I'm so ashamed, my DS aged 4 has tooth decay

[girnythecat]

At DS's checkup today I was told that he needed the two upper teeth at the back filled. The dentist was lovely but the implication that DS eats too much sugary stuff was clear. He doesn't drink anything other than water or milk but definately too many biscuits.
Does anyone know what to expect when he has the fillings ? The dentist said that if he wouldn't co-operate he would need to be sedated in hospital. I'm afraid I was too wracked with guilt to ask many questions. I feel so bad that my perfect boy has to suffer when it could have been avoided.

[Frog253]

You are not alone, I know of a few children who have needed fillings at a young age. I would be upset too and it's only because I needed a fair bit of work done myself over the years that I have tried really really hard to avoid my dcs getting fillings. I am sure that there is some genetic element to it all after all we all have different sized noses and so on perhaps our teeth are more or less vunerable to decay?
Try and be philosophical and tell yourself that this is a wake up call for you and your son to try even harder to avoid more decay. FWIW my MIL fostered a girl from the age of 8 and her teeth were in a terrible state, you wouldn't think so now - her teeth are fab and she still eats lots of sugar!

[BubsMaw]

Hi, my DD had a filling aged 3.10 or so, I was mortified. I've always been a bit slack relaxed about her diet, as she has multiple allergies and for the longest time I was just grateful if she'd eat anything, but the filling was a real wake up call and now I'm a lot more careful of what she eats. She's always hated toothbrushing too but I'm now sure to get it done thoroughly, no matter how much she protests (we have horrible rows in the bathroom, she resists with gusto!) She had the filling done without anaesthetic, and sat nicely for the procedure, which was a relief as I'd have been uneasy with her having general anaesthetic. We primed her before the appt, what to expect etc. which helped for her. Its funny that she always cooperates better for strangers than us parents, e.g. sits nicely at the hairdresser for as long as it takes, yet screams like a banshee if I try to brush her hair! I'm waffling now....

[rockinhippy]

If you think that is something to feel quilty & embarrassed about, try having a tooth removed at 2 ........... my DD has had nothing but trouble with her teeth, now 7, & another tooth removed due to infections last week, so I do know how you feel,

but with DD I honestly can't blame what she eats/drinks, (real health food freaks) like you only water & milk, (though @ 2 our Dentist did say milk can be to blame if in a bottle) , she hadn't even had chocolate up until 2 1/2, & now only gets the odd sweet at weekends, rarely has coke or any other pop, cakes etc etc, only as occasional treats ....... thankfully our dentists now knows us well enough & doesn't judge, but I still feel cr@p about it

Yet we've friends whose Kids eat sweets etc daily & yet have never even had a filling

I've a friend who works in alternative medicine, & she reckons that stress in the last trimester during pregnancy weakens future teeth enamel, which odd as it sounds certainly fits with me, & also other Mums I know whose kids have similar problems, so maybe theres something in it ??

Fillings been explained already, so I will add......DD has had to have the general for the extractions, & if yours does have to, I would advise warning him that he might have odd dreams, & that on waking his body might feel too heavy to move, but that it wears off quickly & he's still safe

1st time round DD was okay, I think I was in a worse state than her , but this time she completely freaked because she woke up thinking she was paralised, it was awful, her heart was beating so fast the Nurse was worried she was going to have to sedate her, thankfully I managed to calm her down, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone

good luck, & try not to feel so bad, some of us it sems are just unlucky, no matter how hard you work at them not having tooth problems, it still happens........if you are anxious, you might want to think about having his Dad are another relative go in with him.... we've realised that DD is far more anxious if I go in....makes no fuss at all for her Dad

hope he's okay...good luck