Desperately seeking those who know about children's dentristy

[ClaraDeLaNoche]

I would really appreciate your views - DS, age 5, had an abscess on a molar in May. We have had about 5 appointments since, dentist is taking a softly softly clean it out approach. But it is still sore, he was up last night, went in today, infection is back.

My dentist says to clean it out again and try to save it. I am worried that it will keep bothering him. Dentist says could only extract with a general anaesthetic as extraction with a local would be too traumatic.

Anyone know what to do here?

Bumpitty bump

Is your dentist a children's specialist?

I'm presuming he's had antibiotics, poor love!

Extraction with a local is traumatic. I wouldn't want it for my 5 year old.

www.paediatric-dentistry.co.uk/ These dentists are fabulous, but not cheap.

Yes, he is an NHS children's specialist. Thanks for your link, maybe a bit far, we are in Glasgow. A friend had said you could extract with gas, but I don't think many dentists are keen.

I had teeth extracted as a child and it was a lot less bother than fillings. Baby teeth have less root business going on than adult teeth. I suppose if you say molar there's a very outside chance at 5 that it's a permanent tooth already through? Seems unlikely though. I'm very old (well over 40) and I've grown up kids and little ones and I have to say I'm aghast at how dentistry, and especially child dentistry, seems to go through fashions.

BTW, my eight year old has had an abscess on his eye tooth for the best part of the last six months. She did a root canal (on a baby tooth?!!) but it wasn't thorough enough and the gumboil re-appeared and the attitude now is that if it doesn't bother him overmuch then leave it to come out when ready

I took a tooth out of a four year old last week. Last resort because the abscess was massive and I didn't get the impression that the parents were too interested tbh. The procedure was far more traumatic for the parents than it was for the child who didn't feel a thing and was a star. The benefits/risks of long term antibiotic use must be considered against any concerns about tooth removal.

How are his other teeth? Have any problems with them been addressed so no more abscesses come up?

A lot of it will depend on the individual child concerned, at least your dentist is thinking about the future, why not discuss your concerns with him?

Dd (5yo) had a tooth out and didn't find it traumatic. I think it's all down to how the adults handle it - it takes real self-control to sit there smiling and chatting to your dc when the tooth is being pulled out, but if you can it should be okay (not to mention a prize for bravery for dc at the end).

Thanks to everyone for responding. Grumpy - the rest of his teeth are fine, I think it happened as he was having a lot of lactulose and we didn't realise how sweet it was. The dentist is great, very professional, but won't extract without a general and says I will have difficulty finding anyone who will. In fairness I know it is impossible to predict if the tooth will keep bothering him but I just feel this has gone on too long.

Hi Clara, Dd (4) had 3 back bottom teeth removed in July as she had no enamel on them and to cut a long story short, our dentist 'did a runner' for fiddling the books, leaving us from March till June with no dentist!
Dd had abcess after abcess and the fabulous people at the emergency dentists referred her to the childrens hospital to have them removed! She went under GA was in and out in 20 mins, :)

My daughter had a front baby tooth snap last year and the remains were scratching her gum and making it sore.
The dentist gave her a local and took the other half out.

Daughter wasn't traumatised and has happily been back to the dentist since :).

poor thing, my 7 year old just had his taken out under local (but I guess that is an age difference in terms of keeping calm) for the same reason (bit more complicated for him, we can't risk the constant infections) and he was absolutely fine, no problems whatsoever, no pain after the local wore off, back to normal, and back to school, today
good luck with what you decide