Dental Issues

My son had the same problem. His dentist thought that he needed 4 teeth pulled. The dentist wanted me to get a second opinion from an orthodontist before he pulled them. After my son got his teeth pulled the adult ones came right in. Go for the second opinion, but go to an orthodontist.

C.

No, that is not unusual at all and my daughter is going to face the same thing. I had to have 4 teeth taken out when I was little for the same issue. Better to deal with it now than the pain and expense of braces later.

I personally would go for a second opinion. I had a dentist pull some of my baby teeth and I ended up with my teeth crooked as a result. Considering how self consious I was about my crooked teeth, it's definately worth a second opinion before doing anything irreversible.

Hi Colleen~I had to have several (about 5) of my daughters baby teeth pulled when she was around the same age as your son. The only difference was that her "adult" teeth had grown all the way in behind her baby teeth so she had two rows of teeth!! Everyone kept telling me that her baby teeth would eventually fall out, but I got uncomfortable with it, and took her to a dentist and he suggested we pull the baby teeth out. They were not even loose at all and he said that her baby teeth had no intention of coming out any time soon! I so wish I had had the teeth extracted to begin with, because I believe by not doing so, it caused further problems and she had to have braces (wore them for 5 years which is an extended period of time). She is almost 20 now and has a beautiful smile (thanks to a great orthodontist), but everything sticks out in my mind like it was yesterday. I say, listen to your gut (which is what I should have done). If you really think you should get a second opinion, then do it. Just remember that these are baby teeth and they are supposed to "come out" at some point and time, so maybe it would be best to make room for his adult teeth. Good Luck to you and your family.

Hi! When I was a kid, my teeth were not falling out. I had five teeth extracted...and my orthodontist wanted to see my younger brother too. He was probably about six or seven and he had 10 teeth extracted. (I remember him only having his two bottom front teeth for the longerst time!)....

I'd still get a second opinion...but it seems like a fairly common practice. Good luck!

My husband had this done as a kid. He just has a very small jaw and the baby teeth were not comming out fast enough to make room for big kid teeth. He eventually had to get rid of a permanent molar on each side on the bottom too, because he just didn't have the room (they should have done it earlier rather than later on the permanent ones because his teeth ended up too crowded in front because they didnt make room soon enough). I might get a second opionion just to make your husband comfortable, but it is likely that it needs to be done.

Man, that's rough! But stuff happens. I, as an adult, have 24, not 32 teeth. I had to have eight permanent teeth (2 full sets) pulled during my orthodontics because my mouth is simply to small. Stuff happens.

My friend's daughter is five and has already lost several baby teeth and gotten permanents in. (!?)

More than likely, they're being straight with you, but get a second opinion if that's what makes you more comfortable. There ARE enough rip-off-the-insurance-companies-scams out there, doing unnecessary procedures, I wouldn't blame you.

-S.

My kids haven't had that issue YET, but i growing up I had to have several baby teeth taken out to make room for the adult teeth that were trying to come down. I would recommend doing this gives the teeth the best opportunity to come down straight. If you don't the adult teeth might get pushed around as they come down in front or behind the baby teeth. That is what was explained to my mom at the time anyway. And I didn't need braces at all where my sister and brother did! Hope that helps!

Yes it's normal. I have a small mouth and when i started loosing my teeth and my adult teeth came out they had to pull baby teeth in order to make room for adult teeth to come in. I just didn't have enough room for adult teeth and it caused alot of pain for me when they did start coming in. Another thing i would suggest is when wisdom teeth come in to check about getting teeth. I have had problems with my teeth all my life because they refused to my wisdom teeth out. Make them pull them out as soon as they can they will help out in the long run for sure. I KNOW for the most part the problems i have had with my teeth are because my wisdom teeth are STILL there and they refuse to pull them because they can make more money from me if they don't.

Hi, Colleen, My background is dental hygiene - FYI. :) It can be a good idea to pull the baby teeth to make room for the permanent teeth. A second opinion never hurts. If you need a recommendation, let me know. Also, if he needs orthodontics in the future, there is a Dr. Barron who does the latest technique in braces; less pain, less trauma, fewer appointments! Good luck. N.

This happened to me, get them pulled right away. The longer you wait, the more it hurts, trust me. I had a small mouth and my parents didn't realize how hard it was to actually brush well between them and I had to have special floss because the tops touched and I couldn't get the floss between them. I had every single baby tooth pulled, all of them, not at once of course, but as soon as I started to feel pain, because if you don't the adult ones will come up any way, and if they can't push the baby teeth out like they're suppose to, they'll come in in front of or behind and then you have a real dental mess. My advice is to pull because there is a lot more pain waiting and pushing against teeth that won't come out. And if they're as crowded as mine were, he would have to have them pulled after the adult one caused the pain!! Good luck.

