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#1
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Kids and cavities
Hi, all --
Chris has awful teeth -- six cavities at his last checkup in May. I had always figured that cavities in baby teeth would just be watched, but his dentist said that all six had to be filled. So, to those of you with kids with cavities, does your dentist ever just take a "watchful waiting" approach? Chris has already had all six teeth filled, but I'm wondering for future reference. Next question: one of his back teeth (not the two year molar, but the next one toward the front -- "B" for anyone who knows the mouth diagram) was filled and then abscessed. The dentist says that tooth needs to be extracted, and we have an appointment scheduled for two weeks from now for this, but I keep wondering whether this is something that a root canal might fix? I know zilch about dentistry, and feel like I'm pretty much at the mercy of the dentist. Anyone out there have any words of wisdom? Julie Mom to Erica & Chris, 07/97 |
#2
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Kids and cavities
You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's
scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#3
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Kids and cavities
You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's
scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#4
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Kids and cavities
Thanks Shirley (and Stephanie) --
The kids brush themselves now, though I may start doing it for them once a day again. It is definitely one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. That said, Erica's teeth are (knock on wood) fine. The dentist said that after the back tooth is extracted, they would put a "spacer" (?) in so that the teeth wouldn't shift. And yes, I *definitely* plan on having their teeth sealed. Chris' 6-year molars are in, but not quite all of the way yet. We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I guess my major question then would be whether a tooth that has abscessed could be "saved" via pulpotomy. Is the pulpotomy more traumatic than extraction? It seems to me that he's going to have seven years of careful eating, what with missing a tooth on one side, and that having something -- anything -- there would be preferable. Yes? No? Anyone out there with experience? Julie shirley wrote: You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#5
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Kids and cavities
Thanks Shirley (and Stephanie) --
The kids brush themselves now, though I may start doing it for them once a day again. It is definitely one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. That said, Erica's teeth are (knock on wood) fine. The dentist said that after the back tooth is extracted, they would put a "spacer" (?) in so that the teeth wouldn't shift. And yes, I *definitely* plan on having their teeth sealed. Chris' 6-year molars are in, but not quite all of the way yet. We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I guess my major question then would be whether a tooth that has abscessed could be "saved" via pulpotomy. Is the pulpotomy more traumatic than extraction? It seems to me that he's going to have seven years of careful eating, what with missing a tooth on one side, and that having something -- anything -- there would be preferable. Yes? No? Anyone out there with experience? Julie shirley wrote: You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#6
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Kids and cavities
Julie, I'll ask my DH about your question. I know a lot of the peripheral
things about dentistry but the very specifics (pulp vs. extraction) is his domain. He's teaching tonight so I'll grab him tomorrow afternoon to get your question answered. Shirley "Julie Seely" wrote in message ... Thanks Shirley (and Stephanie) -- The kids brush themselves now, though I may start doing it for them once a day again. It is definitely one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. That said, Erica's teeth are (knock on wood) fine. The dentist said that after the back tooth is extracted, they would put a "spacer" (?) in so that the teeth wouldn't shift. And yes, I *definitely* plan on having their teeth sealed. Chris' 6-year molars are in, but not quite all of the way yet. We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I guess my major question then would be whether a tooth that has abscessed could be "saved" via pulpotomy. Is the pulpotomy more traumatic than extraction? It seems to me that he's going to have seven years of careful eating, what with missing a tooth on one side, and that having something -- anything -- there would be preferable. Yes? No? Anyone out there with experience? Julie shirley wrote: You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#7
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Kids and cavities
Julie, I'll ask my DH about your question. I know a lot of the peripheral
things about dentistry but the very specifics (pulp vs. extraction) is his domain. He's teaching tonight so I'll grab him tomorrow afternoon to get your question answered. Shirley "Julie Seely" wrote in message ... Thanks Shirley (and Stephanie) -- The kids brush themselves now, though I may start doing it for them once a day again. It is definitely one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. That said, Erica's teeth are (knock on wood) fine. The dentist said that after the back tooth is extracted, they would put a "spacer" (?) in so that the teeth wouldn't shift. And yes, I *definitely* plan on having their teeth sealed. Chris' 6-year molars are in, but not quite all of the way yet. We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I guess my major question then would be whether a tooth that has abscessed could be "saved" via pulpotomy. Is the pulpotomy more traumatic than extraction? It seems to me that he's going to have seven years of careful eating, what with missing a tooth on one side, and that having something -- anything -- there would be preferable. Yes? No? Anyone out there with experience? Julie shirley wrote: You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
