My son is 5. We were told by the dentist today that he has three cavities. He still has all baby teeth. Does your dentist fill cavities in baby teeth? Is this normal? I don't think I had any fillings done on my baby teeth but maybe this is a new thing. Thank you so much.
Yes.
If not filled, the cavity will get worse. Bacteria from cavities... can cause bone damage under the teeth, it can cause a tooth ache or abscesses too.
So yes, it needs to be filled.
Yes, they do and we sought a second opinion when my 7 year old was getting crowns and it was quite expensive. Many baby teeth don't fall out for a few years, having a cavity can become quite painful in the meantime and cause permanent damage.
Yes, we have every cavity taken care of as soon as possible.
They need those baby teeth until the adult teeth come in. Some of those teeth they don't loose until they are nearing 12 years old. If the decay isn't treated it can cause infections and ruin the adult teeth underneath that are still forming. The teeth need to be there for their jaw to form correctly. Without them their jaws may grow too small and end up costing you silly money in orthodontics to correct something that could have been avoided.
There is a very good reason to take care of baby teeth just as much as you would adult teeth.
Yes. It's bad to not fill them.
Yes, they can even have crowns. The decay if not treated can actually damage the permanent teeth. Removing them can affect the placement of teeth if the permanent won't be coming in soon.
These are at least the explanations I have been given. All my kids have had fillings on baby teeth. I have sought 2nd opinions when one wanted to do multiple crowns and charge $2000, in that case we ended up with fillings and no crowns at the 2nd dentist. You can take the X-rays to another dentist to have reviewed.
Yes, esp molars. Need those to chew and the permanent ones do not come out until around 12
Yep. Absolutely. (Many dentists will just pull the teeth however... it depends on how bad the cavities are, the strength of the dentin -baby teeth are made of a different substance than adult teeth-, and). Reason being, if you don't fill them or pull them they abscess and your mouth rots, and the infection moves into your blood/bones, and you get a systemic infection, and you die. Granted, that process usually takes about a year (sometimes faster, it's why you'll also hear of root canals in toddlers, cavity > abscess... but yep... when they catch cavities early it's fill or yank. One of the two.
You can always get a second opinion. When my brother was young, his dentist wanted to fill 9 baby teeth. My parents got a second opinion and that dentist said that 3 needed filling, but they could just keep an eye on the rest (they were very small).
We stayed with that dentist, and I had 2 baby teeth filled. It's normal, but if you think they're just after the extra money, get a second opinion.
Yes. To prevent further decay and to hold the space for future teeth.
This is routinely done because it has an impact on keeping the child's mouth intact for the adult teeth underneath. A lot of dental work, including braces, is done much earlier now and, in the end, it will save money and discomfort.
I sure wouldn't subject my child to that unless he's still going to have that tooth for at least 2 more years; the cavity is deep enough that it is likely to cause pain or infection; and the filling agent is NOT going to contain mercury or any of the dangerous chemicals found in plastics that could leach into my child's system over time.
i am a dental assistant. YES it is normal to do a filling on a baby tooth. think about it this way:
a cavity is decay and an INFECTION in the mouth. if you just leave it there, it will get worse (larger, deeper, etc) and eventually can cause your child pain or sensitivity. it can spread to other teeth! not to mention cause HEALTH PROBLEMS because you are essentially swallowing an infection constantly which goes down your throat and throughout the body. not to mention rampant decay also causes REALLY bad breath. so please, get those fillings done even if it seems unnecessary to you.you probably didnt have any fillings cause you didnt have any cavities :) hope that helps put it into perspective.
sorry just wanted to add that you definately are going to want to get sealants done on your child when the permanant teeth come in. this is a small tooth colored seal in the grooves of the teeth which really help keep decay out and prevent cavities..
Hi R.---Didn't read all previous posts so I'd like to add this. Did the dentist take x-rays? Be sure that he/she does that. I had a baby tooth pulled, a molar, because of extensive decay. No x-rays were taken and it was found much later that I did not have a permanent tooth in that position. So, had we known that, we may have tried to fill the cavity and save the tooth. As a result, I am on my second bridge, having to have another tooth pulled because of extensive decay under that.
So depending on where the cavities are, such as in molars, which won't be replaced for quite a while, will determine whether or not you need to have the cavities filled. If they are in the front teeth, which should/could be falling out any day now, you might not do anything about those. The size of the cavity would also have a role in the decision on whether or not to fill. If you take better care of them from now on, it is possible that the decay will stabilize.
Just my 2 cents. Good luck. D.
Yes--especially if they are to the point of causing sensitivity/pain.
If they are bad enough.
My DD had a small cavity in a front tooth at 10 mo (bad enamel in our family) so they filled it but it may need to be redone when she is older.
I had cavities filled in baby teeth.
Two of mine had fillings in their baby teeth. But this was only done when their permanent teeth were no where near ready to come through.
You have to protect the baby teeth as though life depends on it-the tooth buds of the second teeth are there and are at risk-you must fill any cavities-When the second teeth-molars- come in-get "pit and fissure" sealant.
It depends on which teeth and how bad. My dentist filled 1-year molars, but the teeth that were likely to come out in a year, with just small cavities, weren't a big deal.
If he's getting cavities in baby teeth, you need to be extra diligent. Supervise brushing 2x daily at least. Limit sugar, especially hard candy, as sucking on it keeps the sugar in his mouth longer, and make sure he at least rinses his mouth out after. Avoid soda - the carbonation is worse than the sugar! And for most of the day, water should be the drink of choice.
I've had but only 1 filling my entire life. I'm now 38 years old. That 1 filling was in a baby tooth that, of course, fell out. I don't remember much about getting the actual filling so it must not of been a huge ordeal.
I had one filled when I was a kid 20 years ago. I remember how much it hurt before I got the filling. I think it is normal because there is still a root that is being exposed. They actually say that taking care of your baby teeth has a dramatic effect on your adult teeth.
Happy Brushing ☺
Yes, my oldest had baby teeth filled about the same age as your son. Then we went to a new Dentist. He didn't say she shouldn't have had fillings but he did ask why the previous Dentist never sealed her teeth. Of course I didn't know cuz I'm not a Dentist. But you may want to ask about having his teeth sealed. My daughter had 4 baby teeth filled! :( After they were sealed she never had any problems.
Yes my son has had three done and has his baby teeth if you don't get them filled than the cavity will cause pain and abses than you will be in for more and he could damage his root for the grown teeth. If your dentist doesn't fill them go to a new one dr. campbell on 16 and mound is exceellent.
