Q:
Is severe dental decay painful in primary teeth (baby teeth)?
A:
Yes. Just as dental decay can cause severe pain in adult teeth, the same holds true for baby teeth. Untreated dental decay can be severely painful to your child.
Q:
Can untreated dental decay affect my child’s permanent teeth?
A:
Yes. Dental decay in primary teeth can spread to the permanent teeth and, if untreated, may cause loss of permanent teeth.
Q:
Can untreated dental decay affect my child’s general health?
A:
Yes. Untreated dental decay may spread bacteria into the heart and other vital organs.
Q:
Can untreated dental decay interfere with my child’s normal development?
A:
Yes. Pain leads to sleeping problems, which can affect your child’s learning ability and normal growth patterns. Also, pain while chewing causes difficulty in eating which also affect your child’s nutritional development as well.
Q:
Can dental decay cause other developmental problems in my child?
A:
Yes. A child’s self-esteem may be affected from the embarrassment of untreated decay in visible teeth.
Q:
Why did my dentist refer me to Indio Surgery Center?
A:
The Indio Surgery Center provides an alternative for young patients who otherwise cannot be treated under conventional means.
Q:
Why does my child need a referral from a DDS prior to going to Indio Surgery Center?
A:
A potential patient must be evaluated by a dentist or physician in order to determine if the patient is indicated for dentistry under general anesthesia.
Q:
Why would a child need sedation or general anesthesia just to have teeth fixed?
A:
Ask your dentist to explain all treatment options and their benefits and risks. Sedation or general anesthesia is usually recommended to make delivery of that required treatment possible in a safe and comfortable manner.
Q:
What kind of training do the doctors have?
A:
Our doctors are specialty trained in the safe administration of pediatric dental care under general anesthesia. All surgical staff has Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Life Support (PALS) and Basic First Aid / CPR.
Q:
How long does it take?
A:
The total length of time varies with each child and depends on the amount of dental treatment needed and the time it takes your child to recover.
Q:
Why can’t my child eat or drink before surgery?
A:
The safest way for your child to receive anesthesia is on an empty stomach. Eating or drinking during the restricted times given to you will cause the cancellation of your child’s surgery.
Q:
What if my child has a cold or is exposed to a disease before surgery?
A:
Should your child develop cold or flu-like symptoms any time before the surgery, please contact out office. A visit to the pediatrician may be recommended.
Q:
Where do I go after my child’s treatment is completed at Indio Surgery Center?
A:
The patient is referred back to the referring office for a 6-month recall appointment. The regular dentist will continue providing dental treatment providing there is no longer a need for general anesthesia.
Q:
Why is it necessary to have a dental procedure in a fully licensed surgery center?
A:
It is one of the safest ways to administer general anesthesia. The procedure team includes the dentist, anesthesiologist, registered nurse and registered dental assistant. A state certified and JCAHO accredited facility is held to significantly higher safety standards than a normal office.
Q:
What are the advantages of having dental work under anesthesia?
A:
Multiple procedures can be done in one visit. Your child will be asleep and all treatment will be completed before the child wakes up.