Needing all your thoughts and opinions please

[momofrussell]

Ok, I know we have discussed from time to time our dentist experiences. Well, YOUR experiences, I haven't ever taken Russell So, I have been searching for a while, a Ped Dentist. There was one at the hospital where Russell's eye doc is, but they are SOOOO backed up with scheduling, it's like 6-9 months out! Between that and the drive into the city didn't make it enticing to say the least.

So, I have been searching...and I called around and found a Ped Dentist group closer to where we lived. I called them and told them about Russell, DS, Autism, Visually Impaired and that it takes 3-4 of us to ck him at the eye doc. They then refered me to a different dentist that deals better with children like Russell.

So.. this is where I need your input. The first place I called does handle some kids with DS but feels that kids with "mulitple" disabilties (yes, Russell is that child) benefits better from this other guy they refered me to. So, I called this other guy and he a different approach. He sees TONS of patients with Autism and other disabilties like DS and kids with mulitiple disabilities BUT he uses a IV anesthesia to put the kids under in order to make it less evasive and MUCH easier for children like Russell. He has been doing this for MANY years. He is the ONLY Dentist in the WHOLE STATE of Missouri that is licenced to do this. Now, I don't have a prob WITH that in theory, makes more sense to me on how to get into Russell's mouth... but there is a CATCH. Our Dental Ins will PAY for the first place I go too... this other place will not be covered... or should I say the IV Anesthesia is not covered.. so we would have to shell out $400 a year for this. I am torn with the whole thing now.....

I KNOW Russell is not the only child who would HATE having someone in his mouth. I know some of your children have had yucky, uncooperative times at the dentist. I am not saying Russell is WORSE or more "special", but we REALLY have a hard time at the eye doc. Due to the DS AND the Autism, it makes for a REALLY bad experience each time we go, complete with us basically STRAPPING him down.. either by his blanket or us LAYING on him JUST to get into his eyes. Kids with Autism usually have personally "space" issues especially with touching their faces... some children w/DS have this issue too... so Russell has it TWO FOLD! It's really an issue and I have dreaded the dentist but really can't put it off much longer.. I KNOW Russell has cavaties and since he lost his first tooth, I think it's time to do it.

So, has anyone else used a dentist that uses an IV w/anesthesia??? Or, if you GO to a Ped Dentist, How DO they get into their mouths? There is NO way that a doc, a nurse and I could possible make Russell "get" an exam.. and the XRAYS!!! How is THAT going to happen??? But is the $400 worth it???

I really want to know what you guys do for your kids... PLEASE!!!

Thanks in advance for your help!

A.

[Chris]

My older (typical) daughter has a phobia about needles and goes crazy when she has to go to the dentist. I did find one dentist that she likes and will allow him to examine her but she has to have a tranquilizer and gas to get a tooth filled. The medication and gas is not covered under our dental insurance.

My daughter had a horrible experience with an incompetent dentist when she was six. He had me leave the room and had a dental assistant literally lay on her and he put blocks in her mouth so that he could fill a tooth. I think this experience really damaged my daughter.

You already know that Russell has a very difficult time at the eye doctor. I think $400 would be well spent on the IV. The dentist can be terrifying to a typical child, I can't imagine how scared a child who isn't able to express himself may feel.

Sarah will be three in September and I need to take her for her first dental check up. I have already found a pediatric dentist who specializes in kids with special needs.

If you really can't afford the $400, ask if they could reduce the fee. It never hurts to ask.

Chris

[Haleysmom]

Ok going on MY experience I too had a very trying experience when I was younger and now don't you know, I need lots of work. Anywhooo have you ever heard of concious sedation dentistry? I have an appt for myself this month! I don't know about with children, but for me the way it works is the give me a valium (sp) for the night before (anxiety) then in the morning I take the sedation pill 1 hour before I go to the dentist. It is suppose to relax you and when I get to the dentist they are suppose to take me right in and begin the work. They anticipate about 3-4 hours (a few cavaties and some gum work). They continue to medicate me if additional pills are needed. The "charm" of this is that from what they say is you have no memory of it after it's over and you go home and sleep it off. This is also NOT covered by my insurance, but worth EVERY penny to this chicken. Hopefully I'll be lookin' ;D ;D by the end of the month!

Sue

[Haleysmom]

Gotta add that I am diligent about them working positively with Haley so she does not have the same negative view of dentists as her mom does! She has gone regularly and has very good teeth ;D.

[Connie]

A.

I really don't have time to elaborate but my FIL who is an anesthesiologist personely thinks dentist should not be giving anesthea in the office. If something goes wrong they do not have the experience or the equipment to handle the situation.

But, now that I have just given you another thing to worry about....I can say that I really really do understand about your boy and the dentist. While Collin did just go to the dentist last week and did wonderfully this was a 1st!!! The last time....lets just say I paid big bucks to have him climb on the chair like a monkey.

