Dose My Son Has to Be Tied up with a Chair for Baby Tooth Root Canal?

That's crazy!!! Go to Children's Choice Dental. My son had nitrous for filling some cavities because he was afraid to sit still. If the nitrous isn't enough, they can do IV sedation. I would never let someone tie my kid to a chair.

HAve them put him to sleep with you in the room the whole time
Tieing him up HELL NO!! sorry
mom of 4

Hi K.,

I would change Pediatricians and Dentists sounds like they are in it together. I also agree with the mama who suggested having the tooth removed rather then giving a 4 year old a root canal. (I've never heard of that). There are plenty of dentists that specialize in "children ONLY".

Keep us posted.

Blessings......

i don't think you're necessarily doing the wrong thing IF your son can/will sit still during the procedure. I think sometimes it's the tying down that's more tramatic for them than the dental procedure, but the child HAS to sit still. So, if he will, then look around for a dentist who won't automatically tie him down. If you're not sure that he will, then you should explain to him what is going to happen and why so he can be prepared, maybe even demonstrate by tying him into a chair with a sheet, and then take him. If he needs the work, you have to do whatever you have to do to have the work done. By the way, is it really necessary to do a root canal - can they pull the tooth? Baby root canals are expensive and if he's going to lose his teeth soon anyway, it might be just as good to pull the tooth rather than try to save it. As the dentist if they see the adult tooth in the x-ray and an opinion on how long it will take to come down.

I would get a second opinion. I have never heard of a root canal for a baby tooth! Sounds very traumatic. Worst case scenario, I have heard of the dentist pulling it, it it's badly infected or rotten. What's the point of going through the expense and trauma for a baby tooth?

If you are at all doubting the diagnosis that you were given, then I would highly recommend that you get a 2nd opinion. As far as a root canal on a baby tooth vs. pulling it. Your baby teeth stay in for a certain period of time for a reason. They are like a space filler until the adult tooth is ready to come in. If you go pulling teeth when they are not ready then the baby teeth that are there can shift because there is room and this causes problems for when the adult tooth is ready to come in. I would definitely make sure that your son is seeing a pedodontist and not a general family dentist. I would also ask about sedation or laughing gas and use the papoose as a last resort. Because of his age (size really) he would need very little sedation/laughing gas. However, if he does start to move about while they are doing the procedure the papoose is for his safety. If he lifts his arms up at all, moves his head or body in anyway he could affect the treatment that is trying to be done and he could cause some damage. A really good pedodontist does not want to cause your child any more harm than you want your child to go through.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do and let us know what the outcome was. GOOD LUCK!

Get a 2nd opinion from a pediatric dentist. My son chipped a tooth in the shower, and it was also pushed up into the gum. They did x-rays and follow up visits, and said we would only need to have it pulled/dealt with if it didn't come down when the new tooth behind it started moving (which it did, yeah!). In my son's case, they would have had to put him under, as he would never cooperate with something like that. I don't see how you could tie a child up in a chair AND keep their mouth open for that while awake, and the kid would NEVER want to go to the dentist ever again. Sounds wierd.

Ok that sounds crazy. My son had to have a root canal also at 4. I went to 3 differant dentists none of which said that they would tie him to the chair. They should be able to give him a seditive before or nitrous. My son had nitrous and had no issues, infact he fell asleep. Try Gentle Dental, they have great pediatric dentists and really work well woth the kids. You are your own advocate for your child and if what they want to do does not feel right to you, then say no and find someone else. Having them tied to a chair sounds like torture that is going to make a simple trip to the dentist a nightmare for your son in the future!! Good Luck!!!

I would get a 2nd opinion and make sure it's a pediatric dentist. My 5 year old just had a root canal and cap for a baby tooth. They used the gas and said if that wasn't working they would give him a really light sedation. He didn't have any issues at all. I don't see the sense in tying a child in a chair for something like this ! If they still fight after the sedation, a procedure like this can be done as an outpatient and heavier sedation. Tying a child like that will cause so much trauma and make them HATE to go to the dentist when it doesn't have to be that way.

Get a second opinion!! That is some very serous dental work for a child. Has the tooth been painful? Infected? Swollen? Have another dentist look at it...a family or pediatric dentist.

Find a pediactric dentist. My son had to be sedated for a couple of fillings...seems like they could do that for a root canal.

