slide
slide3
slide2
slide4
previous arrow
next arrow

What’s the Best Way to Come Out to My Pediatric Dentist?

by

I’m 14 but my mom still takes me to a dentist for Kids in Auburn. I am trans and use the pronouns he/him and they/them. I came out at the end of last school year. Telling the school was scary but the principal talked to everyone and promised that teachers would use our chosen names and correct pronouns. My friend came out at the same time too so that helped.

Anyway, I’m supposed to see the dentist during fall break and I’m not sure what to do or say. I don’t want them to use my deadname but telling them is terrifying. What if they refuse? Or say something? Or kick me out?

Yes, my mom knows, but she doesn’t say much about it and I’m afraid to ask her to tell them too. What do I do?

-T.

 

Dear T.,

First off, it was very brave and mature of you to write this letter! You got this!

Talk to Your Mom Again

You were probably expecting this, but your first stop should be a chat with your mom. Maybe start by telling her how much her support and help means to you and then outlining your concerns. If she’s onboard, she’ll be your best advocate with this and so much more going forward.

You Won’t Be the Pediatric Dentist’s First LGBTQ+ Patient and You Won’t Be the Last

Auburn may a smaller city comparatively, but as you noted things are changing and even the schools are setting new guidelines for inclusivity. That means there are lots of kids like you and your friend and your dentist likely already has some LGBTQ+ patients.

If you decide to move forward with telling them, enlist your mom’s help. She can talk to the practice ahead of time and ask them to notate your records, so the team uses the right name and pronouns when you visit.

The other reason why it’s a good idea to bring your mom into the loop is so that she can feel out the response from the office for you ahead of time. As you noted, there is a possibility that they might not be agreeable or welcoming. If that’s the case, then you and your mom will need to discuss your next steps together. As your parent, your mom obviously gets the final say, but it sounds like you can at least have an open dialogue with her and she’s willing to hear you out. That’s a good start.

If, for some reason, things don’t go well when you talk to your mom, you may want to talk to your school guidance counselor. Oftentimes, a counselor can give you pointers on how to talk with your mom, can help get the dialogue started, or can link you up with some local resources and support.

Hang in there and best of luck to you!

 

This blog is sponsored by Raymond Bolt, a family dentist providing pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Will Tooth the Pediatric Dentist Damaged Heal on its Own?

by

teen girl in choir for auburn AL prdiatric dentist blog

My teen still sees a pediatric dentist, mostly because the office does ortho and she was undergoing treatment until recently. When she successfully completed treatment, they recommended we do a fixed retainer rather than a removable one because they weren’t sure she’d wear the removable one like she should.

Well, she just started back to school and sings in the choir, so almost immediately after classes resumed, she began complaining that the fixed retainer was making it impossible to sing. The pediatric dentist asked her to give it a bit more time to get used to it, but she was coming home crying almost daily, so I pushed him to remove it.

I’m not sure what happened, but while he was removing it, one of my daughter’s lower front teeth was banged. It looks bad. It’s darker now and seems to be out of place. She’s also complaining that doing just about anything hurts.

The dentist took an x-ray and ran some tests. He said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the x-ray, but since the tooth responds to cold, he thinks it’s dying and will need a root canal. He referred us out to a specialist for it.

My questions are, first, isn’t the fact that it’s responding a good sign? Second, since he didn’t see anything on the x-ray, is there still a chance this will heal on its own?

Thank you,

Lynn

 

Dear Lynn,

There’s a lot to be concerned about here. Let’s break this down.

Dead and Dying Teeth Do Not Heal

When a tooth is diagnosed as dead or dying, it means the pulp inside the tooth is no longer vital, so it’s not capable of fighting off infection. The only fix in these situations is a root canal. Symptoms like responding to cold are signs that a root canal may be necessary, particularly if she’s experiencing a pain response when the tooth is cold. The coloration and clear indications of trauma point in that direction too.

The Pediatric Dentist’s Remarks Are Questionable

It’s worrisome that the dentist isn’t making a diagnosis given everything he’s seeing. It’s equally concerning that the tooth was damaged in what should have been a routine procedure. This is something that he should be covering—if he hasn’t already offered to pay for the follow-up treatment, you should ask him about it. Better yet, get a second opinion. You can take her to your family dentist or to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. If that dentist sees what you’re describing and feels it needs a root canal, you can also ask his office to send a request for payment to the dentist who injured the tooth. Although some will avoid getting in the middle of these kinds of things, you can sometimes eliminate extra hoops to jump through by having the new treating doctor make the request.

