If going to the dentist feels a bit scary, don't worry! We can make sure you're asleep and comfortable at the Elk Valley Hospital while we take care of your teeth.

Pediatric Surgery FAQs

  • Dental surgery in a hospital setting allows dentists to perform complex dental procedures while patients are under general anesthesia in a safe, controlled environment. Performing dental surgery will allow our young patients’ mouths to be restored to 100% oral health, and doing so has many benefits. Restorative treatment will ensure your child no longer experiences pain and will allow them to continue healthy development, ensuring proper space for adult teeth to grow into. Healthy teeth assist with eating, speech development, and, most importantly, maintaining confidence in growing children.

  • Several factors help dentists determine if a child would benefit from being treated at a surgery center, including age, behaviour, and the amount of work required. The three main types of patients are:

    A) Young children who need significant dental work. For example, if a child cannot sit still to have x-rays taken in the office, they will struggle to remain relaxed and cooperative for a dental procedure that can take 20 minutes or more. A child who cannot remain still will put themselves at risk for accidental injury during procedures.

    B) Children who are afraid and experience anxiety. These patients will also struggle to sit in a dental chair, and their fear of the dentist will likely increase if procedures are performed while awake.

    C) Patients who have special needs. These children may also be unable to remain still or may have anxiety.

  • Dental surgery can help alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in young patients so they no longer fear going to the dentist. It can also improve safety, as it’s important for patients to sit very still during dental procedures for dentists to use instruments and mechanical equipment safely. If children cannot remain still and calm, then dental surgery may be the best option. The safety of children is always our priority.

  • A) Primary teeth are essential because they help guide the proper eruption of permanent teeth.

    B) Untreated primary teeth can affect the development of permanent teeth.

    C) Primary teeth help maintain good nutrition with proper chewing.

    D) Primary teeth help with the development of speech.

    E) Every child’s smile affects their sense of self-esteem and confidence in life.

    F) Not treating the teeth can result in a patient developing serve pain and possibly developing an abscess.

    An abscess can be very dangerous and lead to swelling and severe pain.

  • While most necessary dental work can be completed in the hospital, typical treatments include filling cavities, placing silver crowns, and tooth extractions.

  • Please see the following document to review what to expect after a referral for your child has been sent to the Elk Valley Hospital by your community dentist.

What To Expect For Your Child’s Dental Surgery

  • A phone or virtual consultation with your hospital dentist is required to ensure the Elk Valley Hospital can safely meet your child's needs. Sometimes an in-person consult may also be necessary. We will review your child's expected dental treatment during this appointment and answer any questions. Next, within a few days, the hospital will contact you over the phone to make sure your child is ready for surgery, schedule an anesthesia consultation, and arrange a date for your child's surgery.

  • You will arrive at the Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie by the check-in time previously provided by the hospital. An operating room (OR) nurse will check you into the surgical daycare area. A OR nurse will talk with your child about what they will do and check their vitals. During this time, the nurse will ask questions regarding your child's history to ensure we have the correct information. We suggest bringing an item from home to help keep your child comfortable (e.g., a stuffed animal or a phone with games and videos).

  • When the nurse finishes admitting your child, the anesthesiologist will come over and introduce themself. They will review how the anesthesia process works with you and answer any questions not covered during your previous consultation. With your consent, your child may have a calming medication given, usually about 20-30 minutes before the child goes into the OR. The anesthesiologist will determine if your child needs this medication on the day of surgery.

  • Before entering the OR, your hospital dentist will come out, re-examine your child to see if there need to be any updates to the treatment plan, and explain or answer any questions about the procedure. They will explain that x-rays will be taken in the OR once your child is asleep, regardless of whether the child did them in the dental office. X-rays are updated to ensure your hospital dentist completes all the necessary dental work. The goal is to restore your child's oral health to 100%.

  • When ready, a nurse will lead your child, and one parent, to the OR. Children are given either a mask over their face to breathe sleeping gas or an IV line in their hand that delivers sleeping medication. Typically, it takes children two to three minutes to become sedated. Once your child is asleep, we will escort you back to the daycare area.

    Your child will then be under general anesthesia, which means they will have a tube placed in their throat into their lungs to have a machine breathe for them. If an IV has not been placed, your child will have an IV line put in while asleep. Seeing your child fall asleep in the OR can be very emotional, and our team is here to support you throughout the process.

  • Your child will be brought back to you in the daycare area on a stretcher after the procedure. Your child will recover with an OR nurse who will monitor your child's vital signs. Children sometimes will wake up very restless. This is because they are nervous and "feeling weird" when coming out of anesthesia, not because they are in pain. Once your child is calm and vital signs are stable, they can drink something, take their IV out (which will not hurt), and go home. Your child will likely be in recovery with us for about 1 hour. Post-operative instructions will be reviewed with you by your dentist before discharge.