DD(6) needs to have two baby first premolars out

[Anusername]

My daughter who just turned six have developed dental abscess for her two lower first premolars. We took her to see her dentist and she said they needed to be taken out, and referred us to Paediatric dentist as an emergency appointment. The Paediatric dentist saw her and also confirmed to take those out. We hoped that baby tooth root canals can save them due to concerns about permanent teeth alignment (loss of space, overcrowding, etc).

Since then, we have consulted another Paediatric dentist who can do root canals in the same practice, she also agreed to take them out. But I’m not 100% sure if she reaches this statement to avoid any contradiction to her colleague. I had expressed a very strong favor of keeping them during our consultation.

AIBU to consult another Paediatric dentist for this matter?

This needs treating asap don't quote me on this but i think untreated it could lead to serious infection or sepsis. Three docs have said it needs pulling out I think a fourth would agree.

Not blaming you op because sometimes these things happen even though you've done everything right but fruit juice is the hidden rotter and I know so many families where it's drank every day sometimes more than water. Most dentists I speak to say kids should just drink water or milk most the time. And toothbrushing sometimes you have to do it for them my child is the same age and hates brushing them if you're trusting her to do it herself she could well just be holding a toothbrush in her mouth and not actually moving it about

If she was under sedation, why on earth did she not have both teeth out in 1 go, rather than putting her through it twice.

My daughter is under specialist dental care at The Evelina and they are taking 6 baby teeth out all in one go later this year under general. All teeth are healthy but structural issues mean she needs 3 out now and they don't want to put her under twice for the other 3 next year. And yes we had an orthodontics consult as part of the planning process for this. I also asked about how she will eat and assured she will be fine, so I'm sure yours will be fine after 2 coming out

@Bushmillsbabe I did ask the dentist and her advise is to have one out at a time. I think it would be different advise under GA. She’s fine with sedation though - she said she loved going there today.

I feel very sorry for your child and can’t understand wtf you are doing! Dental abscesses require urgent treatment and I understand can be very dangerous if they spread. Get over your own vanity (or whatever this is!) and prioritise what’s best for your child. This is beyond belief.

My son had several teeth out (4 so far) due to MIHS and he didn’t/doesn’t have any issues with eating.

I literally can’t remember a single side effect or pain afterwards.

At 12.06 today you stated that your child had the one tooth out yesterday, now you are saying it was today. Which was it? I am very close to reporting this thread. I can't believe that you you really think it is right to put a child through all this, when the appropriate course of action is so clear.

I doubt the dentist wants to take the second tooth out to "balance" the mouth - kids lose teeth randomly and the gaps don't cause an imbalance. But I am also confused why they didn't take the second one at the same time, I had four teeth out in one go which isn't abnormal. I think you are very much overthinking this and using it as an outlet for some anxiety, especially as your daughter didn't have a bad time having her tooth out and you were the one who found it hard

This has to be a wind up.

Thank you for all the replies. I’m at the dentist again today to ask advice. Will update shortly.

Get the teeth out, treat the infection and take it from there

I agree. The story is changing with every update.

Balancing extractions if definitely a thing, it’s to stop centreline shift - an orthodontic problem. It isn’t done so commonly but if the balancing tooth is decayed it’s a no brainer really.
No one does pulpectomies, they just don’t work and can actually cause more problems than they solve. Chronic infection under a deciduous tooth can damage the permanent successor.
You sound a bit mad TBH.
Your efforts would be better spent working out why your poor 6 year old daughter has huge holes in her teeth and what you can change to prevent this happening with her adult teeth.
Tip: sugar causes decay.

Are you being deliberately obtuse?
You have been given advice by three highly trained professionals.
Why are you here on MN asking random strangers for their advice?
Take the advice you have been given x 3. No need to update, seriously keep your thoughts to yourself.
Your daughter is at risk of that infection spreading with risk of sepsis.
Please get on with dealing with your daughters poor dental health which you as a parent are responsible for and stop pissing around on MN unless you think we are all trained dentists. 🙄

Ok, I know why people question the delay. I’ve booked the earliest appointment for tooth extraction which is in two weeks. It’s not indefinite.

@HalfasleepChrisintheMorning is it that pulpectomies are very rarely done in Paediatric dentistry? Any more information?

Not necessarily. My daughter is 7y 4 months and her premolars are coming through. Funnily enough, she has an abcess on the gum next to the wobbly tooth. We noticed it yesterday and she's having the tooth out next week. Fortunately she isn't in pain.

@mustardrarebit if I were in your position I’d get it out earliest without hesitation. My daughter hasn’t had any adult tooth emerging yet so I presume she might be on the later side.

@HalfasleepChrisintheMorning Not every tooth has the same weight in the centerline balancing.

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/files/rcs/fds/publications/extractp.pdf

Are you a qualified and experienced dentist? If not, then just trust the professionals. Getting a second (or third, or fourth) opinion is to be sure that the original diagnosis/treatment path was correct. You can't keep seeking additional opinions until someone agrees with your inexperienced, irrelevant and somewhat arrogant stance.

OP-doesn’t brush her kids teeth properly for 6 years and then gets herself in a panic about root canal vs extraction!

OP-this is ALL your fault. Take some damn responsibility for your kids teeth!

@DragonGypsyDoris thanks and points taken. I think I need to be more informed and convinced about my decision.. Even primary teeth are very important as they act as placeholders to guide permanent teeth.

I had a load of baby teeth out when I was a bit older, plus four adult pre-molars - my teeth are huge and the adult teeth were coming in/going to come in all jumbled up as things stood. My younger brother also knocked his two upper front teeth out at about six, flying over the handlebars of his bike and also breaking his wrist. Both of us have great teeth now! Just get the baby teeth out.

OP to be fair at the rate you’re going your DC isn’t going to have any teeth left for you to worry about having a straight smile!

FFS what more do you need than THREE experts telling you the same thing. This is an upsetting read, youre being negligent and if I knew you in real life I'd be reporting you

Gid, why would you even consider putting a kid through a root canal to save baby tooth? 😫