How many shots should the dentist give my child before getting a cavity filled?

Unfortunately, this is not a simple question to answer because of its high variability. “Shots” or anesthetic are given according to body weight and percent concentration of the anesthetic being used. I won’t bore you with the exciting details, but there is a formula that is used to calculate the maximum dose which can be given for each child. Generally, we don’t give anywhere near that dosage to even have to use the formula, but it does happen on occasion.

You can’t really go by the number of “shots” your child gets because the amount of times your child is “stuck” may have nothing to do with how much anesthetic is actually being placed. For example, I may “stick” a child three separate times, but use that same cartridge of anesthetic for all three areas. So even though the child got “stuck” three separate times, I am well below any maximum dosage (unless the child is an infant, which is very uncommon).

The time to be concerned is if you see several cartridges used on a very small child. In general, I personally do not usually give more than two cartridges on a very small child, but again this is all calculated by body weight and percentage of the anesthetic and so may be perfectly acceptable to proceed with more.

Older children, especially teenagers may receive a similar amount of anesthesia as an adult if there approximate weight is the same. Some medical conditions may also alter the amount required to give, but if your dentist is already familiar with your child’s health history, they will likely already have adjusted the amount without you even knowing so.

There are certainly cases of anesthetic toxicity in children, so this again goes back to becoming your child’s advocate. If something doesn’t seem right, question it. It isn’t to say that you need to be abrasive, but if you have a concern you should always express it to your dentist. Go with your gut instinct and if you aren’t happy with what you experience, then go get a second opinion.

Something else to be concerned about when a child receives local anesthetic is lip and cheek biting. Being numb for a kids feels pretty cool. It feels like your mouth is made of rubber when you chew it. The problem is that it is not rubber and if they chew on it while it is numb, a large hole can be made that will surely be felt later. It may sometimes even require stitches if enough damage is done.

So, your job as a parent when leaving the dental office is to be sure your little one isn’t in the back seat gnawing on their own body parts. You can ask the dentist for some gauze to have the child rest on, and when you get home you can place warm, moist compresses on the anesthetized area to help it wear off more quickly.

Tags: Anesthesia, Anesthetic, Cavity, Child Advocate, Child Health, Dentist, Health History, Maximum Dosage, Maximum Dose, Medical Conditions, Toxicity, Variability