When I was about 7 I had to have 6 teeth pulled cause my mouth was way to small. If you just let the teeth fall out on there own the will make his teeth crooked and not in the right place. But having a small mouth he will have the same promblem later in life. hope my little input helps.

My son sees Dr. Sokur in Manassas. It used to be Dr. Deleo's office. When he was 6, he had a tooth get pushed out, but it wouldn't fall out. It just kept hanging in there. The new tooth was angled weird so as it grew in, the old tooth wasn't forced out any further. We had to go and get it pulled. The whole thing took like 2 mins. The dr. had a qtip that he had numbing medicine on, rubbed it all around the tooth, and then pop!. The biggest issue was when the numbing med hadn't warn off yet. My son was drooling everywhere! The key is to stay calm, not make a big deal over it. If you are calm, your son will be calm.
Good luck.
M.

Colleen, I had this experience as a child (not the cavities, but the overcrowding -- simply, my mouth was too small for all my teeth). My baby teeth came in and out very early, but I ended up having 4 adult teeth pulled (I think I was 8, but maybe younger) to make room for others coming in (not counting wisdom teeth, all four of which were impacted and had to come out, natch, but that was in college).

At any rate, the removal wasn't a big deal. I was knocked out for the procedure, and I don't remember any pain at all afterwards. Also had my first experience with braces in 3rd grade, in order to realign things. I remember thinking the braces were "cool" and made me look "like a teenager".

By all means get a second opinion though. No sense in putting your child through any medical procedure unless it's absolutely necessary. Best luck!

Hello, My son is now eight but I have been through the same things with him. He has had to have 2 teeth pulled because his permanent teeth were growing before his baby teeth were gone. We had a really good dentist and he had no problems. She had him put on a "buzz lightyear mask" that had gas in it before she gave him the needle. He doesn't remember any of it. I would strongly recommend a pediatric dentist because they seem to be a lot better for the kids.

I, too, recommend the ortho consult. Perhaps your son could benefit from a non-surgical device called a palatal expander, which could give him more room in his mouth for the adult teeth. The sooner you see someone, the better.

My 9 year old has had 3 teeth pulled because her permanent teeth were growing in behind her baby teeth. The whole thing was painless for her. We go to a pediatric dentist where they gave her nitrous oxide before numbing her up with novacaine. She only remembers getting the gas, nothing else. Good luck.

I would get a second opinion. You don't want to ignore the advice but I would question it before putting my child through surgery.

If you feel uncomfortable, then please have a second opinion. Then, go from there. As a dental hygienist, yes that does take place. In fact, I had the same problem as a child. I had 4 removed. If you child ends up needing teeth pulled, don't act like it's a big deal (even though for all moms it IS A BIG DEAL). They will mimic your emotions when you go for the procedure. It will help the child to keep your cool.

Get the second opinion from an orthodontist, and start the ortho procedure now. He wont get braces yet, but he is under close care and possible preventative measures can be taken before it is too late.

Both mine are ortho schedule already, younger was 6 when we started following the situation.

I recommend ortho opinion, asap.

PLEASE get a second opinion! My sister in law had 4 of my nephew's teeth pulled and it took years for the other ones to come in and his speech was affected. It may be totally appropriate for your son, but it pays to do your homework!

Colleen - I am an experienced and loving Mama and in addition, I am a dental hygienist. Before i would extract the teeth(although I might add, that is a possible solution for seve crowding), I would make an appointment with an orthodontic specialist, if it were my child. Speak with him about the situation. Some orthodontists start as early as 7-8 with painless appliances which actually work with the child's jaw growth to increase the jaw size to accomodate the permanent teeth later. My older son, in his 20's had such an appliance ( and never complained) at age 8, wore it for about a year , as I recall, and eliminated ANY tooth extractions except wisdom teeth in his teens. As far as decay, the number one issue is SODAS - the absolute worst for teeth and bones. Use a very SMALL toothbrush - even if the package says age 2-3. Remember it is the size of the mouth and the ability of the child to move the brush around and reach the surfaces. You can assist the process at bath time, by just taking a piece of gauze or washcloth and wiping it over the teeth - front and tongue-size. Hope that helps. Oh, and no adult toothpastes, either. Too strong. If you need other questions, just reply. - J.

Hi Colleen,

My daughter was the same. We found a great Pediatrics dentist in Burke. What he did was have us go into the office about an hour earlier than our appointment and gave her some "JUICE" to calm her nerves down (I'm not sure what it's called, then after an hour later she's more mellowed. This is when they take her into the room and give her laughing gas. By then they numb her with the "Q-Tip" and give her the needle, she doesn't realize at this point but then they extract her teeth. Done! However, after you discuss it with your dentist, you might want to tell your son that they will be doing what to his teeth so atleast he'll know and be prepared. Then you can tell him that it all those stuff will help him and not hurt as much. My daughter did pretty well considering the first time she had her teeth extracted with another dentist, which didn't go very well at all.

