Need Advise.......Really Worried!!!!

I'd definitely get a second opinion (& maybe a third); not because I doubt your dentist, but because this is a pretty serious procedure to be performing on a 3 year old. Both my 2 and 4 year old LOVE going to the dentist and I wouldn't mind keeping it that way... though not at the expense of their health. I'd *think* (no medical school in my past, so there's nothing more than a lot of pre-med classes and personal experience to give weight to what may be the advice of a ya-hoo) that a good shot of antibiotics might well take care of things.

Our pediatric dentist is pretty cool and seems very well informed (& our youngest is an *expert* at whacking the heck out of his now very chipped up baby teeth). I'd give a call -

James G Bennett, Jr., DMD - Pediatric Dentist
5458 Town Center Road Suite 16
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Ph: ###-###-####

He really cares about the kids (saw our tooth chipper the first few times for free, since he wasn't on insurance yet).

-Scott (S.'s Hubby)

Dear M.,
I believe the best thing to do is get her peditrician to give her anti-biotics, and just have the tooth removed. It's amazing what they do to get some cash out of people now a days! My niece was abused by her biological mom and her her tooth blackened, from blunt force (dentist said he can't prove it), but we did cap it off, and it fell out less then a year later anyway. It IS baby teeth- they all fall out eventually. That is natures process with us all. If you want to get it fixed, please get a second opinion. Even laughing gas can cause an allergic reaction. Especially at such an early age. Good luck. God bless you all..
Kathy N.

Hi M., I know of at least 3 children who had to get that done. One of my friends kids had to get all of his upper teeth done (I think it was because she put coke in his bottle-but that is another story) So it is not unheard of.

Yes, get a separate opinion if you have doubts about your dentist.

I don't know if there is a reason, other than physical appearance, why they would want to do it, but there may be a reason why it is important. Maybe the teeth won;t grow in properly if there is a gap, I dunno.

If you do decide to go thru the procedure I do suggest you do the gas. I was traumatized when I was a child from the dentist. My mom took me to a dentist when I was very young and I had to get many procedures done (I can't tell you why because my mother passed away so I can’t ask her all these types of questions now that I have kids) But I do know that it horrified me so much that I would shake uncontrollably and cry. When she finally changed my dentist, and he saw how traumatized I was, he actually put me to sleep the first several visits until I was better with it. I was still scared to go through my 20's. So much so that I didn't go for several years and got many cavities.

So, what I am trying to say is, if you do, do it, make it as easy on her as possible. Make sure he is a dentist for children also.

Good luck!

No need to worry.

My son broke off half of his upper front tooth when he was not yet two. The rest eventually turned gray. When he was three, it was clear it had to go. The pediatric dentist simply pulled it out and we never tried to replace it. He was still adorable and fully functional with just one upper front tooth. Eventually the secondary front tooth grew in which is still there at the age of 20!

Mother nature will takes is course and all will be well. It is especially helpful to the child when the mother handles the situation in a relaxed and trusting manner. In another words, try not to make this a big deal. In the big picture, this is not a big deal as kids lose their first teeth anyway!

Blessings,

E. B.