Don’t Delay Treatment

If this is a dead or dying tooth—and it certainly sounds like it is—it’s only going to get worse. Get it checked out before your daughter’s in serious pain. Best to both of you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a family dentist providing pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Can a Pediatric Dentist Give My Teen Dental Implants?

by

kid skateboard accident pediatric dentist

I’m wondering if it’s normal for a pediatric dentist to refuse to do dental implants for a teen. My 13-year-old son took out both of his front teeth in a skateboarding accident last week. He’s mostly fine other than the teeth—he was treated in the ER and released on the same day. However, their doctor said we should discuss the possibility of dental implants with his primary dentist and that’s where we’re getting stuck.

I phoned the pediatric dentist to inquire about the process and they said they don’t do dental implants—that it’s better to wait until they’ve matured and to do something like a flipper until they’re adults. Well, my son isn’t irresponsible. He just had an accident. I don’t want him going around without teeth or getting stuck with obviously fake teeth.

Is it normal for kids dentists to refuse implants? If so, should we try a general dentist or some type of specialist?

Thanks,

Jill

 

Dear Jill,

Sorry to hear about your son’s accident! It sounds like your dentist could have explained things better. Let’s go over the challenges and your options.

The Jawbone Doesn’t Usually Finish Developing Until Age 18+

It’s unlikely your dental office was referring to emotional maturity or responsibility. The jawbone, itself, doesn’t finish growing until the late teens or so. Every child is different, and boys tend to get there a little slower than girls, but most kids aren’t physically ready for implants until around age 18. Growth is an important factor because, if the implant is placed too soon, it can prevent natural teeth from shifting as they normally would and impact the bite. Smiles can wind up crooked and implants may not be in the right position either.

Flippers Are a Good Choice Until Your Son is Ready for a Dental Implant

While your son is still developing, it’s generally better to use temporary and removable appliances to fill the gap his missing teeth left behind. He may need to have it replaced a time or two to accommodate growth while he’s waiting on the dental implant too.

Be Wary of Pediatric Dentists Offering Dental Implants

While some pediatric dentists have no doubt undergone training to place dental implants and may well do a fine job, it’s not something they usually do simply because kids aren’t ready for implants very often. For that reason, most will refer their patients out if they think it’s a possibility. If, by chance, you happen to find one who is willing to do it, find out how often they perform the procedure. You want someone who is regularly placing implants to handle this, not just someone who does it occasionally.

With that in mind, you may want to look for a family dentist who can take over his care or connect with a specialist, such as a periodontist or oral surgeon, who can monitor his growth and let you know when he’s cleared for the implants.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a general dentist offering implant dentistry and pediatric dental services in Auburn, Alabama.

How Can I Make Pediatric Dental Visits Easier for Autistic Child?

by

Autistic girl at pediatric dentist

My six-year-old daughter was just diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She was five the last time we tried going to the pediatric dentist and it went very poorly to say the least. She was screaming and crying. At the time, we didn’t know what was going on and the dentist treated it as a behavioral problem. He insinuated it was our fault—that we weren’t good parents—and told us not to come back until we could “control our child.”

I look back on that and it just breaks my heart. I knew the dentist was way off base and that something more was going on but I couldn’t place it at the time. Now, trying to get back into things, we not only have to find a pediatric dentist who can work with kids on the spectrum, but also try to make up for a horrific first dental visit. I’m really not sure where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Kandace

 

Dear Kandace,

Big hugs to you and your little one, mama! It sounds like you’ve had quite the journey. As you probably know by now, ASD is a broad term and kids on the spectrum can have different symptoms or respond in unique ways to the same stimuli, so what works for one kiddo may not be what works for your kiddo. Because of that, the following will be general tips. You’ll need to consider your daughter’s specific needs and work with her care team to come up with the best solutions.

Find a General or Pediatric Dentist Who Already Works with Kids on the Spectrum

You don’t necessarily need to stick with a pediatric dentist, but you do need to find someone who already works with those diagnosed with ASD—more specifically, kids who are similar to your daughter. Make note of specific behaviors your daughter exhibits—is she sensitive to sounds? Lights? Touch? Changes in routine? How does she behave when she experiences these situations?