Two local pediatric dentists are:
Pediatric Dentistry of Pleasant Hill, 2710 Pleasant Hill Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, Telephone: ###-###-####
and
Walnut Creek Pediatric Dentistry
Hilltop Professional Building
1855 San Miguel Drive, Suite 9
Walnut Creek, CA 94596, Phone: ###-###-####

They are both good and they will not tie your kids down. Something just doesn't seem right about the information you are getting. I don't think people have been tied down for medical procedures for about 100 years in the USA - not since the advent of anesthesia.

I read all the responses and agree that you should get a second opinion, but please carefully read Riley J's answer. It is thorough and gives reasons why your dentist and pediatrician may be giving this advice. I would ask about some sort of sedation though, because being awake with just the papoose for restraint may be very traumatic for your son.

I would get a 2nd opinion....but if they are retraining for a tooth canal...then shouldn't they put him under. My oldest had to have her 4 teeth capped (her birth mother gave her bottle rot!)..and we actually had to go to the hospital for this....they did have her tied down after she came out of surgery..becuase kids at that age do not know how to come out of anesthesia and really most of the time act like wild animals. My child was also in a cage like bed too...I was appalled at the whole situation..how dare they treat me child like that..but looking back...it was to protect her.

Getting a 2nd opinion is your right, though if you have your pediatrician telling you he backs up your dentist, that might be sign that they are correct. Did you ever ask why they do this and what happens if he is not tied up...or maybe the word the say is "restrain".

My oldest daughter has been "restrained" when cleaning teeth...it's silly I know but she is just going to be one of the kids/people that will be using nitrous oxide....her bill will be more expensive...but I'd rather have her have healthy teeth.

Good luck.

go and see another dentist! that is unexceptable. if he needs the root canal there should be a way of light sedation. and call another pediatrician for a second opinion also.

Wow! A root canal! I would get a second opinion just to be sure!

Unless they do full anesthesia (and quite frankly, none of us are awake for it, but we're all restrained during surgery), YES he will need to be restrained. Although there are several options on how they're restrained, most use the papoose (it's not like handcuffs and duct tape) Here's why:

PEOPLE (not just kids) thrash. We do it when we're scared, in pain, or unconscious but a nerve gets hit. As you can imagine, this makes things difficult for the surgeon. Small things like maiming and or death. Most adults during surgery when they're awake can be reasoned with. They may be scared, but they don't flinch/ try and get away/ throw a fit (many do, however). Expecting a child to be capable of doing what an adult (but not even all of them) can do is just unreasonable. And even if they have a good track record... they can flip out.

When my son had stitches @ 3 they used a pillowcase for his arms(arms in, lay down, so the weight of his body was on the pillowcase). He didn't need it. And the nurse there to hold his head didn't even need to once. But he was there, and his hands placed ready to. They were pediatric emergency workers... so they made the whole thing as "fun" as possible.

Root canals are no joke. My good friend's mom just died (went from feeling fine, not even a fever... to in a coma in 5 minutes... and died 3 days later)... and my husband was just hospitalized. The infection in their jaw can spread to their blood and their other organs, and take them out in the space of a few minutes. The infection NEEDS to be gotten rid of, and pronto. So if you need a 2nd opinion, get one, and fast.

I will echo all the other moms who have urged you to go to a different dentist. I also think it's great that you listened to your gut on this -- you may have saved your son from a lifetime of fearing the dentist. BTW, I think the practice of using restraint in pediatric dentistry is pretty controversial -- there are lots of pedriatric dentists who make a point of advertising that they do *not* use restraints -- or only as a very last resort. As an adult, can you imagine being tied down against your will for a filling -- let alone for a root canal?  The baby root canal also sounds suspicious to me -- I would want a completely independent second opinion that that was even necessary. It seems odd to me that your pediatrician didn't immediately advise you to seek a second opinion -- i would think a pediatrician would have to know that restraint is not the only option. Time for a new pediatrician, too? Hope this helps ...

I don't know about the root canal on a baby tooth, but if they do have to do it, I would think it would be best to tie him. It is traumatic, but you certainly don't want him to move. My little sister gouged her chin open and they had to stitch her. They tied her with a bed sheet and stitched her back together. She would have never let them touch her had she had her arms and legs free.

