Hello moms out there!, like many of you I have some concerns about my 5 year old's baby teeth, so I went to get a second opinion. first denttist says he needs four crowns because he has cavities in between the molars so they would put him to sleep and do everything in one sitting.
Second dentist says that he actually only needs one tooth crown which is pretty decayed,and for the other molars, he would just do the fillings, for this last option they would do the laughing gas, which supposedly he wouldn't feel the needle or what they are doing to him, and they would do it in two sittings.
While I am not concerned financially because his insurance would cover 100%, I am more worried about the invasive procedure with the surgery and wondering if he really does need all 4 teeth crown. On the other hand, I don't know how he would do with the laughing gas, and the consequences of it, plus he would have to make a second trip. I am leaning more toward the second choice, but I realize the laughing gas is used more with teenegers getting their wisdom teeth pulled. Have you had any of this experiences? which option do you think would be best?
Thank you all for your answers, I am going to call the first dentist today to see if there are other options because my son is scheduled for the surgery this wednesday. I know for sure they specialize in children, and according to them, this is a common procedure because if they don't put them under "they'll never want to come back"-so they might be more about the money. The other doctor said my child would be a good candidate for the lg because he cooperated with him/stood still. Do you know if dentist usually keep the gas mask on a person for the entire time or just at the beggining?
I wouldn't crown the baby teeth. Laughing gas worked on my kids. One fell asleep and slept through his front two teeth being pulled.
I have been using Nitrous (laughing gas) since I was 5. I won't go to the dentist without it except to get my teeth cleaned, and that is because they won't give it to me. It still takes all my will power to go. When I was little the dentist used to call it "going on a space ride" and I did. I don't remember what he did, but I know I had a lot of cavities that had to be filled.
Since I was a teenager I have been able to feel the needles and the shots. This is the worst part for sure! But, maybe I am really sensitive, I don't know. Anyway, I remember being not at all scared to go to the dentist. I think if he has this type of experience, then the Nitrous is a great way to go. If he doesn't, then don't make him do it again. I hope he does well.
You might want to go back to the first doctor and ask him about what the second doctor said. You might learn the missing information to help you decide.
I take my kids to a pediatric dentist and they have both had laughing gas when getting teeth filled. My son especially has had a problem with cavities (his teeth grow very close together), and I'm pretty sure had his first filling at age 5. Their dentist is very good about only using the amount needed to take the edge off.
My DD has had nitrous for fillings. Her dentist puts a cap on the nose thing with a scent of DD's choice and she's been alright with it.
We did 7 teeth with in between cavities under sedation in the hospital. All the others have been in the office (sadly, she's needed one of the original 7 redone and got a crown and then had 2 small ones we filled right away) with nitrous and lidocane, if necessary. She was 5/6 when we did the office ones. We did the others in the OR in part because she was 4, they thought one might have to be a crown/baby root canal (turned out not to need it at the time) and it would have taken at least 4 visits. I now know that my DD can handle 1 filling at a time or she gets anxious and they have to stop.
I would actually be more concerned why one wants to do all crowns and one doesn't. The one crown she got was no joke and it hurt her terribly for several days and it was very upsetting (though it's fine now). That was done in an office visit. IMO, crowns are for deep cavities where they are basically jut protecting the space til they fall out and are replaced and seem like overkill for most cavities. Are either of them pediatric dentists or dentists you have a good relationship with? Which one do you think is less likely to be interested in his wallet? My DH had a dentist as a kid that filled everything he could. The dentist we use now is a little pricier, but I know if he suggests a filling, it's for real and not trying to fleece us.
Our pediatric dentist allows parents (encourages parents) to be there, so you can be there and like hold his foot or something if he needs some TLC. If you think you can't do so calmly, send him with Dad or Grandma.
For those tight teeth, use the prestrung flossers you get in the grocery store. Since we started using those, DD has had no more between teeth cavities.
ETA: For those asking about crowns, we are talking about steel caps that keep really decayed teeth from falling out and messing up the child's alignment later. They are spacers for baby teeth, when they have to basically do a baby root canal. Many children have them, but they are not the only option for cavities, and I am suspicious of the first doc's recommendation for all of them to be capped. Our dentist shows us the xrays and when the pediatric dentist showed us DD's xrays, I had a good idea of what I was looking at and it proved that she really did have those spots on her teeth.
My DD has soft enamel, as does her sister. If your kid does, too, you may need to talk about prevention, like having Rx toothpaste.
I've never heard of laughing gas being used only with wisdom teeth removal. I was knocked out and daughter was as well with our wisdom teeth removal.
My other dental appointments have used the gas and it just knocks the edge off of the stress level at the moment. I've fallen asleep with it. I've had more dental experiences and it's been used regularly for me and works well.
My daughter has never had the gas because she's never had any dental work other than cleanings and her wisdom teeth removal. No cavities or orthodontics and she's 20.
Any idea from the dentist as to why your 5yr olds teeth are so bad? Sometimes it's inherited, others its the care and diet.
Your 2 dentists have conflicting diagnosis. Are you seeing a pediatric dentist? Crowns hurt afterwards and I'd never do more than 1 at a time for myself.