Find out how the dentist will handle each situation and make sure the team is prepared prior to bringing your daughter in. You can also request a consultation with just you prior to your daughter’s first appointment, a visual “no touch” appointment, or a tour beforehand. While not all dentists offer these options, they can be incredibly helpful for kids with ASD.

Prepare Your Daughter for the Visit

When you’ve selected a dentist, get a complete walkthrough of what the visit will entail from the moment you walk through the doors. Because many kids on the spectrum struggle with new places and situations, you’ll want to familiarize her with the process and expected behaviors as much as possible beforehand. Some families find it helpful to create a storyboard or book together, while other families like to create a checklist of activities.

Bring your daughter’s favorite tools with her. If lights bother her, bring a pair of sunglasses along. If noise creates issues, bring along some music and headphones or noise-reduction headphones. Touch may always be a sensitive spot, but you may be able to prepare her for the visit better by acting out events ahead of time. For example, you can roleplay and count each other’s teeth using a toothbrush or mouth mirror from the dental aisle or practice what sitting still in the dental chair will be like.

Be Open to the Idea of Sedation

At the end of the day, your daughter will need to have her teeth professionally checked and cared for. If visits end in chaos or are creating undue stress for her, sedation may be the only route to proper care and can help her maintain a more positive attitude about dental visits in the long run. It’s not right for every child, but if visits are still difficult despite everyone giving it their best, it’s something worth talking to your dentist about. Best of luck to you and yours.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a family dentist and provider of pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Pediatric Dentist is Billing for Things That Weren’t Done

by

boy dressed as pediatric dentist

I think our pediatric dentist is billing for things that weren’t done. My son started going to this new office about two months ago after our insurance changed. On the first visit, the dentist caught a couple of cavities she said needed to be filled. My son is usually great about brushing. He’s eight, was getting regular checkups at a different office before this one, and never had an issue. I was a little surprised that she found two but I didn’t question it all that much. After all, she’s the doctor.

Anyway, he went in and had those two fillings done and, just the other day, I got a notice from the insurance company. It seemed like the standard post-visit thing that breaks down pricing and what we were responsible for paying, but instead of saying he had a filling, it listed code D2930 and said something about a stainless-steel crown. At first, I thought I was mistaken, but I looked at the work and my son doesn’t have any metal showing in his mouth. So, then I called the office and they gave me a story about how sometimes the insurance company changes the code to allow for al alternative payment.

Does this sound right? If not how should I address it?

Thanks,

Trea

 

Dear Trea,

You’re correct. Something’s not right here. Either the person who helped you at the pediatric dental office was very confused or there’s something else going on in that office.

Dental Insurance Companies Are Known to Downgrade

Oftentimes, dental insurance companies will pay for the least expensive treatment that will solve the issue. For example, if the dental office had billed for tooth-colored fillings, it wouldn’t be unusual for the insurance company to only pay the price of amalgam (silver) fillings. Dentists rarely use amalgam nowadays because composite fillings allow for more of the natural tooth to be retained and don’t generally have the same kind of leakage and breakage we see with older silver fillings. But, insurance companies see them as an acceptable level of care, and so sometimes they’ll only cover the cost of those rather than white fillings.

When an insurance company downgrades, they make it quite clear that’s what they’re doing. They’ll list the procedure that was billed and note that they’re paying a downgraded fee.

Dental Insurance Companies Don’t Upgrade

What you don’t often see is the inverse—dental insurance companies offering to pay more than the rate the dentist is charging.

There isn’t Much of a Price Difference Between Resin Fillings and Stainless-Steel Crowns

The price for a composite (tooth-colored) filling depends on a few factors, such as whether it’s a front tooth or back tooth and how many surfaces are involved. Generally speaking, a two-surface posterior (back tooth) filling is going to be less than the price of a stainless-steel crown. At three surfaces, the fillings become more expensive. With that in mind, it seems like an odd scheme if an office is intentionally trying to gouge the insurance company. Especially because anyone can look inside your son’s mouth and easily identify if a metal crown is present.

Talk to Your Insurance Company About the Pediatric Dentist

Given how you describe the situation, it doesn’t sound like they’re intentionally up to no good, but they may not be billing accurately. Give your insurance company a call and let them know what your concerns are. They’ll be able to read the documentation sent and any codes submitted to determine what treatment the office is saying was performed. Since it sounds like they have a contract with your dentist, they’re likely to launch an investigation of their own if they have concerns about the validity of the claims being submitted. You may want to ask them to follow up with you to let you know the results. They don’t always do that without a formal request. Best of luck to you and yours.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a provider of pediatric dentistry services in Auburn, AL.

