My son is getting 2 teeth pulled today and not getting any gas?

Question

Our insurance does not pay for "silly gas" so he is just going to be numb from nasty shots. He is getting the canines pulled? -xXXXXx-
the little x's on the top. The large X's are the main four you lose when you are a little guy. He is almost 10 and he just got his braces off. The orthodontist wants these teeth pulled due to major crowding, he has a small mouth and some very macho teeth. Anyway. . .lol, my question issss. . .when we get home, any parental advice on what will make him feel better, what foods to eat, what will NOT hurts and so on? Thanks.

Let me please add that the "silly gas", cost $200. I have 3 kids and I am not rich. Trust me please that I am not trying to chose between money or my sons pain. I already have to pay close to $200 for him to have the teeth pulled. So please do not bash me for not getting him the "silly gas".

Answer 1

All the gas does is have a calming effect on your son. If he is an anxious child then give him the gas. My office charges 35. The gas won't have a numbing effect on him. That is why the injection is a must. At 10, those "baby" canines shouldn't have much root on them, so they should be fairly easy to remove. Also, the root on those are shaped like an ice cream cone and that makes them easier to get out as well. As for the post-op pain, it should be very minimal. I routinely tell parents to give them what they would for a headache (tylenol,ibuprofen, etc.)
Also, be careful that he doesn't bite his lip afterward because of the numbing. That should wear off in 1-1.5 hours. Hope this helped.

Answer 2

I had two teeth pulled when I was twelve for similar reasons. For the first tooth, I requested nitrous oxide (the "silly gas" you were referring to), because I was horrified of shots at that age. To make a long story short, I felt EVERYTHING. It still to this day stands out in my mind as one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. The gas didn't do a thing for me.

When I went back to have the second tooth pulled, they gave me Novocaine, and I remember sitting there in horror after I was numbed, waiting to relive the horrible experience again. Before I knew what had happened, the dentist said, "There, all done!" I didn't even know it had happened.

I just wanted to share the experience, and let you know that your son will probably be better off without the gas; it didn't do a bit of good for me.

As for what will make him feel better afterwards, I recovered fairly quickly. I only took one day off of school, stayed home and played video games and ate soft foods. It wasn't a very long recovery time at all.

Answer 3

DIET: For the first 24-48 hours, you should maintain a diet of soft foods, such as Jell-O, pudding, yogurt, cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, clear soups, etc. Food that crumbles such as potato chips, popcorn, crackers, cookies, etc. should be avoided. Hot spicy foods should also be avoided to prevent irritation and burns of the extraction site. Also avoid carbonated (no soda) and hot beverages for 3-4 days. Avoid sticky foods like taffy. Eating immediately following the procedure is not recommended. When the numbness has worn off you may eat yet be sure to chew on the opposite side for the first 24 hours in order to keep food away from the extraction site. Also, keep anything sharp from entering the wound (i.e. eating utensils, fingers and other objects etc.) It is also important to drink 8 glasses of fluids in between meals and with meals. Try vegetable and or fruit juices or high-protein drinks. Cut food into small pieces to ease chewing. Return to a normal diet as tolerated.

The dentist should also suggest some things for pain. Good luck with your little guy! Don't worry about the gas, you're not a bad mother (it's highly over-rated).

Answer 4

The dentist I grew up going to does not use gas. I never had gas until I was an adult and went to a different dentist in another state.
Then, to me, it was all hype, it didn't do squat to calm me. I have had more work done without gas than with gas. That being said, his gums will be sore for a few days, and he will only want to eat mushy things. Just load up on advil and soup, and make plenty of trips to taco bell for bean burritos. If he had his braces off, I'm sure he's used to the soreness from the tightening. It won't be much worse than that.

Answer 5

I would suggest pudding, jello, soup....don't let him suck from straws whatever you do....stick to very soft foods....when my kids had to have teeth pulled that's what I did and they loved it! What else could a kid ask for? Pudding and jello!!! Yummy stuff....as long as he does not have cold sensitivity you could probably let him have a milk shake but he would have to eat it with a spoon because you can't suck out of straws after tooth extractions....

Hey don't feel bad about the laughing gas...I couldn't afford it either. We have five kids....my kids had to have novacaine....they did just fine....he will too...my son when he was about 6 had to have novacaine and they had to push the needle in so far that it bent as they were trying to inject it far enough into the gums so he wouldn't feel pain...just watching it made me feel pain.....so I understand....

Just make sure if you give him soups they obviously aren't too hot...common sense....he won't be up to brushing his teeth today I am sure...they usually recommend waiting until the next day to do that anyway.....

Good luck to your little guy!

Answer 6

He really won't have an appetite the day of the surgery. Lukewarm soup broth, Sprite, mashed potatoes (plain) and possibly pudding or Jello, ice cream nothing too hot or too cold for the first 48 hours after surgery and make sure to keep in contact with his dentist if he continues bleeding after several hours, if he begins running a fever or starts complaining of new symptoms.
)o( Goddess Bless )o(

Answer 7

When I some teeth taken out the food that worked best was mashed potatoes and gravy this satisfied my need for something solid. But by the next day I could eat chicken cooked well and softer vegetables. You also might try soup, smoothies, Instant Breakfast(with ice cream its sooo good).

Answer 8

hi,your son will be just fine they will numb him that is the only thing he will feel,just a little pinch where they are going to put the Novocaine the dentist should have reassured him that this will happen and everything will go well. explain everything to him what they are going to do. don't let him drink with a straw,give some Motrin,don't chew on that side,hot things may irritate it ask the dentist he will have more information. good luck!!!

Answer 9

I had 4 teeth pulled out when I was younger - and it was all done with a simple injected anaesthetic (not nice!). My mum gave me lots of weetabix, farleys rusks, soup, hot chocolate!! Or you could make some smoothies by blending fruit and yoghurt!
It will only hurt to eat for a day or 2....so don't worry too much!!

Answer 10

lots of mashed potatos and pudding and jello. anything he will not have to chew. i have had horrible luck at the dentist and many teeth pulled as well...
applesauce is also a good one as long as it isn't the chunky kind. good luck make sure he takes some kind of advil or something before you go. he will need it once the "shots" wear off. trust me... make sure he does warm salt water rinses after every meal as well....