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Children's health

Could really do with some support/advice/sharing of stories regarding weak enamel (enamel hydroplasia) in children

15 replies

iwantavuvezela · 24/04/2015 09:27

My 8 year old daughter was yesterday diagnosed with enamel hydroplasia. (weak enamel, and some of her baby teeth do not have enamel) In many ways this at least makes sense of the frequent cavities, despite an overhauling of her diet/sugar intake / frequent brushing, upping of the fluoride in toothpaste etc.

She is at a specialist dental hospital, saw a dentist yesterday, took X Rays, and has recommended that she has 3 teeth extracted, with the possibility of two silver crowns, as well as putting that paste on her teeth.

I know this is not life threatening and the rational part of me is pleased that we are now under specialist care for this. The emotional/parent/mother in me is reeling. (extractions, crowns, sedation etc is all new to me, and i thought we were dealing with frequent fillings) The option is to try and do this under gas, and I wondered if anyone else had had this done this way?

I know that my objection to the possibility of silver crowns is cosmetic, and if this is what is needed to protect her teeth, then of course that is what we will do. However I wondered if there were any other options?

If anyone has gone through this and would be willing to share their stories, I would so appreciate that. I want to make sure that before her appointment end of May I am aware of what this is, and what options are. I have googled some articles; and also done a search on Mumsnet, but some of the posts are older, and I would like to be able to talk to someone (via this forum) around this.

Thanks in advance .....

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iwantavuvezela · 24/04/2015 14:01

Another thought I had was there supplements that should/could be taken for someone with weak enamel? (Thinking ahead for the other teeth that are coming out ......)

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iwantavuvezela · 24/04/2015 18:15

Bumping my own post ......

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iwantavuvezela · 25/04/2015 11:50

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hazeyjane · 25/04/2015 20:03

Hello.

My Ds has a genetic condition, part of which is that he has hypoplastic teeth, with low enamel on the front teeth and no enamel on the back teeth. He is nearly 5 and had 4 teeth removed under general anaesthetic last year, as they had crumbled away to stumps.

We have been advised to try and supplement calcium in his diet (which is very restricted), and he sees a specialist dentist, but otherwise we have just been told to wait and see what happens when his adult teeth start coming through. And then make a plan on how best to protect them.

My dd1 also has weak enamel (combined with reflux) and has had some teeth problems due to this, she has fluoride seals re done every 6 months.

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iwantavuvezela · 26/04/2015 09:09

Hazeyjane thanks for that, I appreciate you sharing your own experience. Has your child experienced any difficulty with having teeth removed (for eating?). I think my DDhas to have three removed.
Do you know if it is a wait and see game with secondary teeth to see if they are affected?
I will look into supplements (calcium) as well.

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HarrietSchulenberg · 26/04/2015 11:40

Ds2, now 12, had weak enamel on his baby teeth. There must have been some protection there as he only had to have fillings, no extractions, but he was treated with fluoride each time he visited the dentist and we kept an eye on his sugar intake (particularly grapes, a bunch of which he could strip in a few minutes if not watched like a hawk).
Dentist was very keen to keep his baby teeth in place to act as placemarkers for his adult teeth.
Most of his adult teeth are now through and the enamel on them appears to be normal. He also has pretty much straight teeth.
HTH

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GlowWine · 26/04/2015 11:56

Hi, we have this to, DD1, now 10, had 4 teeth out aged about 6, under GA. They were suddenly deteriorating very quickly and we went through a period of emergency fillings, pain etc too before hosp appt came up. Extraction was fine, recovery fine, adult teeth coming though well.
Dentist has kept an eye on her all along and we seem to have some more hypoplastic issues with one more of molars, but all the adult teeth coming though now are fine.

I personally have feelings of guilt as the teeth in question are the ones that form while baby is in the womb, and I was so careful with my own nutrition.... However the issue of problem teeth seems to be inherited from Father's side of family... DD has a reasonably healthy diet, certainly no squash or sweets on a regular basis. Dentist treats with fluoride and we use pro-enamel type toothpaste and mouthwash to add a bit of extra protection.

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iwantavuvezela · 26/04/2015 14:56

THanks for that Harriet and Glowworm, it's good to hear that it can be managed. As I said earlier I know it's not life threatening, but I feel awful knowing that she will need extractions, and possible crowns! But, at least I now have some answers for her cavities.
Harriet are grapes very bad? I know all fruit has sugar but do they have more? I trying to limit fruit as a snack inbetween due to this.
Also I am hoping the sealant they will now put on will offer extra protection.

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HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/04/2015 15:24

I had no enamel on my baby teeth, a lot of fillings and a mum who was very strict with me about not eating sugar and brushing a LOT. Living in Canada meant that there was fluoride in the tap water too - maybe investigate fluoride rinses too. I was lucky and never had any extractions but I had tons of fillings.

Fortunately my adult teeth turned out to not be badly affected.

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iwantavuvezela · 26/04/2015 15:28

Hearts thanks for that and will look into fluoride rinses. It's good to hear from an adult who is on the other side of it.... Are fluoride rinses good for during the day in between brushing, or to supplement brushing? I am busy teaching her how to floss, but that is a "skill" that will take some time.
At the moment her toothpaste has 1400 of fluoride or something like that.

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HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/04/2015 20:46

I think they are good for during the day but best when done after brushing. But hopefully your dentist can advise better than me!

Good luck with it all OP.

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iwantavuvezela · 27/04/2015 16:44

thanks Heart, and I appreciate the "good luck" thrown in as well......

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whattodotodowhat · 28/04/2015 20:39

My DS(6) had 4 teeth removed due to this (initial problems noted at 3 but long referral and delays meant he was 4 when seen). I feel awful but he coped very well. Had 2 out, then a further 2 out. His front incisor is crumbling but hoping that will fall out naturally soon. His back adult molar have come through and appear to have issues. The dentist will review when they are fully through. We use the Colgate sugar acid toothpaste, dentist said it was good.

Hope all goes well. After multiple abcesses both DS and i were relieved when they were out.

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iwantavuvezela · 28/04/2015 22:18

Thanks for that what, glad to hear your DS's issues were resolved. I will look out for that toothpaste.
Getting my head around all of this and at least feel that for the future my DD's teeth will be looked at with knowing what the issues are, and hopefully by doing this will be able to better protect adult teeth .

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iwantavuvezela · 30/04/2015 11:12

I saw this thread last night www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/2330692-enamel-hypoplasia? so will continue the discussion there, I think it will be useful to have one thread going on this .....
thanks for all the sharing and advice on here ... hope to see you on the other thread ....