Pediatric Dentist Sent My Child a Bill—What Do I Do with It?

by

child surprised by Auburn pediatric dentist

This is going to sound weird, but our new pediatric dentist sent my five-year-old son a bill. We’d been back and forth with them quite a bit—there were issues with them getting the insurance verified and them not getting paperwork to me in time. The day of the appointment, they called me and told me and told me that they had just stopped taking our insurance and that the visit would be billed with out-of-network charges. Quite frustrating because I’d booked the appointment a month in advance and had gotten their info from the insurance company.

Anyway, I decided just to go through with the appointment because my son was already prepped for it and the remaining balance would be small. So, we went ahead with the appointment and it didn’t go well. My son was squirmy and the pediatric dentist didn’t get to do the full exam. The “cleaning” was about 30 seconds of them brushing his teeth with a toothbrush. Not exactly what I’d call top-notch clinical work. We got through it, though, and I paid my portion at the end, and we left.

Here we are almost three months later and a letter comes in the mail for my son. It’s not just a bill—it’s a notice that they’re going to send him to collections if he doesn’t pay the remaining portion, which is now pretty much the full amount because apparently there’s no out-of-network coverage.

I’m somewhat tempted to blow it off and let them try. It’s not going to go anywhere and I’m more than a little upset that we wound up with the bill anyway. The whole thing could have been easily prevented if they’d just been on the ball. Can I safely disregard the notice?

Best,

Talia

 

Dear Talia,

You’re probably not going to like this answer, but you should just pay the bill. No doubt, you signed an agreement saying you’d accept full responsibility for payment even if insurance didn’t pay. Ultimately, it’s your bill to pay since you entered into an agreement with the practice. Sending the bill to your son could give you some wiggle room if it ever came down to it, but that’s really something you’d need to take up with a layer.

Yes, they biffed this one pretty big. It sounds like there were a lot of things they could have done better. It’s hard to say how you could have gotten around it other than to be more familiar with your insurance plan and confirm on your own what the charges will be and what insurance plans to pay beforehand. Granted, that’s not something most people do, and most offices will take care of it for you with a high degree of accuracy too. But, ultimately, any charges accrued are your responsibility.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a provider of pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

How Do I Make the Pediatric Dentist Take My Concerns Seriously?

by

girl with cavities

I took my six-year-old to the pediatric dentist last week and she had cavities again. Two this time. She’s already had four others. Two of those turned into extractions and the other two needed baby root canals.

The thing is, we’ve been vigilant. Seriously vigilant. She doesn’t get juice or soda and I don’t bring anything sugary into the house. Ever since the last round, I’ve done 100% of her brushing for her. Always at least twice per day and I do three when we’re home together on the weekends. Yes, we’re also using fluoridated toothpaste.

This is upsetting as it is. I wanted to know what else we could be doing or why she keeps getting cavities, so I asked the dentist while we were in. Instead of helping, she told me it was my fault for not doing more to take care of my daughter’s teeth. I told her what I was doing and she replied, “Well, your daughter’s cavities say otherwise.” She basically called me a liar.

There must be other things that could be causing this, right? How do I get her to take me seriously and help us find the cause?

Sincerely,

Kim

 

Dear Kim,

So sorry to hear you are going through all this! Let’s break your question down.

Lots of Things Could Be Causing Your Daughter’s Cavities

She could have a genetic predisposition to have more cavities. She could have some form of structural anomalies or the enamel may not have developed correctly. She could also have an undiagnosed medical condition causing the issue. The bottom line is that you know what you’ve been doing at home and if that isn’t working, then keep being your daughter’s champion until you find a solution or answers.

Get a Second Opinion (And a New Pediatric Dentist)

The pediatric dentist should have taken you more seriously to begin with. Unfortunately, if that’s her nature, there’s not a whole lot you can do to turn her around. Even if you convinced her to keep looking, she wouldn’t have the attitude of someone who cares. She’d go into it to check off boxes.