Hey there

I agree with *ll the advice to get a second opinion. A root canal on a tooth that is going to come out soon seems a bit excessive, but there may be a reason...

As for the tying dow: it may seem outrageous but it is as archaic as it sounds. When my nephew needed his two front teeth pulled (his mother let him fall asleep with bottles filled with kool-aid) the dentist put him on a papous board. The dentist explained it to me, I explained it to my nephew and then I straddled the dentist chair and held my nephew's hands (yup, my hands were restrained with his) as he got strapped onto the board. I was right there with him as his teeth were pulled. We would not have been able to do it without the board, it wasn't horrible, just wierd.

When I was 7 or 8 I needed stitches in the crease of my eyelid (long story) They didn't use a papous board they, I had 6 adults restraining me (one on each leg, one on each arm, one laid across my torso and one holding my head) plus the doctor and nurse who stitched me up. Terrifying! I would have preferred the papous board!

Sedation is no joke, especially in a kid, look for a second opinion and get a much better explaination of what "tied down" actually means. Our imagination can really wreak havok with our logic.

Good luck :)

You mean without sedation? I certainly wouldn't allow that to hAppen. I'm sure there are plenty of pediatric dentists who offer sedation forprocedures like that. Good luck!

Hi, my son when he was 3 had to have a tooth pulled (he almost knocked it out, but not quite), and they put him in a "papoose." I felt terrible about it, but I just told him it was a lot like being in a sleeping bag. And do you know, he was just fine; he didn't cry until they gave him the shot. I was in the other room crying! But he did fine. And it was all over pretty quickly. So, I sympathize with you. Otherwise maybe you can have him take the medicine that "puts him to sleep," but there are risks in that, and I think it has to be done in a hospital setting. A 6-yr-old child recently died after having that done, so you might do some research on it first. Good for you for doing whatever you feel is best for your son.

That sounds crazy. First to do a root canal on a 4 year old (that's not even a permanent tooth) and second to tie him down. I wouldn't do it. Okay after reading Riley's response if it's due to an infection and needs to be done then he should definitely be put under not just sedation. Of course, we should all avoid being put "under" excessively but I think this will be too traumatic for him. I know for me as a kid and even as an adult going to the dentist is traumatic. :(

I imagine you are talking about a papoose? My son has had to be strapped in one of these twice for stitches. It is a safe way to restrain the child while work is being done.

There are pediatric dentists that can sedate children. I think that for a root canal, that would be better than tying him up. I wouldn't even think of tying up a child. He will hate the dentist forever after that. I think you need to treat the problem, but not by force.

Look up pediatric dentists - they know how to deal with kids, and find out ahead of time exactly what the plan to do. Don't use them if you don't like the plan. I know of on in Mountain View - Cheryl Lee on Castro Street. SHe is very gentle. She filled 8 cavities for my 5 year old without anything but novocaine. So she's gentle with children.

I think your pediatrician meant that you have to get the tooth fixed, not that you have to have him tied up.

Good luck,
M.

First off doing a root canal on a baby tooth is wrong!! It will damage his second tooth to come in. If nothing else just tell them to pull it and wait for his second tooth. I've heard so many mothers' complain about this. Even my own daughter. She took both her kids' in for root canal (baby teeth) and no they were put out, not tied to a chair. What are they morons!! Go to another dentist, tell him you want that particular tooth removed whether it be at the front or not. Root canal causes more damage to the second tooth than anything. Remember they are removing the tooth and capping it. What for when they are going to loose it anyways. My grandchildren went through "hell" pardon me, and my daughter swears she would never ever do it again. I wish you well in finding another dentist who isn't so adamant about root canal, and someone who doesn't tie your child to a chair. I wish you well, and good luck!!

That is crazy!!! My son now, has had thousands of dollars worth of dental work done since he was about 4 also and NEVER been tied down and even with his hate of the dentist NEVER cried! I can give you the # to my sons dentist if you would just like to call to get there take on it. They would give my son a liquid to drink that puts them almost to sleep and than they can do the work very easily. My son had 6 of the baby root canals done at 4. (he chewed on rocks as a baby) If you don't feel comfortable than go with your gut and don't do it there. Good Luck!

Well...I would look for a second opinion mostly based on the fact that they are recommending a root canal. That is some pretty serious decay to require surgery of that extent.

