🚀 go-pugleaf

av984@lafn.org wrote:
> 
> Help! Need info about dental work for my retarded child.
> 
>> 
> I'm very concerned about the general anesthesia's high risk factor.

I don't know how "high risk" came to be associated with general 
anesthesia--were you told it was "high risk?"  In developed countries 
surgery is performed under general anesthesia a bazillion (pardon my 
lack of specifics!) times an hour, and complications are rare.  In the 
hands of a trained anestheisiologist, such things are not terribly 
risky (well, everything is relative, of course--they're more risky that 
sitting in an arm chair, but less risky than taking a car ride).  
Understand, I do empathize with your fears if this is the first time 
you've dealt with this, but my son had four surgeries, all with general 
anesthesia, between ages two months and 13 months, and things went fine. 
Yes, it was terrifying, but....has no one in your family had any kind of 
surgery--tonsillectomy?  Appendectomy?  Tummy tuck (:-)?

The last surgery my son had was the scariest because it was longest (5+ 
hours) and it was harder for him to wake up.  But when he did he was 
immediately his old self.

 My
> instinct is telling me to avoid it at any cost. I'd like to know more
> about IV sedation. How safe is it?

I think IV sedation is very very safe; I had have it on several 
occasions (including for the birth of my child).  And I am one of the 
SENSITIVE ones, a person who reacts badly to many drugs--I did throw up 
for 24 hours after one instance of general anesthesia, and I had tremors 
for hours after my son's birth (I have a really sensitive 
immune/nervous system).  But as I understand it these kinds of reactions 
are very rare, and I *did* survive them.

Sterling is basically a large toddler, and toddlers can and do get 
through amazingly difficult/complicated medical things, including heart 
transplants and critical injuries and such.  Also, his larger size is a 
boon--imagine if he weighed only 12 pounds!  I think that if you educate 
yourself and try to talk to Sterling about it, you might feel better.  
Certainly it is not an easy decision to make.  The briefer the period of 
sedation the better, obviously.  And check the credentials of the 
anesthesiologist.  

And you said your "instincts" are telling you something, so don't 
totally dismiss them!
> 
> I'd also like to know how can a crown be placed in a mouth of a child who
> is unable to talk or communicate how the crown fits in his mouth? How
> would the dentist know if the crown needs adjustment?

That's a very good question.  He/she would have to use the bite device 
and hope for the best.  Does Sterling have any sign language at all?
> 
>I wish you and Sterling the best--hang in there!