Re: Dental work on baby teeth
- From: Chris <chrispetersen2@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:23:01 -0700
I want to say first that we are avid brushers in my home and
flossers. Both my 11yo and 9yo have soft enamel probs. Both had
gotten the sealant put on their teeth, and both are still having these
*borderline* cavities. I don't want my kids to suffer any pain if
there is a honest to goodness cavity that needs to be filled, so I say
fill 'em. It is just the *maybes* I am wondering about.
It isn't anything to be embarrassed about; this coming from a mom who
cried when her daughter had to have her front tooth filled at the age
of 3. I was so upset that I had failed her somehow. lol. My dentist
laughed and explained that HIS VERY OWN 4-y/o had to have a root
canal, and it was discovered on their camping trip. That is how I
learned that genetics can play more of a role than the dental hygiene
practiced.
I wasn't informed about a spacer at all. Dentist just said she would
have a hole where the tooth had been for about a year. Now I am going
to call up and ask, so thank you.
When the dentists mention the potential problems my daughter's 6-y/o
molars may face in the future, pulling the teeth are the last option
due to the problem it can cause with future development and the bite,
etc. The plan is to cap them for now, which will eventually need to be
replaced as the tooth matures and grows upward further out of the gum
line in hopefully many years, but if something goes wrong with decay
or anything underneath that cap or with the tooth as it is now, she
could be facing a root canal, extraction, etc.
I also have a 4 yo that is more than likely going to be having issues
also and I don't want anything unnecessary to be done.
Regardless of the dentist, I think if they propose work to be done on
these *borderline* cavity baby teeth, I will politely say, no, I think
we should just watch it for now. That would be ok, right? And then
if their next check-up proves to be that a cavity has formed there, I
will say "Fill it up!"
I think it may depend on the location of this potential cavity though
too. The locations can effect how things need to be done in the
future. I agree that there are ways to halt decay further and that you
should find a dentist who knows of these things. I know what you mean $
$-wise, as our insurance doesn't cover the cost of the tooth-colored
fillings, which I think are called composite fillings, and only the
amalgam (thanks I couldn't remember that name). Anyway, while the
amalgam may contain mercury, there are incidences where it was
warranted for strength and durability, unless you want a cap
eventually. If a filling is deep or wide enough and the composite
doesn't hold, you can lose that filling and then crack the remaining
tooth which causes severe pain when biting down. That crack can be
refilled, but that biting pressure eventually causes it to get wider,
if you can picture putting a wedge into a slit that will eventually
need another wedge and another. Once that happens, you can be facing
root canal and extraction as well. Good luck, but it looks like you
received a lot of different, good information here.
.
- References:
- Dental work on baby teeth
- From: Vickie
- Re: Dental work on baby teeth
- From: Vickie
- Dental work on baby teeth
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