The chair they are talking about is a papoose restraint. It is used for the safety of the child, dentist, and staff. Appropriate sedation and anesthesia should also be used. Most children lack the ability to control their bodies when in pain. It is important that the child isn't thrashing about while the dentist has a needle and a drill in his mouth.

I had NO idea that such a thing existed until I started researching dentists for my daughter. I, of course, don't remember such a thing as a kid but never had to have any major dental work done. I'd HATE to have to choose that...but I've had to restrain my daughter for a number of procedures and that isn't particularly pleasant either.

i haven't read all the answers, and i'm sure you go t some great advice. i just want to say, you are awesome for seeking advice on this; so many people take their doctor/dentist's advice as the final word, but it looks like your mothering instincts tell you that something's not right. i applaud you.

Second Opinion!!! Is this a family dentist or a pediatrician dentist. There is a huge difference in how they handle what needs to be done with the child's teeth. I know this from first hand experience.

My daughter (3 years almost 4) chipped her front tooth and it is discolored. When we went for her first check up with our family dentist she said the chipped tooth needed to be pulled and took an x-ray (which was a nightmare). My daughter dose not like people touching her mouth face so due to behavior the dentist asked us to look for a pediatrician dentist (our insurance did not have one close by BUT with the sign off of our family dentist our insurance then had the same coverage at the recommend pediatrician dentist).

Anyway we went to the pediatrician dentist AND after looking at each tooth and have a very good look at the x-ray and chipped tooth there was no reason found to pull it. I asked about capping the tooth, drilling it out and sealing... and the pediatrician dentist said that there is no sign of infection and that if there was infection you would know (very swollen both the gum and area where the tooth is, jaw, lip and so on) and that is the only reason to pull or root canal a baby tooth.

SO that is just an example of a second opinion where a family dentist does not handle young kids as well as a pediatrician dentist will.

Hi there, Lots of good answers here. My thought is why a root canal for his baby tooth, maybe this is how they make money on insurance?? I saw something on tv about dentists doing procedures that didn'st need to be done just for the insurance money. Doesn't sound necessary to me, the tooth will come out anyway. I think you need a 2nd and even 3rd opinion and even on a different pediatricians advice. Be a good advocat for your child so he isn't afraid of dentists his whole life because of one bad experience.
Good Luck

My daughter had a root canal when she was five. We choose to pt her under for the procedure. She also had teeth pulled and he used laughing gas for that. Our pediatric dentist said that it would be to traumatic to have the procedure while she was awake, and was worried she would be afraid to ever sit in his chair again! Definitely find another dentist!! Are you going to a pediatric dentist?

I would go to a different dentist. Why does a 4 year old need a root canal? I would rather have the tooth pulled. Root canals are not a good idea in any case, but especially not for baby teeth. There is a court case pending about a chain of dentists who restrain children like that. They did it to be able to give less anethesia and they did tons of root canals. They did this for money. It was shocking to see the hidden camera details. Seriously, go to a different dentist.

This sounds really odd to me. If you aren't talking to a pediatric dentist, you should do that before you do anything. I don't know where you leave but in the East Bay, Dr. Katsura is very good.

J. F.

HI,

My son is 5 and he had 3 cavities filled last summer. 1 was just a cavity and 2 were root canals. It took 4 total appointments to finish. The best we found is a 1/2 valium the night before, 1/2 valium the morning of (for the kid, not you, ha, ha!), then laughing gas and novacaine for the procedure. No tying up, no general anesthesia, and all done in 20 minutes. Good luck.

H.

The difference between a regular family dentist and a pediatric dentist is that the pediatric dentist does a lot of their work through the local hospital. Because they put kids to sleep to do the work on them. Our pediatric dentist put K to sleep to cap 1 tooth and fill a couple others. She went to sleep and was back in the room about 45 minutes later. Woke up and wanted to go eat. My BFF took her daughter to a local family dentist and he filled her tooth 4 times then finally pulled it, it would have been fixed the first time by our dentist and she wouldn't have had to go through all that pain and drilling.

Find a licensed pediatric dentist. The are specialist in baby and children's teeth. Family dentists don't even work on baby teeth or have any specialized training. They may do an okay job but they don't really know what they are doing.

If the tooth is that bad just have them pull it, it will probably fall out in the next 6 months to a year anyway.