Oral Surgery for Children

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Oral Surgery for Children
« on: November 06, 2006, 02:55:33 PM » by SC

We just returned from our littlest one's first dentist appointment. The news is disheartening. Our little guy with Down syndrome has some crowded teeth. He also has an underbite (jaw jutted forward). From what I have been told, he will eventually need surgery to "reposition" the jaw. This will probably involve at least one night's stay in the hospital followed by about 30 days of a wired shut mouth. We expect that the surgeon will anchor everything with braces that are applied at the time of surgery.

Needless to say, I am not looking forward to the prospect of handing this little one over to the surgeons again. We've already gone through open heart surgery and ear tubes. Although this will not be for another 4 years or so.

Otherwise, he is healthy.

Has anyone had experience with this surgery? What was your experience? Because this involves the position of the bone -- it isn't muscular, but structural -- it seems that there aren't any exercises, stretches, or appliances that can help correct the situation. . . Or is there? What have you heard?

« Last Edit: November 06, 2006, 09:12:43 PM by SC »
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Re: Oral Surgery for Children
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2006, 08:34:45 PM » by KristenA

Hi SC
I am sorry your son will have to have this surgery. Sad

I am close to several adults who have had this procedure done.

They said the most difficult aspect is the post-surgery wiring. Having enough food to eat (not the same thing over and over) was really rough. I am sure you will plan ahead for that though. Wink

HTH a little Sad

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Re: Oral Surgery for Children
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2006, 08:56:17 PM » by SC

Thanks, KristenA --

It's encouraging to know that there have been positive outcomes. That's what my research has shown so far. I agree that the recovery will most probably be the most difficult, especially for a small one that may not understand what/why this is happening. Cry

I'm just going to be praying that God will correct the jaw so that this won't be needed. I'd rather avoid it if at all possible. Please pray.

And, if anyone else knows of an alternative, I'd like to hear about it.

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Re: Oral Surgery for Children
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2009, 03:41:26 PM » by blessedwife

My 7-year-old needs to have 3 molars pulled this week. The oral surgeon wants to sedate him (not genereal anesthesia) in order to do the procedure. I have been a wreck for the past 3 weeks, trying to decide what the best treatment would be for him.

Factors to consider:

1. He will most likely FREAK OUT if there is going to be a needle/shot involved (which, or course, there will be).

2. We saw one particular dentist (one who practices biological dentistry) who suggested pulling the 2 on the one side of his mouth first and the 1 on the other side of his mouth at a later time. She would only use a local anesthetic but offers nitrous (sp?) oxide if we want that option as well.

3. The oral surgeon insists that doing the 3 teeth at the same time is the wisest idea, and that children "do the same whether you pull 1 or 3".

4. One friend of mine had 4 of her daughter's (she was 8 at the time) baby molars pulled at once. Just local anesthesia. She said she would "NEVER" do that again (have all 4 done at once) told me it was a blood bath, awful, daughter was weak and shaky, etc.

AGH!!!! What do I do? (The Lord has not told me yet

)

Please help! I only have another day or two to make a final decision.

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Re: Oral Surgery for Children
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2009, 04:36:19 PM » by orcuttranch

The only comment I can make here is about either doing them all at once or separate them out. I don't have any experience with nitrous or sedation (only local and only personally - not with my kids).

As a parent - I personally would choose to have them all done at once. I know my kids - and once they go in one time for a tooth pulled, I think it would be much harder to get them to understand why I am taking them back again to have the same thing done a couple months later. Yes it is painful - I had my 4 wisdom teeth out 2 years ago. And that of course is coming from an adult. But still I would rather go through the pain once, not be able to eat much food for a while only once, have the sedation or local only once and have to take the pain medicine afterwards only once. I hope it goes smoothly - no mother ever likes to watch their children suffer!!

FWIW

Oh - one more comment. I would say, get references for the oral surgeon. Talk to people you know that have used him before. I know in our town there are a few oral surgeons, but from all accounts I would only go to the one that we went to. He was well known for doing a great job and a clean job (no major trauma to surrounding tissue) and so many of the patients said that they didn't have nearly the pain that they thought they would when they were done.

« Last Edit: June 22, 2009, 04:39:44 PM by orcuttranch »
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Re: Oral Surgery for Children
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2009, 03:29:09 PM » by hi_itsgwen

I can only tell you from an adult perspective: go under, and do it all at once. Being awake at all is going to be torturous, and I think it causes more trama from tensing, etc. If needles freak him out, it's much easier to look away from an IV in your arm than from the needle coming straight for your face, and then the drill...and the cutting/yanking.

I had all of mine done at once under general anesthesia. I must have had a great surgeon, because after sleeping off the anesthetic all day, I had very little pain. Only a dull achiness that went away in a couple of days without me taking pain meds.

My sis opted for the one at a time route with local. She was so traumatized from the first one, that she begged to be put under for the final tooth to come out.

So that's my two cents. It's what I would choose to do for my own kids, bsed on our experiences.

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