I need Dental advice for a ten year old.

[973beachbum]

I took my son to the dentist.  She sid he has a deep cavity on one of his first molors that need a pulpotomy or has to be extracted.   

She said it is a baby tooth but she thinks it will fall out in less than six months.  DS is very ADD and is hard to deal with under normal dentist appointments.  I cant imagine what he would be like with what sounds like a root canal.   The only alternative is to pull the tooth.  This sounds marginally asier to get him through than the root canal thing.  But he would need a spacer type thing to keep his teeth from moving around.   I am afraid that he might do something to the spacer though.  It sounds like something he could try and take out or something.  There doesn't seem much point in doing it if he is going to just ruin it anyway.  I guess I am just thinking outloud so to post.

If anyone has any experience or info that would help me please feel free to help!  If not I am thinking of taking up a collection for headache meds and booze.  

[busymom]

Beachbum, are there any dentists in your area who specialize in working with special needs kids?  They usually have access to drugs to calm your child, that the average dentist does not use. 

[973beachbum]

Well although we think he is extra special, he isn't actually special needs.  What I am most worried about is him messing with the dental work after they do it.  I don't think I am allowed to keep him sedated until his permanat tooth comes in.  I have dreamed of it from time to time though.

[busymom]

I know he's not technically special needs, but I'm just thinking using one of those dentists for a root canal.  Plus, you'll get an idea of how he'll act when he's older if he ever gets drunk.  

[Abby Normal]

My son had to have four baby teeth extracted when he was 9.  They were talking them out so his eye teeth would drop in where the should.  They just knocked him out.  We did go to an oral surgeon though, rather than the regular dentist.  He can't make it through xrays- but had no problem with the extraction.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

To start with, you might want to work with a pediatric dentist if you're not.  They would have an idea as to how to affix the spacer so he couldn't move it.

A good place to start is a dental school.  Right now, the students are on break but the faculty dental clinic functions all summer too, and you have a better chance to get an appointment now, since the faculty is not teaching or overseeing student clinics.

[Tiny]

She said it is a baby tooth but she thinks it will fall out in less than six months

Is your son in pain? If not, could you just let it ride - and wait for nature to take it's course (the tooth falls out) with the plan that if the tooth starts to bother your son - you'll whisk him off to the dentist to have it removed?

[giramomma]

My DS has had a spacer on for at least a year, if not close to two, and nothing has happened to it. He's 9 right now. We just had to be careful about eating candy that's too chewy. His spacer is attached to his back molars, and runs along the inside of his mouth.

We need to get an ortho consult this summer, so eventually we're moving on to other things..

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 24, 2013 12:59:52 GMT -5 Tiny said:

She said it is a baby tooth but she thinks it will fall out in less than six months

Is your son in pain? If not, could you just let it ride - and wait for nature to take it's course (the tooth falls out) with the plan that if the tooth starts to bother your son - you'll whisk him off to the dentist to have it removed?

This is a bad idea.  If the cavity is bad enough that the pulp is infected, then that infection can hit the blood and cause other issues.  Would you really want to take the risk?  

Either the tooth needs to go, or the infection (pulpectomy) needs to be controlled.  Leaving it uncontrolled for 6 months could have some ungood results.

[kittensaver]

An ordinary cavity on a baby tooth that will soon come out = leave it alone (unless it is painful).

An infected tooth = deal with it (pull it).

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 24, 2013 13:09:03 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

An ordinary cavity on a baby tooth that will soon come out = leave it alone (unless it is painful).

An infected tooth = deal with it (pull it).

A deep cavity IS an infected tooth.  Cavities are caused by bacteria and once it has reached the pulp (thus the need for a pulpectomy) the infection has the possibility of going to the blood.

[973beachbum]

My kids go to the dentist twice a year and we have never left a cavity untreated before.  That is probably why this freaked me out so much.  How the heck could he get that bad a cavity in six months?  the dentist he goes to is a ped dentist but the office doesn't do things like sugery so he would have to go to another office that does.  I am still conflicted about doing the pulpotomy and cap vs the extraction and spacer.  The pulpotomy seems like a lot for him to deal with but the cap sounds way easier than the spacer.    she did say that no matter what he will need braces later on so that isn't a concern.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

If they sedate him for pulling the tooth, or sedate him for the pulpectomy, does it really make any difference in what he has to deal with?  He's not going to be cognizant of the treatment, just the results.

[Bob Ross]

Hmm.  Well I've been known to play internet doctor from time to time, so why not internet dentist? 

The solution?  A long piece of string and a door knob.

[973beachbum]

May 24, 2013 13:24:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

If they sedate him for pulling the tooth, or sedate him for the pulpectomy, does it really make any difference in what he has to deal with?  He's not going to be cognizant of the treatment, just the results.

They said they won't sedate him just give him laughing gas.  I also thought it would take more than one office visit for the pulpotomy thing vs one for the extraction.  Maybe I don't understand what they are doing though because I thought it was like a root canal.  They said they could do the extraction and spacer in the office with no more than the usual trouble.

His answer was pretty similar to Bob Ross except that he suggested his sister use a soccer ball.

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 13:06:30 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

May 24, 2013 12:59:52 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Is your son in pain? If not, could you just let it ride - and wait for nature to take it's course (the tooth falls out) with the plan that if the tooth starts to bother your son - you'll whisk him off to the dentist to have it removed?

This is a bad idea.  If the cavity is bad enough that the pulp is infected, then that infection can hit the blood and cause other issues.  Would you really want to take the risk?  