Instead of pursuing this with her, have a consult with another dentist and touch base with your daughter’s pediatrician too. If there’s going to be a lapse between now and your appointments with them, there’s probably no harm in letting the current dentist take care of these cavities. It sounds like they tend to progress fast with your daughter or the dentist is missing them until they’re large. You don’t want them left untreated for long. Best of luck to the both of you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a provider of pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Will a Pediatric Dentist Whiten My 9-Year-Old’s Teeth?

by

girl covering mouth

I’m wondering if it makes sense to take my nine-year-old to a pediatric dentist for an evaluation. She’s always been worried about the color of her teeth, but over the past several months, the kids at school have been really unkind to her. The other day a boy in her class told her that wearing a mask was an improvement and she came back home in tears.

We normally all see the same dentist, so I phoned them to ask about doing some teeth whitening. They told me they never do whitening for anyone under age 18 and that no dentist will do it for kids under 16. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all. I’ve had it done and it’s safe. I had no trouble at all.

I’m worried about doing at-home whitening without some kind of dentist supervision, but that’s honestly what we’re going to wind up doing if I can’t find someone who will help. I can’t let her keep going to school and be subjected to this every day. Do pediatric dentists ever do whitening or do we have other options?

Thank you,

Annika

 

Dear Annika,

Kids can be so cruel. Sorry to hear your daughter is dealing with this. Let’s explore some possible solutions.

Chances Are, Your Daughter’s Teeth Are Normal

A survey of 2,495 children revealed nearly one-third are dissatisfied with the color of their teeth. Less than 20% of parents felt the same and just 9% of dentists felt the kids had an unsatisfactory tooth color. In other words, kids are much harder on themselves and often see an issue when the color of their teeth is perfectly normal and expected for their age group.

The challenge may also be that the structure of primary teeth and permanent teeth are different. Whereas baby teeth have a larger pulp area, adult teeth have more enamel and dentin. The dentin, therefore, shows through on adult teeth a bit more, which can make them seem yellow by comparison.

Your daughter’s likely at a stage where multiple primary and permanent teeth are visible when she smiles, so certainly, some teeth may appear darker or yellower than others. That’s true across the board, even of the kids making unkind remarks. None of this will necessarily help when a child is being bullied, but it may offer your daughter some reassurance.

The Problem with Whitening is Usually Sensitivity

Somewhere between one-third to one-half of people who whiten their teeth experience some degree of sensitivity. Adults generally understand the nature of their sensitivity, can manage it, and know it will pass. Kids don’t always have the same benefit and it can be more traumatic.

Adding to this, kids using at-home whiteners are more prone to abusing them. Understandably, if a child is catching flack at school, whether the kids are correct in their accusations or not, a large proportion of children will whiten more often than they should, keep the whitening gel or strips on longer than they should, or use more than they should, increasing the likelihood that they’ll develop sensitivity and other issues.

That said, a very small portion can develop more severe issues like permanent enamel disintegration and pitting. This is usually only seen when whitening products are misused.

Some Pediatric Dentists Might Offer Whitening

There are reports of kids as young as four whitening their teeth, but it’s generally not done in children under six. Your daughter is within a reasonable age for consideration, though each dentist will have his or her own philosophies on the age in which whitening is appropriate. That in mind, you may wish to speak with a pediatric dentist or someone who specializes in cosmetic dentistry. You’re on the right track with working with a professional on this, but you may have to talk to a few before you find someone who will either do it or explain why whitening is contraindicated for your daughter based on her unique needs rather than age. Best of luck to both of you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, an Auburn, AL family dentist offering cosmetic and pediatric dental care.

Pediatric Dentist Left Bruises on Son- Normal or Not?

by

boy injured pediatric dentist

My six-year-old had to see the pediatric dentist to have two teeth removed yesterday. He was incredibly sore after and overnight. We tried icing it and giving him ibuprofen, but it didn’t really help. By this morning, it looked like he’d been in a boxing ring. I phoned the dentist to find out what happened and they told me there was nothing out of the ordinary about the treatment—just that sometimes this happens. I want to believe them. We have a good relationship with the doctor and all my kids have seen him, so we’ve been patients for probably a decade by now. But, I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this and it’s quite alarming. My son doesn’t remember anything about the treatment. They sedated him during the visit. So, I really don’t have anything but the word of the dental office to go on. Is this normal? Or should I have my son seen somewhere?

Thank you,

Ann

 

Dear Ann,

As scary as it may look right now, your son is probably experiencing a side-effect of receiving anesthetic and will be just fine in time. However, you should get him checked out by the pediatric dentist or a physician just to be sure.

