I feel like I should've done more

[WorkingtoohardMama]

My ds (6) appears to have an abscess, he's got a dentists appointment this afternoon, but I'm in a right state about it.

I hate it that he might have to have a tooth out, and feel completely responsible, I obviously do make sure he brushes his teeth etc, but from google (I know I shouldn't have looked) it says the main cause is poor dental hygiene.

Just feeling terrible that this could've been avoided, and that the poor mite is going to have to go through a traumatic experience....at work but can't concentrate as so concerned about him!

Don't feel bad, sometimes these things just happen, i had recurring absess' at about the same age, and i turned out ok having had 2 teeth removed, mine was due to my jaw being too small for the amount of teeth i had, so nothing to do with poor hygiene, not nice but im sure he will be fine

Thanks acorn, that makes me feel better, he has got an ear infection at the moment, I was wondering if that could be related??

I'm worrying that the dentist is going to tell me off, what a wally!

I honestly wouldn't know if they are related but it wouldn't surprise me if they were, ears nose and throat are so closely linked,

The dentist shouldn't tell you off, u have found something wrong and are taking him to the right professional, nobody can fault you for that,

Poor mite i expect he is feeling terrible with everything so centralized

Just a little update, he has got to have the tooth out, but they will sedate him (scary) but at least he won't be aware of what's happening.

Luckily, he doesn't seem to be in any pain, it's just a little bit tender.

That's good then glad he's ok

My ds had to have his front tooth removed aged 5 after an abscess developed. His tooth had died from a fall when he was 2... So please don't beat yourself up. A little lad in his class had 4 removed last summer (they're 7, coming on 8 now). Ds was sedated and it wasn't that pleasant but a trip to toys r us afterwards and he'd forgotten all about it. Hope your ds gets on ok.

Abscesses don't occur just for no reason though so it's important to find out what caused it. It will almost certainly have been caused by one of:
Decay
Trauma (like CharlieBoo)
Gum disease (occasionally caused by the presence of a foreign body like fingernail that has become embedded-this generally wouldn't necessitate tooth removal though).

If none of those are present then it would need further investigation, things such as impacted teeth can cause abscesses but this is far less likely in a 6yo (wisdom teeth for example cause problems around 18years of age onwards)

Unfortunately mrsmorton it was caused by decay, which makes me feel utterly terrible and so guilty, the rest of his teeth are absolutely fine, so maybe just unlucky, but will definitely make me check and treble check his brushing.

My DS had an abscess at about that age for no apparent reason. He has never had one since and he is now 25!

My DS has one too atm, his is from an adult tooth erupting behind his infant teeth, and the old tooth having not yet fell out. Spoke to dentist who is happy to wait it out, as the old tooth is loose