Collin did have concious sedation last week to have an MRI. He weighs 39.5lbs and they gave him 6mg of oral VERSED...put him down for a good nap and we got a really good MRI!!! Ask about it because since it is given at less than 4ml per kilo it is not considered to be an actual sedation so you don't have to worry about not eating the 6-12 hours before!!

Still working on us and Holiday World!!

Connie

[wrblack]

Hi, A.,
I don't really have much to add to this discussion. But I'm glad someone mentioned the dangers of general anesthesia and the usefulness of Versed.
I'd think Russell has required some eye exams under general anesthesia (EUA's). My Charlie has had a couple and managed to work in a couple more when having other procedures.
I much prefer to have anesthesia done by good, experienced pediatric anesthesiologist in a children's hospital. Even then I think kids with Ds often justify closer and longer observation after general anesthesia.
A good dental checkup and cleaning is one of the things developmental pediatrician has put on our to-do list. When we get around to doing it, I think we'll look into going back to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) to see one of their dentists, though we've had the name of a reportedly good pediatric dentist given to us by Charlie's regular pediatrician for more than a year. We just never acted on that, no rush. And I wouldn't let our regular family dentist, a jerk with a big boat payment I think, anywhere near Charlie.
Good luck. -- Bob

p.s. Trust you know there's good dentistry essay on Dr. Leshin's site, www.ds-health.com/dental.htm

[DereksMom]

Derek has had extensive dental work done under general anesthesia. I would NEVER consider getting done what he had done without him being put out. We do not have dental and it cost me $800 the first time and $340 the second time. He had a rotten tooth and a couple cavities and was going to have a cleaning done, flouride and a coating put on his teeth. He ended up getting a tooth pulled, 4 teeth capped and 2 filled plus the other stuff that we already knew about. 2 of the teeth that he had capped continued to rot under the caps and he had to go back and get them pulled as well as having another cleaning and flouride. He will just let the dentist look in his mouth but never let him do anything. I was looking in his mouth the other day and it appears that he may have a couple more cavities starting so we will be off to the Paed dentist at our Childrens Hospital to have them fixed Im sure.

Also with his first dental surgery, because it was at the Childrens Hospital, I had it co-ordinated that he have tubes put in his ears and the eye doc do a good check up at the same time.

I know it is awful to have your kids put out but sometimes it is worth it rather than it be so traumatizing for the child.

Hugs

Allison

PS...I must add that I dont think that I would have sedation done in a docs office due to his heart problems.

[christie]

YIKERS girl, Chris and Dentist Hmmm lets just say don't make for a pleasant time

First let me share I just a few weeks back had two teeth pulled and they put me out with the IV anesthesia and man very cool ;D I didn't feel a thing ;D Truly was worth every penny to get knocked out LOL But I will say I felt safe in her office cause they hook you up to a heart monitor, blood pressure thing and have a nurse trained in CPR, just like being in a hospital but NOT Sooo if you choose that route for Russell you might want to check all that out. Safety first

Have you ever had Russell to the Dentist?? If not, how bout just a visit to have him sit in the chair and go up and down and meet the dentist. That way you can judge better maybe what his reaction might be when they want to really go in his mouth. Just a thought...

The first Ped Dentist we took Chris to gave him some kind of med to try and calm him before the visit but alls I can say is it didn't work OMG he was a mess and screamed and screamed but the only good thing was he sreamed with his mouth wide open and they could check and clean. We went back there one more time and again the Ped Dentist said only way he would work on Chris is if we medicated him. I didn't really like doing that cause he also has to take antibotics before due to his heart probems. Sooo I checked around and found a lovely lady Ped Doc that said nooooo way should you have to put a kid on meds just to clean and look. Hmmmm I was like, well you never met Chris, LOLOL

Sooo she had us bring Chris in one Saturday early and came out in the waiting area and talked to him and such and he went back and sat in the chair. That was it for that visit. Next time she cleaned and checked and yes he screamed but no different then when he was drugged up and this time at least he had nooo drugs

He has been going for cleaning since he was 4 and still screams I am sad to say BUT a little less each time and God Bless our Ped Dentist she says to Chris GREAT job and she never gets rattled.