#8
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Kids and cavities
Thanks, David. I'll stop worrying about the calcium thing. It can't be
too late for the 12-years and the wisdom teeth yet, I hope! Julie David desJardins wrote: Julie Seely writes: We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I wouldn't worry about this so much. Calcium does interfere with the absorption of fluoride, which is why the instructions say to avoid giving the fluoride with milk, but it's certainly much better to take the fluoride and have its effectiveness be slightly reduced, than to not take it at all. The combination of fluoride with milk isn't going to do you any harm. In fact, several successful studies have shown that fluoridated milk can be effective in preventing tooth decay, in children not receiving fluoride from other sources. David desJardins |
#9
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Kids and cavities
Thanks, David. I'll stop worrying about the calcium thing. It can't be
too late for the 12-years and the wisdom teeth yet, I hope! Julie David desJardins wrote: Julie Seely writes: We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I wouldn't worry about this so much. Calcium does interfere with the absorption of fluoride, which is why the instructions say to avoid giving the fluoride with milk, but it's certainly much better to take the fluoride and have its effectiveness be slightly reduced, than to not take it at all. The combination of fluoride with milk isn't going to do you any harm. In fact, several successful studies have shown that fluoridated milk can be effective in preventing tooth decay, in children not receiving fluoride from other sources. David desJardins |
#10
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Kids and cavities
Thanks, Shirley!
shirley wrote: Julie, I'll ask my DH about your question. I know a lot of the peripheral things about dentistry but the very specifics (pulp vs. extraction) is his domain. He's teaching tonight so I'll grab him tomorrow afternoon to get your question answered. Shirley "Julie Seely" wrote in message ... Thanks Shirley (and Stephanie) -- The kids brush themselves now, though I may start doing it for them once a day again. It is definitely one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. That said, Erica's teeth are (knock on wood) fine. The dentist said that after the back tooth is extracted, they would put a "spacer" (?) in so that the teeth wouldn't shift. And yes, I *definitely* plan on having their teeth sealed. Chris' 6-year molars are in, but not quite all of the way yet. We live in a rural area and the water is not fluoridated; we have a tiny bit of fluoride in our well water, but not much. Fluoride drops were prescribed, but since Chris drinks milk all day, it has always been hard to find a time to give him the fluoride, as it can't be given within two hours of milk. I guess my major question then would be whether a tooth that has abscessed could be "saved" via pulpotomy. Is the pulpotomy more traumatic than extraction? It seems to me that he's going to have seven years of careful eating, what with missing a tooth on one side, and that having something -- anything -- there would be preferable. Yes? No? Anyone out there with experience? Julie shirley wrote: You can't do root canal on kids teeth, they call it a pulpotomy (sp?). It's scrapping the pulp out of the tooth but extraction is only due usually to the abscess. Yes, you need the tooth for the adult teeth to follow behind but it also needs to be there because of the spacing issue. If it's the last tooth, I would not worry now. As far as the cavities, does the child brush himself or do you do it for him. My DH is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry (25 years of teaching/practicing), I was an assistant and my twins have braces. We still brush their teeth (at 8.5). We have electric brushes, expensive and cheap, they floss and neither have cavities. Each dentist I've worked for (also worked at Northwestern Dental School for 5 years), have given advice to parents that you don't let them brush UNTIL you are ready to pay for the dental work. Brush, brush, brush. Limit the gooey stuff, raisins, white bread, and other stuff. Cavities grow in a triangle form. By the time you see it, it's already huge under the pinhole that is seen. So even a pin point needs care, and every 6 months is a must for kids especially. That way they can get the cavities under control before they get abscessed. Also sealents and fluoride treatments are great (I know there are those of you who are anti fluoride but seal the teeth with the plastic covers that are offered on the back teeth and you will save a huge amount of time and money). Anyhow, it sounds as if your dentist is on the right track. Good luck and happy brushing. Shirley "GandSBrock" wrote in message ... We haven't had our first dentist appointment yet! Yikes. It's coming up this month. So I don't have any words of wisdom. But I do know with adults dentists "watch" spots on your teeth. I guess they wait for them to become full blown cavities, I don't know. I would question the extraction, just because don't you need the baby teeth in place to keep everything aligned for the adult teeth to come in the right way? But I also think a root canal is pretty drastic, I'm sure the extraction would be easier. I would ask him about the consequences of that tooth being absent. Stephanie Jake and Ryan 9/3/99 |
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