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before any dental work can be done on DS. He has an appointment in a few weeks and I believe they are looking at pulling out 2 small baby teeth that will not fall out on their own. I just wan to make sure I have all the bases covered. TIA
As an encephalitis survivor, I did tell my dentist about my encephalitis... to be certain he was well informed of my full situation.
Joey's dentist is aware, though I believe he asked us about any recent illnesses, prompting us to reveal that information.
Vicky
Caregiver
You Definitely Want to Tell the Dentist.
(important reasons at the end)
Most of my medications say "inform your dentist"
One I know - because it increases the brain connections - also makes it so that the lidocaine doesn't work too well (he really has to inject a lot more) - the others, I'm guessing, have to do with bleeding and CNS stimulation.
As a personal thought, One important reason to tell the dentist in an adult ( don't know if this happens with children) is:
A lot of us ended up with a lot of cracked teeth after the illness.
I've been told all my teeth are cracked.
Some people had all sorts of gum problems afterwards.
I would definitely tell the dentist.
Here is the most important reason:
• Dentists are trained extensively in the 12 cranial nerves.
• Dentists deal with the cranial nerves - since they are dealing with the head and neck.
• The dentist may not know to even think about problems if he/she doesn't know there was a case of encephalitis.
• Damage to the cranial nerves happens sometimes.
This can effect things from moving the head to just moving the tongue to the left or sticking it out - and - it can effect pain and pain treatment.
Knowing that the child had encephalitis, the dentist can become part of the child's assessment team for what may have happened during the illness.
There are all sorts of things that - if the dentist knows the child had encephalitis - the dentist may deal with that child differently.
It may be odd stuff like the angle of the chair to how and what he/she looks for in examining the gums.
Tell the Dentist!
Doing so has only positive aspects.
Withholding that information serves no purpose.
Another commercial-free soapbox rant by dannon.
Thanks all. We weren't planning on withholding the info from the dentist and will definetely tell him at our next appointment. As I stated earlier I just want to make sure all our bases our covered. Thanks again!
I tell every doctor - mostly because of the medications and the possibility of a negative drug interaction (my son is on seizure medication and an anti-depressant).
Dannon, I've been told by our dentist that some of the seizure medications can errode the enamel on teeth, so maybe that's one of the reasons for the teeth issues (not that everyone with E has seizure issues, but maybe it's a medication thing).
I have never taken any seizure medications DVirginia.
Discussions in the past, here, have been about the damage/problems happening because of the illness, during the illness.
People have been told different things.
High fever!
Long periods of mouth dryness!
Clenching during seizures
my favorite...
Things like that happen to people when they are extremely ill.
I got that one a lot about my corrugated fingernails too.
But its good knowledge to know about the seizure medication causing enamel problems - for everyone on those medications.
-dannon
I told my dentist because I have trouble controlling my face & that includes my mouth. I thought he should know that I would have a really hard time not closing my mouth when there was pain. He just put something in to keep my mouth open.
Michelle
I told my dentist, chiropractor and any medical practitioner, even the optomitrist as I am very sensitive about my head being touched. For warned it for armed and they can also give you good advice.
All the best. Cheers Sandy
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