Get your 2nd opinion! If you and your husband feels that is best. :)

Good luck!

Colleen,

My brother's baby teeth were fused to his jaw and refused to loosen on their own. I think he had to have several teeth pulled when the permanent teeth started coming in. It is pretty common, and I'll be on the look-out for this situation when my daughter starts getting her permanent teeth. I think you and your husband should get a second opinion, probably from an orthodontist. Then you'll know the best course of action and feel better about your decision. If your son needs to have a lot of teeth pulled, I'd ask for a referral to an oral surgeon. They do a much better job at extracting teeth.

My daughter is now 11 years old. She had the same issue he is having. She would have teeth coming in behind other teeth and it was very painful because it is like cutting new teeth. We ended up having to have them pulled because even after the new ones came the baby teeth were not going any where. Out of 8 baby teeth that she no longer hs 6 of them ended up being pulled by the dentist. It was far less painfull to do it that way.

I had a similar problem growing up and had to have a number of baby teeth pulled. It all worked out and I had braces/head gear, etc to push/pull everything to their new locations. Good luck. It never hurts to get a second opinion.

Speaking from experience as a child who had a number of issues, crossbite, palate spread twice because top jaw too narrow, etc. While the palate separation at 8 and 12 yrs was not painful, the jaw misalignment problems I had caused tooth wear, and at 18 I wound up having major jaw surgery to correct bone growth issues as well. I know all this is much more involved than simply not enough room, but if there is one thing I wish, I wish all my work had been done earlier than it was. I know that having baby teeth out too early is really only a problem if there is no permanent tooth coming behind, as the purpose of baby teeth is to maintain space for the permanent ones. I say, pull pull pull!! Do whatever you can that is "easier" now, rather than wait until much later, and all the work is harder, and more espensive ;-). Good luck!

I had to have a couple of baby teeth pulled because the adult teeth were trying to come in while they were in the way. My teeth are fine and everything came in straight. It took a little longer for one permanent tooth to finally come all the way in, but eventually it did. You can always get a second opinion (and your ins. may require one), but it's not unheard of. My husband and stepdaughter have also had teeth pulled for crowding. Some people just have small mouths.

You should also ask to see the xray of the teeth she's talking about.

It also shouldn't be like a wisdom tooth extraction. If that's what she's suggesting, that's a whole other ball of wax.

My 9 yr. old had to have her 4 front bottom teeth extracted when she was 6. Her permanent teeth were coming in behind the baby teeth but the baby teeth just wouldn't come out. They gave her laughing gas and then an IV of something, not exactly sure what since they had me leave the room once she was giddy enough from the laughing gas to do the IV (she had a horrible fear of needles back then). It only took a few minutes and afterward she was fine. Actually ate pizza that night for dinner (her choice). It really was no big deal.

Though she didn't have her top 2 front teeth pulled, I kind of wish now that she had. Again, her perm. teeth came in behind the baby teeth. The baby teeth rubbed against the permanent teeth and caused some calcification on those 2 teeth, so she now has marks on the front teeth. At 9.5, she's only lost 8 teeth, 4 front bottom and 4 front top and no more are loose. Conversely, my 6 yr. old has lost the 4 bottom front teeth and the 2 top fronts with another one loose to make a total of 7 lost real soon.

I would say get those baby teeth extracted so that you don't end up with any marks on her teeth like my daughter has and to allow the perm teeth the opportunity to get into proper positioning. Pulling those 3 teeth really is not a big deal (they'll fall out eventually anyway, right?) and really is better for your child's overall dental health.

Good luck!

Our 11 year old has really bad teeth. They are super crowded, a deep overbite and narrow dental arches both top and bottom . He has had some baby teeth pulled and it wasn't a big thing. He just sent today to get braces put on. I would say go get an orthodontic evaluation. Were we go to, the evaluation is free. Good luck. But don't forget they are baby teeth and they will fall out on their own one day, you are just helping them along soon. If you have any question please let me know.

K.

They had to extract my teeth when I was little. I didn't have cavities but they were too crowded and they needed to make room because I needed braces. It's always a good thing to get a 2nd opinion. One recommendation in order to spare your son years of dentist phobia like I had, is to consider going to a dentist that uses the laughing gas to calm the kid down or treatment under sedation. I would definitely try the laughing gas first but make sure to explain to your son that he will have a funny mask on around his nose so he doesn't freak out and that it will make him happy and relaxed. Good luck.