You must have good insurance because I know of no plan in my many years of a company covering 100% including gas. We carry great insurance. Most dental plans pay only 1/2 of a crown at most. Check your plan carefully so you are not surprised with a bill!!
Good luck
My son, actually both sons, had poor enamel on their baby teeth. The younger was so bad we had to have four molars crowned. It was such a non issue he doesn't even remember that he was knocked out. To me that is more important than making me feel better, he felt better, isn't that what this is about?
I work for anesthesiologists. 9 years ago when I started here we had no mobile anesthesiology, 8 years ago we had one van and all the did was pediatric. I stopped counting the vans, we have three that leave out of here but we have more throughout the state. My point is that people are realizing that it is a lot easier on the child to just do general for big procedures.
Think about it this way, how will your son feel if the crown goes badly? He won't want to come back to do the other teeth and even with the option at that point of general that will scare him to death too. It was so easy on my son, go in, come out with everything done. So long as you listen to the doctor's instructions, do not let your child eat, do not lie about eating, the risks are very low.
Suz, I can tell you any reputable dentist will only do the molars. The reason is the adult molars don't come in until around 10 or older and they are necessary for chewing. When they talking about crowing it isn't a cavity as most people think, it is a crumbling tooth generally that way due to a genetic issue. There is not enough tooth to fill.
My grandson who is now 11 has had all his dental work done with laughing gas. he was 4-5 the first time when he needed a crown. my grandson is on the spectrum along with other issues. He could not sit still for an examination.. This dentist wanted 5o give him a general anesthetic in the hospital to cap and fill some teeth. We took him to a different pediatric dentist who said they could do this using laughing gas in 3 sessions.
this worked well for him. He remained calm without the frenetic bahavior that was always with him. He came out to me looking and feeling groggy. He was quieter for the rest of the day. He's had several more teeth filled in the same way. He asks to go to the dentist.
This dentist uses laughing gas on most of his young patients. He is Rated as a top dentist. He wouldn't be using laughing gas if it weren't safe.
My 8 year old had 4 visits to correct the 4 quadrants of his mouth in the fall, he was 7. Each time he had laughing gas and he was 100% fine. There were 2 weeks between each appointment and they only did one quadrant at a time, so he wasn't in the room for more than 15 minutes any time. He had 2 crowns and 2 fillings.
Your kiddo will be fine.
i'm a little surprised by the suggestion to crown baby teeth. i'd inquire pointedly into why a good filling wouldn't do the trick until they come out.
it would be nice to trust all professionals 100%, but i had some clearly money-grubbing dentists before i thankfully found our great one. one guy said my younger needed 6 fillings! 6! got a second opinion (at my current dentist) who said his teeth were perfect. grrrrr.
but i digress. it sounds to me as if option #2 is the best. how wiggly is your 5 year old? my younger had some pretty gruesome oral surgery performed with just laughing gas and being numbed and it was fine, but he was a tween.
in your case i think i'd at least try it first.
khairete
S.
My son had a baby root canal and crown put on with laughing gas and did fine.... they keep the mask on the entire time, and our dentist monitored it, adjusting it to keep him at the relaxed state.
He also basically dozed off! They also gave him a tape player and headphones to help mask the sounds of the drilling.......
He did fine, and was never scared to go back to the dentist. He had other procedures done from time to time (fillings, etc.) and was never scared to go to the dentist.
My 5 year old has had the laughing gas a couple of times. No side effects. No problems. He has fewer fears of the dentist than my 7 year old who had cavities filled without laughing gas.
I have done this both ways.
I can tell you without a doubt that going to sleep with real anesthesia, not gas even in the operating/out patient surgery room.
It is so stinking easy to let the kiddo go back, go to sleep, get everything done, then come out, take out the IV, wake up, normal kid ready to go eat and running amok because they're well rested...lol.
Now, as for a 5 year old getting crowns. Ummm, no, they'd simply get those teeth pulled because their adult teeth are right there under these. He can just pull them out.
If the dentist says NO!!! They have to have caps and stuff say "no thanks then".
Whey do all that when his adult teeth are right there. They'll go ahead and come in sooner.
I mean, it depends which teeth they are. Some of the baby teeth are in the mouth until 13-14. So at five your son will have maybe those teeth for another ten years. So pulling them as sons one suggested will leave a large gap and cause his other teeth to shift requiring braces in the future.
I am a hygienist and children do okay with gas, they lie pretty still and there is no real side effects. They still have to be numbed up because gas doesn't deaden pain.
Sedation dentistry is becoming really common for kids. It is a big money maker. Imo it is only really necessary for extremely nervous kids or extensive work.
Generally crown are done for teeth that are beyond restoration with a filling, and dentists differ on when thus point is reached.
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I mean, it depends which teeth they are. Some of the baby teeth are in the mouth until 13-14. So at five your son will have maybe those teeth for another ten years. So pulling them as sons one suggested will leave a large gap and cause his other teeth to shift requiring braces in the future.
I am a hygienist and children do okay with gas, they lie pretty still and there is no real side effects. They still have to be numbed up because gas doesn't deaden pain.
Sedation dentistry is becoming really common for kids. It is a big money maker. Imo it is only really necessary for extremely nervous kids or extensive work.
Generally crown are done for teeth that are beyond restoration with a filling, and dentists differ on when thus point is reached.
