OKay, you guys ave me some great reassurance with my last post so I am hoping you can do it again. My four year old son recently learned he has eight cavities. Todya we went to he specialist and they said he will need to go to th hospital and undergo general anesthesia to have the work done, and it must be done because hey are in his molars. Both me and my father have had problmes with anesthesia, so needless to say, I am not crazy about this whole plan. Anyone else had to do things this way? Thanks so much for your advice.
I would most definitely see another dentist. My kids have al had cavities and have had to have fillings IN the office. I know there are 8, but why can't you do only 2-3 at a time?
I would get a second opinion- My husband is a pediatric dentist in Plantation- If you are near the area, I would have his office look at the cavities. My husband has a very conservative approach to dentristy. His name is Jason Hirsch (954)581-7883- Pediatric Dentistry and orthodontics. They have been around for over 30 yrs. It sounds like a little much to be going to the hospital, unless he is an extremely difficult patient. Hope this helps-
When I was a "baby" all my two year old molars erupted already decayed (something to do with a high fever comprising the enamel? I don't remember for sure). So I was two and a half, and needed four fillings. I didn't have anesthesia, or gas. Just Novocaine in the dentist's office. That is my earliest memory...staring up at the stupid bird on the ceiling while the dentist was drilling away. Maybe things are different nowadays (more careful?) but anesthesia seems a little extreme to me. I would research your options, if you can.
Hi Jacquelyn,
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Tooth decay is a sign of excessive acidity and/or mineral deficiency... processed foods are a big culprit. Heredity gives us weaknesses but we can overcome them if we educate ourselves.
best wishes,
JS
Good Morning,
You absolutely need to find a different pediatric dentist. If I can find one here in Panama City, I know you can find one down there. My daughter also had 8 cavities on her first trip to the dentist. She was mildly sedated and he did the fillings and crowns right in the office. This guy that wants to do the work in a hospital under anesthesia sounds like he's afraid to work on kids in a traditional dental environment. I wouldn't let this guy touch my child with a ten foot pole. Please find someone else.
Good luck!
Sounds very extreme to me. There is no reason to put him under. Find another dentist. You can have 2 or 3 done at a time and space it over a couple of months.
Dr. David Donald and Dr. Troy King are great pediatric dentists in the Orlando area. You may be told the same thing about the anesthesia but you need to make sure the dentist knows there is a family history of problems with anesthesia and what those problems are so the doctor can make an appropriate plan of care for your son.
Are these his permanent teeth? If not, run from this dentist.
Get a second opinion anyway, no matter how long you've known this dentist. He's too young to be going through this; but god bless you and your family.
I just went through 3 cavities with my son who has Autism. Our dentist used Nitrous Oxide (H2O2). It worked great. They use a small mask that goes over the nose and it just relaxes the child. They do not go under and they can still respond, etc. She worked on him for an hour and then gave him full Oxygyn and he came out of it and wanted to go get lunch. No pain, etc. It was fantastic. Good luck with whatever you have to do.
some dentist can do the procedures with a laser. i don't know if they can help in this exact instance, but it is worth looking into. i don't know where you are at but i do know of a place in boca and in wellington, fl. it called the childrens dental place, or something like that. i'm sure you can google it. good luck
What dentist do you use? Pediatric smiles in Jacksonville, FL is where I take my son and he had cavities and a tooth pulled under a twilight type med and he did great! Talked a lil to much but he loves that place!!! They have a location on Dunn Ave. and Regency Square mall area. Maybe a second opinion ask other mom's in your area where a good ped's dentist.
well, I'm an anesthesiologist.....what kind of problems did they have?
Your kids may have some dental problems, but it sounds like this dentist is getting rich. Did you check the children to see if this is indeed a fact of their dental health? If your family has a history of anesthesia problems, heck yes, I would be nervous about a toddler of the same descent. Seek out another course of action. Find a Ped's dentist or a dentist who can do it through medication or laughing gas, etc. And check out your dentist. My grandson had one cavity and went to see a dentist. When he had gotten that tooth pulled, and we were at home, we noticed an obvious drilled small hole in one of his other molars. We took him to another dentist and told of our plight because that hole appeared on the same day that Aiden has his tooth pulled. The dentist told us that yes, it had been made with a dental instrument and that it was very possible that our suspicions were right, he wanted Aiden to return in the near future. Needless to say, we had it filled and will not see him again. We have a responsibility to be sure. You are not crazy, you are alert and that little voice that has you thinking may be God trying to tell you something.
My very best to you!
Jen
hi,
where are you located?
usually hospital settings and general anesthesia are used for very frightened, children or behavior cases, some times severity. did you make yur concerns known to the dentist?
Nitrous Oxide/laughing gas is great, and safly administered.
early childhood caries (cavities) is a communicable disease. the germs are passed among family members. familes can reduce the incidence of cavities by using xylitol products to prevent cavities. the bacteria are in everyone's mouth, do not be alarmed, some people are better able to resist the bacteria than others. saliva acidity contributes as does oral habits, sugars, sticky fruits, diet, etc.
Happy Mother's Day!
Let me know if I can help.
My advice is get a second opinion. I have heard of many pediatric dentists that take advantage of mothers with young children and recommend unnecesary procedures. I think is strange that such a young child has so many cavities. Also when my son was around 3 he had some dental work done. He didn't had to have general anesthesia but was given some drug to do the procedure.
Till this day I regret I didn't get a second opinion.
Mildred
Yes, unfortunately I had to have my now 5 year old but at the time only 2 go thru it and then again at 4. It was just done so traumatically and it killed me to wait in the lobby hearing her scream. They didn’t put her under because she was too young, then the 2nd time she was able to lay on my husband’s chest as they did another extraction. It just depends on where you go and what hurts the worst is that her teeth are bad again! I am on here looking for what I can do for my little girl because tonight she was in so much agony due to a decayed top molar. Poor thing has been fine and asleep but I empathize for her she is just so little but only she out of my three has tooth problems. So a few months ago her pediatrician gave me a number I can call where they will actually sedate her or put her totally under. I can only hope that will be the last time anything happens with her teeth. She hasn’t gotten her big girl 4 frontals back. This little tykes can be tougher than we think or tougher than we let them anyway…hang in there…this too shall pass. But definitely do not be afraid to ask a million questions if that’s what it takes.
All I can say is WOW!!! My son did have to go to the hospital to have his teeth taken care of. They did it in the outpatient surgery center at Florida Hospital Downtown ORlando. What an incredible staff they have there. They made him so comfortable, he didn’t even lok back when they took him away. They let him keep his zebra “Murphey” the whole time, even gave Murphey is own hospital bracelet and chart. He had a bandai dput on his noe so my son would see he had his teeth fixed too. He had no pain afterward, and did great. I am glad we did it this wa so he doesn’t remember any of it.