Either the tooth needs to go, or the infection (pulpectomy) needs to be controlled.  Leaving it uncontrolled for 6 months could have some ungood results.

I'm not  arguing with you...  but it doesn't sound like the tooth is has 'gone bad' at this point. It just has a deep cavity that may or may not go bad before the tooth falls out...    

So,  yeah, there are risks involved with all the types of treatment or nontreatment  - bad things happen to kids when having routine dental work done too.    I would think some consideration needs to be given to what effects the 'laughing gas' and/or novacaine or other after treatment pain relievers may have.
 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Why don't you get an appointment at the office that does these procedures and ask them for a consult?  A pulpectomy is like a root canal, but as it is in a primary tooth, it does not have as many roots so it's easier (or it is my understanding).

A good office should give you the approximate cost, time it would take, and advantages/disadvantages of each.

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 13:35:00 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

May 24, 2013 13:24:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

His answer was pretty similar to Bob Ross except that he suggested his sister use a soccer ball.

;DWow     I hope his sister realizes what a WONDERFUL brother she has!   His suggestion warmed my "little sister" heart! 

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 13:56:58 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Why don't you get an appointment at the office that does these procedures and ask them for a consult?  A pulpectomy is like a root canal, but as it is in a primary tooth, it does not have as many roots so it's easier (or it is my understanding).

A good office should give you the approximate cost, time it would take, and advantages/disadvantages of each.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

but it doesn't sound like the tooth is has 'gone bad' at this point. It just has a deep cavity that may or may not go bad before the tooth falls out...

The infection has apparently reached the root, which is why a pulpectomy was suggested in the OP.  The tooth HAS gone bad.  A bad cavity is fillable and treatable.  A bad tooth has a compromised root which compromises systemic health.  Choices are to get rid of the tooth (pull it) or get rid of the infection (pulpectomy).

[Chocolate Lover]

My DD had a tooth pulled and a spacer, IIRC, it sat along the gum line and was attached to the 2 teeth next to it. She never had any problems with the spacer. My DS, the ADD one, did better with a morning appointment for his filling recently, most probably because he's still full of meds

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 14:03:40 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

but it doesn't sound like the tooth is has 'gone bad' at this point. It just has a deep cavity that may or may not go bad before the tooth falls out...

The infection has apparently reached the root, which is why a pulpectomy was suggested in the OP.  The tooth HAS gone bad.  A bad cavity is fillable and treatable.  A bad tooth has a compromised root which compromises systemic health.  Choices are to get rid of the tooth (pull it) or get rid of the infection (pulpectomy).

Got it!  

[cael]

Sorry to hear that! I had a root canal on a front tooth when I was 8 and man, it sucked I had the tooth knocked completely out, root & all, on the playground (adult tooth) - the kids FOUND IT in the sand, my teacher & mother (who taught at my school) popped it in a glass of milk and took me to the dentist. My dentist re-implanted the tooth, despite everyone else in her practice telling her it would never work. She did a root canal a few weeks later and it lasted 22 more years... until a month ago, when it was taken out so I can get a permanent implant in 6 months. Big pain in the ass, as I now have a huge gap in the front of my mouth and have to wear what they call a flipper, kind of a retainer with a fake tooth attached. Very weird. It'll be all good in the end though.

Anyway... if it's a baby tooth I would just have it pulled, it will be so much easier... if it was an adult tooth, that might be a different story. I handled a multi-stage root canal in the front of my mouth pretty well at 8, but I realize not all kids would They numb you up really well for an extraction too so hopefully he wouldn't feel much, if anything.

[t-dog]

around here they send the kids to outpatient surgery center and dentist does the work while they are knocked out.

[Bob Ross]

May 24, 2013 14:35:04 GMT -5 cael said:

Big pain in the ass, as I now have a huge gap in the front of my mouth and have to wear what they call a flipper, kind of a retainer with a fake tooth attached. Very weird. It'll be all good in the end though.

You should look at this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to get a gold tooth and dress like a pirate.

[cael]

May 24, 2013 14:40:46 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

May 24, 2013 14:35:04 GMT -5 cael said:

Big pain in the ass, as I now have a huge gap in the front of my mouth and have to wear what they call a flipper, kind of a retainer with a fake tooth attached. Very weird. It'll be all good in the end though.

You should look at this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to get a gold tooth and dress like a pirate.

LOL!! My friend and I had the best idea. My husband had a hockey playoff beard (sadly he doesn't anymore though) and looked real scruffy. We thought we could get him a flannel and a shottie, and get me some trashy clothes and a banjo and we could take the best Christmas card picture for next year!

[Abby Normal]

Our dentist won't do extractions on kids. Going to the dentist is scary enough without having to go through a (possibly tough) extraction as a kid.   Worst party about DS's extractions was that they couldn't get the IV in (he has my veins  ) and he had to go down to the hospital to get the IV placed and go back to the dentist.   But he was fine with that.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Tea tree oil!  It cures everything!  I've had several former MSN posters tell me so!

::runs before Mich can start throwing sharp lab objects at me::

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 24, 2013 15:27:35 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Tea tree oil!  It cures everything!  I've had several former MSN posters tell me so!

::runs before Mich can start throwing sharp lab objects at me::

That's ok, Drama.....I've mellowed out since I was told my prosthetic infection could have been cleared up with a copper bracelet.  Whoda thunk that a $10 bracelet could have saved my insurance company well over $500K and me another $10K!

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I still haven't recovered from learning what "pelvic adjustments" are.