Hematomas May Occur by Receiving Anesthetic

As Jacqueline J. Freudenthal, RDH, MHE, associate professor and chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Idaho State University explains, “A hematoma develops when a blood vessel (artery or vein) is inadvertently injured by the needle. If the injury is minor or the tissue is dense, a hematoma is unlikely to be noticeable extraorally.” She notes that the care team can help diminish the impact by stopping treatment and applying pressure and ice right away and continuing with ice off and on for the next six hours. So, you did the right thing by applying ice at home. However, she also notes that, “ If an artery or vessel is injured in a vascular area, such as the pterygopalatine or infratemporal fossa, a more dramatic response of swelling and bruising may occur.”

Most hematomas heal on their own with no further care needed. However, more serious cases do require additional treatment and follow-up care with the dentist or a physician. This has been observed and studied in children.

Sometimes Bumps Happen During Extractions

It’s also possible your son is more susceptible to bruising or was bumped during the extractions. This doesn’t happen much with baby teeth because they have shorter roots and tend to come out easier than adult teeth, but it’s possible trauma occurred during the extraction too.

Take Him to the Pediatric Dentist or His Pediatrician

It sounds like your instincts are spot-on here. Your son is in pain and has obvious signs of injury. Whether they happened during the course of normal treatment or not, he should be seen right away. Chances are, he’ll be sore for a bit and the marks will dissipate over the next couple weeks. However, if he is experiencing one of the rarer complications, medical intervention could be necessary. Give the pediatric dentist a call back and let them know you’d feel better if the doctor took another look at your son. If they can’t get him seen right away or you have concerns about what may have happened in the treatment room, have him visit his pediatrician or another doctor instead.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a provider of general and pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Pediatric Dentist Recommended Crowns for 4-Year-Old—Is That Normal?

by

boy at the pediatric dentist

My four-year-old had his regular checkup with the pediatric dentist earlier this week and the doctor diagnosed two cavities. I didn’t know they were there before the visit, but once they were pointed out to me, I could kind of see them a little. They’re right in the middle of his two front teeth.

So, I don’t question that they’re there. The problem is, the dentist is recommending tooth-colored crowns as treatment. That seems a bit like overkill to me since the cavities are very, very small and these are his baby teeth.

To be clear, I want to do whatever’s best, but if this is overly aggressive treatment, I also don’t want to put him through all that. Right now, he does pretty well at the dentist and I’m worried having to have crowns done will be traumatic for him. I had a bad experience when I was little and am still afraid of the dentist to this day. I don’t want him to go through the same thing. Is it possible fillings are enough?

Thanks,

Geraldine

 

Dear Geraldine,

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Sometimes those things do stick with people and it’s more than understandable that you’re approaching this with some caution. You’ve asked some good questions too. Let’s break them down.

You Can’t Tell the Full Picture by Looking at the Outside of the Tooth

Sometimes cavities can be misleading. They may appear small on the surface, but still cause a lot of damage within the tooth. Your pediatric dentist probably took x-rays to aid him in the diagnosis. They give a better indication of what’s happening inside the tooth.

Crowns Might Be Warranted

Crowns are usually only done when the decay is extensive or the tooth has other issues and needs a “baby root canal,” otherwise known as a pulpotomy. Since you didn’t mention the latter, it sounds like the dentist believes the decay is extensive and the teeth will need extra support to stay intact.

Your son, under ordinary circumstances, would probably have those teeth for 2-3 more years, so protecting them is important. If they’re lost prematurely, his other teeth will start to shift to fill the gap, which often necessitates orthodontic treatment down the line. Sometimes kiddos develop issues speaking or with muscle development too.

Your Son Might Be a Candidate for Sedation

Oftentimes, doctors recommend sedation for children of this age when they need more intensive treatment. It helps ensure they stay still throughout the procedure and helps keep the appointment positive. Most kiddos sleep right through it and wake up in good spirits after with little memory of the procedure, itself. If your doctor didn’t mention this and you’re interested, ask him if it’s an option.

Talk to Another Pediatric Dentist if You’re Worried

Without a dentist looking at the x-rays and performing a visual exam, it’s impossible to say whether your son really needs those crowns or if a less invasive treatment will suffice. Moreover, it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion if you’re unsure of a diagnosis. At the very least, it could help you move forward with treatment with greater confidence. Best of luck to you and your son.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, an Auburn, AL dentist treating kids through adults.