cavities in a 4 year old

Brought the girls for their regular 6 month check-up and found out Amelia has cavities in her front two teeth. DH is the one who brought them while I stayed home with the baby so I don't have all the info yet but I know that she'll have to be sedated to fill the cavities. Has anyone else had cavities filled in their 4 year olds? If so can you tell me about how it went? The paperwork that DH brought home says that she'll be sedated and placed in some sort of sleeping bag. I feel terrible about it. I brush her teeth twice a day but she is the more resistant of the two about brushing. I will hear from the nurse tomorrow but I am anxious about it and thought I'd ask here too.

 

Umm they didn't put my girls out. I might look at another dentist.

 

How else would they do it? There is no way she will cooperate otherwise. It is conscious sedation, it says she'll be given either versed or chloral hydrate.

 

The girls had laughing gas but I don't really consider that being sedated. They also weren't restrained. They were dopey for a while but no issues. I do not suggest Valium as it didn't put the girls out enough.

 

Abby was 4 when she had 2 cavaties filled. They just gave her a bit of gas and she was just fine. No issues. Now, she and Gabe just went to the Dentist and she has 2 more and Gabe has one. I'm so frustrated! DD1 has none and I just don't know what the issues are. Grrrr.

 

My girlies have both had numerous cavities. I hate it. We brush and floss, but they inherited my teeth. Luckily the other kids didn't (though Spencer doesn't actually open his mouth for the dentist to look in it, so we'll see). What they've done with mine is to give me a prescription for a benedryl tablet that I open and mix into jam or pudding or something an hour before the appointment. Then when they're there they get the laughing gas, too. Sydney even fell asleep the first time. They laid a blanket on them, from the waist down, but the dentist likes to watch their breathing so it's not on their chest. They weren't restrained at all. I've gone in with them and held their hand the entire time if they me wanted to. But my girls are champs and while a bit nervous the first couple times, they were great and it's like no big deal now (sad, I know). Sydney's big enough now that I guess the benedryl wouldn't work? It's based on weight. Sabrina's still tiny and my more nervous one, so they used it the last time, about 9 months ago.

 

I wonder why they aren't suggesting the gas for Amelia. I'm glad I asked in here, when I speak to the nurse tomorrow that's the first thing I'm going to ask.

 

One of mine had 4 cavities filled at different times. They gave him laughing gas to relax him and shots of Novocaine to numb the area. He was fine, and he's my super hyper kid.

My other son does have a cavity in his front tooth, but because of it's small size and that they are going to fall out soon we aren't doing anything about it.

 

I wonder if it's because it's her front two teeth and that's the reason for the sedation. I wish I'd been there today at the appointment! I mean, we've been to more than one pediatric dentist and really really like and trust this one.

 

Ohhhhh one of my DDs reacts to versed--- like crazy wild child reaction. Ask about side effects!!!

She did fine with laughing gas (she had a cracked molar at 4).

ditto our experience. My DD even has sensory problems and WAS NOT restrained. They talked her through it....it too two tries (the first she was too scared), but we did it without restraint and just Novocaine and gas. I LOVED our dentist (she had kids so she really really got it).

This too....one DD had a small cavity on a front tooth....but per xray, it was due to fall out soon. It fell out 8 weeks later. No sweat. But if my other DD had a front tooth cavity- we would have had to fix it. Per xray she was not close to loosing them. She has had no cavities though!




I think part of it is genetics and part is hygiene. You can not battle genetics....and if you brush, just keep going!

My DDs have the same oral health care routine and one DD has had a cap (cracked molar) and two cavities. She also has lost 5 teeth. Other DD no dental issues and has not lost a single tooth. They are almost 6.5.

 

The last visit they did confirm that the girls issues are due to birth weight and being preemies not to meantion genetics. They each have 4 silver caps and jazz had to have a molar pulled because of an abess. Jazz has one front side tooth with a small cavity but they are not worried since it will fall out. As of last visit jessy had lost one of her minor fillings and will have to have it replaced.

 

I brought my kids in for the first time to the dentist at age 4. My little girl had a cavity. I was more nervous about it than she was. I asked questions on the day of the cavity and was SHOCKED with the answers. No gas, no pain meds, no numbing. (I had not heard of sedation at that point.) Wow.. see why I was nervous?

