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General health

fillings in a 4 year old

20 replies

naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 10:27

DS(4) has a small spot on one of his back teeth that we cannot get clean it is not big and i don't think its getting bigger he is in no pain and the rest of his teeth look great. I am concerned it will need to be filled and have an appoinment for dentist next week. Has anyones children had afilling at such a young age ? How did they do it i cannnot imadgine DS staying still in the chair for drilling etc. Will he need an aneasthetic ? He doesn't have many sweets (maybe once a week) and we always help him do his teeth morning and evening make sure they have a proper scrub at least once a day. I am of course feeling horribley guilty about the few treats he does have any words of wisdom?

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naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 10:43

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belgo · 23/07/2008 10:46

Don't feel guilty. Some children have weaker teeth then others. It's not always down to a bad diet.

It probably won't need to be drilled. Dentists can do a pink filling, which is just a really small filling, and are done quite fast, no aneasthetic required.

I have known children with very bad teeth to be sedated for treatment in hospital - but it's has to be very bad for this to happen.

naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 10:57

Thanks for that is 4 quite young or have you known others to need fillings at this age ? It seems very young to me, I had fillings as a child but I am fairly sure I was older than that

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belgo · 23/07/2008 11:01

Soem children do need fillings in their milk teeth. I remember having friend who's 18 month old had bad teeth. She was a sensible parent, but her child just had weak teeth.

naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 11:11

We have just played dentists and DS asked about my (only)filling he said he wanted one so thats quite positive think I should just try to chill out it was the idea of him going into hospital that was realy scaring me

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belgo · 23/07/2008 11:20

I didn't meant to scare you! That's only children with really really bad teeth - and if your ds doesn't have any pain he obviously doesn't have really bad teeth.

He may not need any treatment at all.

Tippytoes · 23/07/2008 11:26

My ds was 5 when he had his first filling, he obviously has weak teeth, as like you I was very good at cleaning etc.

He needed the two back teeth out (which was later done by being put to sleep in hospital). But he couldn't wait that long as he was in pain.

He had a needle in his mouth and he was very brave. The dentist was very very good with him and explained everything before he did each bit.

He did cry a bit afterwards, but think he was in shock a bit. To be honest, I think I was more nervous than he was.

Like others have said, if it is not too bad, they may just fill over the top as this was suggested to us before he got the pain.

He has another tooth in the front which is slightly decayed, but we are hoping it drops out of its own accord soon as he is 6.5 now.

Lizzylou · 23/07/2008 11:31

DS1 (4.25yrs) had two little holes filled very painlessly and without any fuss. Don't worry.
I was mortified as have always done the right thing, watched what they ate/drank, few sweets/no fizzy drinks, only really milk and water unless diluted fruit juice at meal times. I have never had a filling, but the dentist said that my teeth are very "shallow" and "flat" whereas DS1's are quite hard to clean and are weak.
I asked the Dentist about stopping sugar altogether and he looked at me as if I was Cruella Deville and said we all need some sugar in our diet!

belgo · 23/07/2008 11:32

That's interesting Lizzylou.

JuneBugJen · 23/07/2008 11:39

Can I help as a dentist?
You may find that it is not decay but just a structural defect in the enamel which is picking up stain.
Equally, it may be early decay, in which case if you feel (with the dentist) your child is too young to hold still for a filling it may still be able to be monitered and then filled a bit later.

Don't feel bad...my dd is 4 and has a tiny early bit of decay on one of her teeth that we are keeping an eye on. Thinking back, probably wasn't strict about tooth brushing and squash at toddler groups, but as they say, a cobblers child...!
Do cut back on all sugar except with meals though, that is what I have done. We have a 'Haribo friday' now.
Hope that helps.

naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 11:43

You didn't scare me Belgo I have seen children have aneasthetics for dental work in hospital. I didn't want to put DS through that. It obviously does sometimes happen to v. young children and DS has difficult teeth to clean so maybe thats why.Hopefully he will just need a small filling that can be done there.

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naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 11:49

Thanks June bug . Is fruit ok ? My dentist said just fruit between meals which we try to stick to. Luckily they love fruit but strawberries and cherries are as sweet as sweet at the mo. He did have cupcakes yesterday but around lunch time.

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JuneBugJen · 23/07/2008 12:10

fruit good for one of the snacks a day. but take care with dried fruit, it is sticky and very decay-making.
Also, is your DS in childcare? Make sure they know the score too. I think that may be where we went wrong too, our nanny used to give into the tantrums about juice and raisins etc. Can't blame her though, my dd is a force of nature!

nailpolish · 23/07/2008 12:14

they dont necessarily get drilled and anaesthetics

there are fillings for children that are painted on (after cleaning with skooshy water) and harden with a blue light thing (like a tiny torch). so the worst part is just having a skoosh of water on their teeth

sorry not very technical and i hope you kno w waht i mean!

Hassled · 23/07/2008 12:18

2 of mine had fillings at 4 - it's surprisingly common. And these were the 2 DCs with less of a sweet tooth than the others, and I am quite hard-line re rationing sweets/sugar etc. So don't feel guilty - I'm sure some people just have weaker teeth or something.

The fillings weren't traumatic - no nasty injections or anything - the biggest problem is getting them to be still with their mouths open for that length of time. Bribery worked for me

naughtymummy · 23/07/2008 12:42

Thanks all feeling much better about it will let you know

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JuneBugJen · 23/07/2008 12:44

think you may be talking about fissure sealants, nailpolish. You are right, they are great for preventing decay. But you cant just paint it over decay, otherwise the tooth will just go bad unseen under the filling.

Ideally, depending on the size of the hole, the decay is drilled or scooped away (with or without injections) and a white filling which leaches out a touch of fluoride is placed. The fluoride helps prevent further decay.
Kids teeth often dont need injections, but sometimes if the hole is deep it is better to give one so all the decay is removed.

Top tip though, don't say to your child 'Don't worry darling, the dentist won't hurt you.' Because if we do, they loose all faith in us. Just talk up the benefits of having healthy teeth and how the dentist will help them do it!

JuneBugJen · 23/07/2008 12:49

BTW, at home at mo, getting party food ready for dd's 4th birthday.

You have never seen such sugary crap on a table in your life. Party Ring anyone?

nailpolish · 23/07/2008 14:14

oh yes i think that is what i meant

sorry to cause confusion

Lizzylou · 23/07/2008 15:30

Oh, it must have been fissure sealants that DS1 had then.
Just swooshed and went, as it were.

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