Tuesday, November 20, 2007

So the root canal thing? A complete bust.

I leave work an hour early, my husband two hours early we drive forty minutes....

Only to have the boy jump out of the chair and throw the little spit catcher cloth from around his neck and onto the floor at the first sign of the novacaine needle.

Which, actually isn't true. Not the first sign. First they did the topical on his gums, let it set, explained the whole numbing procedure, answered his questions and THEN he freaked.

Can I tell you how long it took me to find an endodontist that uses nitrous oxide? There are only a handful in the entire state. And now, how it's an emergency because the nerves are dead and one has abcessed. And how much reassuring and discussing and hand holding and hugging we've done for the boy this past year. And how none of it worked. And how I have literally NO idea what to do next and how the doctor had NO suggestions for us except to stress how important it was to get it done? And how, even though I know, I KNOW this is a huge deal for him I'm not really feeling all that sympathetic right now? And how I'm kind of embarrassed by the way he carried on? And how we are totally out of dental insurance? Can I tell you all of that?

Please?

6 comments:

Mig said...

Sounds like it's time to get mean.

Or, find a place where they put him under completely.

Or, a place where the strap him to the chair and just do it.

Why does everything have to be so difficult?

blackbird said...

I'd be at the end of my rope.

Perhaps a sedative? Talk to the pediatrician...

I'd get mean too.

Jennifer said...

You have been way more then patient all this time. This is serious and can result in a nasty infection.

I understand his fears, I understand he hates pain, I understand that it's scary even. But it HAS to be done. This and every other time he's in the dentist chair. Nobody likes it, but we have to do it.

And the only other thing I don't understand is why he let you get all the way there and then did this. again.

Amy said...

I'd talk with the pediatrician or with an oral surgeon and put him out completely. They do it to take out your wisdom teeth, I'd do it now. I know, it won't be cheap (and that totally blows) but that's what I'd do. And then I'd make sure he saw every.single.bill. and I'd have long discussions about what you can't do now (buy that new x-box game) because you had to pay for this.

There are things children are going to be afraid of, and things we wish as parents they didn't have to go through, but sometimes they just have to suck it up and deal with it, and this, is one of those times.

I'm sorry you have to go through this. Hang in there, J.

Amy said...

Okay, better thought. How about you figure out how much it would cost to put him under for the procedure (and if that's even possible, and so forth) and the you talk with boy and you say, "Okay, we can do this. We can put you completely under and they can do the procedure and you'll wake up later and not even know it happened. It'll cost $X but we can do it. OR, we can take $X (or a significant amount, but not quite as much as X) and YOU can buy XYZ (think big here)." Maybe he can find the courage if he has some motivation to do so?

Just an idea. (When LM had his expanders put on, I gave him a gift every night for the first five nights. Each night when we made those first few painful turns, I then let him open a gift. It didn't take away the pain, but it made him want to get it overwith.)

I'll keep thinking (and praying on it).

Caterina said...

Ya....what all the other moms said ;)

Crap, I wish I had some words of wisdom, but my son JUST GOT his first two teeth.

G'luck!