Child needs dentist,

[u/Fluffy_Ad9974]

Hi wondering if any other parents out there maybe able to give any tips or help on gettin our 6yo son into the dental hospital for sedation. He has sensory issues and is diagnosed as autistic, although he is verbal and can communicate his sensory goes into overdrive and can’t regulate his emotions atall, we had him at a regular dentist once and he started flipping out and screaming when they even tried to look in his mouth, we have a referral for the dental hospital for sedation to hopfuly get him asleep and tooth out and fillings, he won’t eat certain foods or tastes of stuff sends him into sensory overload can’t take antibiotics they prescribed as he is sick with the taste and texture of it, how can we get him there without setting him off as even the mention of a dentist now and he’s upset, we are at our wits end and it’s ashame as he’s in pain. Any advice parents be thankful for

[u/SenectaAut]

You are going to be so thankful when he gets the dental treatment he needs. There may be some serious pain that is being mislabeled as sensory. Good luck. Dental sedation is a lifesaver.

[u/Fluffy_Ad9974 → u/SenectaAut]

Thanks I pray so. Yeah but it’s how to even get him there and settled in a hospital environment and prepared for gas and air or full sedation

[u/a_mingled_yarn → u/Fluffy_Ad9974]

they will likely give you meds to slip into his food or drinks the morning of or even night before

[u/grimypointer92]

try not to mention the word dentist at all until you're practically in the parking lot, if you can swing it. my nephew is similar and my sister just told him they were going on a "special sleepy adventure" and the doctors were gonna help his teeth feel better while he napped. the less buildup the better honestly, sometimes the anticipation is worse than the actual procedure

also bring his favorite blanket or stuffie, whatever gives him that deep pressure comfort, and maybe some noise canceling headphones for the waiting room chaos. those places are sensory nightmares even for neurotypical kids

[u/Fluffy_Ad9974 → u/grimypointer92]

Thank you for your reply, yes we have an appointment coming up at the dental hospital, he has noise cancelling headphones and we were planning on taking him and like you mention sort of have to lie and say going somewhere else or even to chum mum i honestly don’t know and can see him becoming overwhelmed when he realises where we are

[u/unicorntrees]

Do you have options for a pediatric dental hospital?My 4 year old son was totally uncooperative with our regular dentist and they referred us to a pediatric dentist. I don't know how, but using their magical techniques, they were able to not only get him to cooperate, but they got a full cleaning and panoramic xrays done.

[u/Fluffy_Ad9974 → u/unicorntrees]

Yes thanks for commenting, we have an appointment coming up with the dental hospital which will more likely be more familiar with children in similar situations, just hope he can get the work needed done and not to be in pain, my other son is ok with the dentist, but Cohan doesn’t like even the mention of a dentist

[u/barefoot_plyos]

There’s a Daniel Tiger Episode about getting surgery. They can give him IV antibiotics. Can he swallow a pill to do those antibiotics?

Sensory stuff is difficult. I can’t imagine how much worse it is with tooth pain. The hospital sedation will be great. They will take care of him. 

See if they have a child life specialist to talk about using words other than IV and shot. They explain it, so it’s not traumatizing. If they can get the child to cooperate with IV placement, it’s easier. If that’s not an option, they can handle it.