But after all this rambling, I will tell you what has worked the BEST so far for us. We always bring Kodi and we all go in and Chris insists it be Kodi't turn so she sits and the Doc pretends she is checking Kodi out and then its Christopher's turn and he seems to do much better. Well most times, LOLOL

Best of Luck with what ever route you go and not for nothing girl I say if its that tramatic for Mr. Russell, pay the $400.00 well worth it

CC

[meghans_mom]

Chris had a great suggestion about asking them to reduce the fee. If they know you are paying out of pocket they might just do that because they sort of "jack up" the prices they're charging the insurance company because they know they're going to get a reduced amount back (although w/ anesthesia they won't always reduce the $$)
My ob-gyn did Matty's circumcision and insurance didn't cover it (as they called it not medically necessary) so we had to pay out of pocket -- I think it was going to be 600 or 800? When they heard we were paying they reduced it to $150. Big difference!!
Anyways...good luck either way you go. Hugs! LAURIE

[MaggiesMom]

Maggie just got her first dental check up last week at Khluge - UVA. They were very nice, but with Maggie's oral aversion, it was not a fun experince for her. I held her in my lap...legs and arms crossed over her...the hygenist cleaned while the dentist kept Maggie's mouth "open" with the end of a child's tooth brush.

Needless to say, not what I had in mind. But, not as bad as I had thought it was going to be. It was the fastest cleaning I've ever seen! She got the flouride treatment too. She's still not crazy about having her teeth brushed, but it's not been any worse than it was before we went to the dentist.

Take care.

Robin M - Maggie's mom

[ashliesmomheidi]

Yikes, Dentists, Xrays and going into Ashlie's Mouth NEVER a Good Combo for her!

She HATES the Dentsist and always have, I have no clue why either,

When Ashlie goes he gets to do a quick and I mean quick look and thats it, AShlie had Dental work done last year and they had to totally knock her out, They even have to knock her out for any kind of Xray ( Had a horrible experience once and she has never forgotten it)

Ashlie's Ped Dentisit is Wonderful adn works with many kids with DS. But BEFORE he puts Ashlie under We ARE in a hospital, NEVER in his office for the same reason as Connie said, He said if something were to go wrong the hospital is where you would want to be adn since kids with DS have narrower airways you have to be careful when it comes to Anesth.

[momofrussell]

Ok, check this out. This is the some info on the anethesia part at this dentist's office. I wanted to add he isn't just some dentist who decided to also use anethsia.. THIS is his specialty so he comes fully equiped to handle emergencies. I started reading the pamphlet they sent to me after what Connie stated. I have read and heard horror stories about Dentists who just decide to start using anesthesia as part of their practice. It looks like he uses the "twillight sleep" kinds of stuff too that some of you mentioned... sedation not a local knock out.

Please , if you have time, take a look at his site in general and let me know what you think. I have yet to have time to tell my husband about this so I am trying to gather info so we can make a good decision. We wouldn't mind doing the $400 BUT, I put off having some work done on my teeth that is BADLY needed in order for Regan to get her retainer w/gear on it for her overbite and pushed up palate, so that $400 means we put off my failing teeth even farther...

This is the link the some info on the anesthesia and how they are equipped for it...

www.dentalsleep.com/html/aneshesia/anesthesia_06.html

And this is the home page...

www.dentalsleep.com


Also, I think CC mentioned I take Russell just for a visit to get him use to the the whole idea.. I think that is great idea in theory... I really don't know how close he will let us get I am so anxious about the whole process actually And no, Russell has NEVER gone to the dentist.

thanks for the imput so far.. it helps lots guys!

A.

[christie]

A ~

I have read both sites you posted and looks like a GREAT place to me, if you decide to go that route for Russell

Sounds lots like where I went to have my two teeth taken out and I was a freakin wreck being put out as at the moment I have very high blood pressure and was convinced I would not make it thru OMG girl when I woke up I said how was my blood pressure and the Doc said smiling, K, you have asked me this 6 times and its the same answer, your fine, ROFLOLOL And the nurse says to me, Man your a cheap date, LOLOL I didn't need much and I was out like a light, LOLOL

BUT all kidding aside, from the site it sounds very safe to me.

Just a thougth... But if you decide to go this route for Russell how about asking any local orginazations (sp?) in your area to help you out with the cost??

BEST of luck girl and I know what you mean putting dental work off for yourself so the kids get what they need. Man oh Man its soooo stinken expensive

CC

[Robin]

A..I just saw this post so sorry I didnt get to it sooner darling!!!!
You know how sweet and wonderful Chase is about anyone even touching certain parts of him...well imaigne the dentist! We looked high and low and finally found a little over an hour away a dentist who would see Chase and at first his methods tunred me off but you know what A?? Chase LOVES this guy so I forgot about how we felt and let it happen. He goes twice a year and they wrap him in what they call a "blanket so he cant get any arms or legs going and they have to put a clamp in to hold his mouth open. the whole time they are singing and goofing with him while he screams his bloody head off, they see waht needs done and they let him go, he then gets to play with nintendo and get to pick a toy while the dentist talks to us and tells us what he needs done. Then they schedule him for the hosptial where they put him under and do all the work. I know alot of people may not like it, but hey it works for us and Chase and he loves this guy so it cant be too bad.
I hope you find someone that will work with you, let me know, huggers to you and my boy Russell the muscle!
Robin