself calm down. Remember your dentist has done this many times and is experienced. It will be fine.

I know it sounds cliche, but take deep breaths.....long inhale, slow exhale.... and model the calm, cooperative attitude you want your child to have. It really does work if you do it. But if you can't get over your nervousness, it might be a good idea to take someone else along to help, and let your child go back with the dentist without you.

DD had several surgeries as a toddler/young child, and even though she was scared, she responded MUCH BETTER to a matter-of-fact attitude from me than she did when I let my own anxiety show. You may have to use some acting skills, but you can do it, and you will get through it. By this time tomorrow it will be a "thing of the past". :)

[memartha]

You've received great advice so far.

I wanted to add that when DS had his first teeth extracted (age 4?), he had a bit of gas as well as novocaine (sp?). Anyhow, the thing that freaked him out the most was the numb feeling from the novocaine, which lingered for a couple of hours. At least he was old enough to let me know why he was so upset, and when it wore off, he was just fine.

Good luck to you and the little guy!

[fci5767]

Thanks ladies. I think I'll be fine but the description is probably worse than the actual procedure. I remember something about some gas, being wrapped in a blanket to calm him down (not sure about that one, I could have imagined that part) and I think more gas. It's in the front so at least he won't have someone digging around in the back.

He will be three in July so I should probably stop referring to him as a toddler. I'm still deciding about the tooth fairy thing. It's not actually falling out on his own so I'll probably skip that part but he loves the Charlie and Lola "Wobbly Tooth" book.

[HRJ]

((Beth & C))

My DS, Victor, had to have his four upper front teeth extracted when he was a little over 2. Believe me when I say the experience was 20 times worse for me than for him, so I know where you are coming from. I can't believe it when I say that I don't remember all the details now (at the time, of course, I thought I'd remember them forever), but, his recovery was remarkably fast, and he seemed to remember very little of the extraction experience after it was over -- or, at least, he didn't seem particularly traumatized by it.

I remember he had something for the pain -- can't remember if it was just Children's Tylenol, or something stronger -- and he was kind of out-of-sorts the day we had it done, but after that, it was no big deal. And having the teeth missing has never really bothered him -- he can eat just about anything, including whole apples, without those front teeth.

I know Victor was a little younger then (I think he was 27 months?) than your foster son is now, but I don't think the experience should be all that different.

I still think the Tooth Fairy can come, even if the tooth didn't fall out on its own -- I thought the rules were that she comes to claim missing teeth, regardless of how they went missing. Since Victor was so young and money didn't mean anything to him, we had the Tooth Fairy bring him some Thomas trains -- one for each tooth (a lot to lug for the Tooth Fairy!). I don't think he really got the whole concept, though, until he was 4 1/2, and lost his first tooth on his own.

You've gotten good advice from the other posters -- good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Helene