SHE DID GREAT!!! It was a small cavity and baby teeth are soft. She felt no pain at all. She has had 2 more cavities (Small still) and same result. Very interesting!

 

My oldest DD and Trevor both had cavities at age 4, they both have very groovy teeth. When it was discovered by my dentist 2 years ago that Trevor had cavities she recommended him going to a pediatric dentist to get them filled. So I went to one and they recommended putting him to sleep to do it, I was not comfortable with this at all. So I went to another ped. dentist for a 2nd opinion and they said they do the nitrous oxide (laughing gas). So we went with them. :good: They do the nitrous oxide and then novicane so they don't feel it. He had 3 cavities so they did it over 2 visits and it went just fine. With the nitrous oxide they get loopy so the kid does not even know what is going on. We just had to be sure that he didn't bit his lip/cheek etc. after it was over until the nitrous oxide wore off. I was much more comfortable going with someone that would use nitrous oxide over someone that wanted to put my child to sleep just for cavities.

 

I'm such a slacker. They go to the dentist today for the first time. I have a serious problem with the dentist, and I'm trying to not chicken out of taking them today. But oh, I'm trying to figure out a reason for me to not go. I'm sick to my stomach for them and I know there's not a real problem with them.

 

Searra had a cavity filled last year. They did conscious sedation for her. Tolerated it very well. I asked why they used it, and part of their rationale, especially with the little ones, is that they don't want the least likely chance of having a traumatic experience. Which can lead to a lifetime of dental anxiety. Most of the time with conscious sedation, the person is awake for the procedure but has very little if any recall of the event. Aimee, the dentist/staff should be willing and able to talk to you about your concerns and come up with a plan that you both feel comfortable with.

 

My four year old just had a cavity filled and they did give him nitrous gas. They said if he got difficult in the middle of it they would put him in the big swaddle blanket, but it wasn't necessary. I did feel horrible at the fact he got cavities and thought it was something to do with how I brush his teeth. The pediatric dentist said that while in utero if mom gets sick or has a fever or anything at the time when the baby's enamel is forming the enamel will not be great which is likely to cause cavities. She said there is absolutely nothing that can prevent it...it is just the way it is. Same is for their adult teeth. As baby grows in the first year of life while adult teeth are forming if baby gets sick their tooth enamel can be poor as baby's body is putting all effort into getting better.

 

I finally heard back from the nurse. She was very nice and the dentist is going to call me Monday. She said they don't do nitrous gas at all in their office, that it's not recommended for kids any more. She said they either do the conscious sedation or no sedation/talk them through it. No way will Amelia be talked through it! I feel a lot better after talking to the nurse and will probably feel even better Monday after I hear from the dentist himself. Bex, I'd never have guessed there was anything wrong with Amelia's teeth either, that's why I didn't even go to the appointment yesterday.

 

I totally recommend the nitrous oxide!!! OMG what a huge difference it makes. A lot of insurance companies will not cover sedating for fillings of baby teeth, so I would look into that. My oldest son was born with no enamel on his teeth (we had no idea). He has had over 6 root canals and had over 14 cavities (yes 14) at his first dentist visit at 3 yrs old. I tear up just thinking about how that dentist treated him and filled his cavities. Our insurance would not cover doing his with sedation. Luckily his adult teeth all have enamel. Poor kid has been through so much!

My younger son had to have 3 cavities filled (I swear we brush our teeth, I have had 4 cavities my whole life, their dad has a ton..must come from his side). Well they used nitrous oxide and omg what a huge difference. He felt no pain and just sat through the whole thing. I was so glad we switched dentists.

Here is what the american academy of pediatric dentistry says about nitrous oxide.

 

That's good to know, Jen. I was surprised that a dentist would say it's not recommended anymore, as all the dentists I know use it if deemed necessary.

 

Jake just had a cavity (he is 3) filled about a month or so back. They used Nitrous Oxide. He did great and was done so very fast (15 minutes?). My daughter had 2 teeth pulled a year ago, and she had Nitrous oxide too. It's so easy and fast.

Good luck!