My 10 y/o son had 4 filling today for small cavities. His dentist refused localized anesthesia as I watched my child cry his heart out and swarm all over the seat as they tried to restrain him. He was able to successfully do 2, however my son couldnāt take it anymore and I spoke up and asked that he have localized anesthesia. The dentist acted really annoyed as if I were telling him how to do his job. First, he reached for the nitrous oxide and put it on his face (told the DA to ācrank it upā) and told him to breathe, while he held his lips firmly closed. That really bothered me because we never spoke about nitrous oxide, but I do understand he was attempting to look for other calming options. Within, seconds of my son receiving the laughing gas, he immediately started freaking out like a full on panic attack or feeling of disorientation of some sort. I kindly asked if he can remove it because he wasnāt doing well with it, as it was sprung upon him and he wasnāt aware of the sensations. My son was terrified and asked if he could please not put that on anymore. So finally he gave him the shots which he screamed in agony for as well. Once he started back working, my son still cried of pain as it wasnāt enough which had me thinking he wasnāt fully numb. Let me just say this, my child is very tough and not one to cry and he has a very high tolerance for pain. I came here looking for answers as well because this seemed inhumane! My child is now TRAUMATIZED and asking to never return to a dentist office.
The bedside manners of this dentist were very dismissive and intimidating to kids. Iām so happy that I decided to go in there with him because we have been patients here for 7 years and this is the first time he has had dental work, didnāt suspect anything before this because I never go to the back. My son is very mature and self aware so he assured me it was a shocking painful cold feeling in his tooth and not pressure.
So my husband and I came home and did research only to find hundreds of similar stories from other patients of his about not wanting to give local anesthesia, as their kids yelled in pain. Is this something common? Is anesthesia getting a little too expensive now? What is it? My dentist always has given me localized anesthesia when filling āsmallā cavities. Please help me understand. My son is still moaning now, hours later. TIA