Fissure seal for 4.5 year old??

[ilovehugs]

Hello

I have a 4.5 year old DD who has had terrible problems with her teeth. She had to have 6 extracted under GA at aged 3. We always brushed her teeth and cared for them as we had with her older brother who to date has never had a problem with his teeth. Many of the causes related to some major health issues she had and then an accident, but despite that I felt devestated and racked with guilt. Her teeth have been fine for over a year and we are meticulous. However, she has developed a small brown stain on one of her only remaining molars. Our NHS dentist (who we don't have much faith in due to the fact that she simply observed DD's problems and said nother could be done), said she shouldn't have a fissure seal so she can 'keep an eye on that tooth better'. However the private and highly qualified paediatric dentist we see about once a year says we should get a fissure seal, even though she is quite young.

I don't like the idea about plastic in her mouth slowly degrading and being swallowed (cause I'm a bit of a neurotic hippy in that respect), but she simply cannot afford to loose any more teeth. So I wondered if there was any one else who had had this treatment on their young children. Did they sit well enough for it to be done etc?

Many thanks Mumsnet people x x x

given that she will soon have a whole new set of adult teeth i have to say i wouldn't bother with a fissure seal now no.

i am sure the private one would love you to pay for it though!

This Molar has got to last her til she is 9-10 and because she has lost other Molars she would really struggle to even eat properly without them. We've also been told that loss of these molars will cause her bad over-crowding problems and even effect her facial development :( :(

the loss of the molars will lead to over-crowding? how does that work?

i think it might be worth seeking a second or third opinion?
I have terrible teeth, and my children having the same problems is my worst nightmare, so I do get where you're coming from.

are there risks to the fissure seal? if the tooth has decay already (and the mark may not be decay) then will sealing it just mean it decays underneath?

Presuma

Presumably if you lose teeth the gaps will close up making the jaw smaller.

I think the first teeth guide the second ones through and save the space. The gap where the molars are that DD has lost has closed up a bit already, so the adult ones are going to have to push through, pushing the other onesout of place. They might even get blocked from coming down :(. I don't think there are officially any risks to the seal as long as it is done properly - but it is a coating of plastic that slowly degrades over time which I don't like the idea of. Not using your jaw normally over years because of lack of teeth is how facial developmwent can be effected I believe.The guy would check for decay first so that's not an issue. I would just feel better knowing if it was stright forward and there are lots of other children around at her age who've had it done. It seemes to be older ones that get this done.

ahhh ok, that does make sense.

it's a hard decision. If it was me though I honestly would try and find someone to give a third opinion. maybe don't even mention what you've been told so far, and see what they say?

the only other thing i just thought of is that even if that molar has a small area of decay, as long as you're really careful it may not get any worse?
or if it does, and your NHS dentist is keeping an eye on it then it could be filled?

i would imagine that it would then still keep until it comes out naturally and is replaced?

Really tempted by that thisisyesterday. But Fillings can be more unpleasant (numbing mouth, drilling etc) and what if it didn't work and she lost the tooth?