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Children's health

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Original poster

Dentist wants to take teeth out - is 8yo too young?

30 replies

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 14:59

My niece is 8 and my sister was recently told by a friend who is a dentist that two of her teeth should be taken out to make room for a big one as otherwise the big tooth would come through her palate. I think 8 is too young, I had teeth out but was 12/13.
I happened to take my daughter age 6 to the dentist this week, she has quite big teeth and some overcrowding, I asked the dentist about teeth extraction and he said to wait until all the big teeth are through before you start treatment as otherwise she'll be having continuous treatment. I also can't help but think that if my niece goes through the pain of having teeth out, they'll never get her back in the chair again!
Has anyone had advice like this from their dentist or children who've had teeth out? Thanks

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hazeyjane · 20/04/2014 15:04

My dd1 had teeth out due to over crowding, and a cavity, when she was 7. It was done under general anaesthetic as a day surgery at hospital. She has been fine about going to the dentist since, and her teeth are all coming through great.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:06

That's good to know, thank you.
I'm partly worried because while this lady is someone they know and is a dentist, why hasn't our usual dentist mentioned it?

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deepinthewoods · 20/04/2014 15:08

I would be dubious about taking advice from a friend, even if they are a dentist. Such decisions really need to be made by a trained orthodontist who will take x rays, 3D imaging, moulds etc, before making any decisions.

Having teeth out is not necessarily a traumatic experience, my DS has a tooth out when he was 7 with local anasthetic, he barely felt a thing, it was almost painless, and it didn't put him off going to the dentist at all.

Your niece needs to get a referral to an orthodontist who will give the best advice.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:11

Thanks. I'd never thought of an orthodontist and I'm with you, suddenly this dentist friend is the last word on teeth extraction, seems a bit hasty and they need more advice.

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 20/04/2014 15:13

This was one of my options with dd when she went to the orthodontist 3 years ago at the age of 7. The options given were

take 2 teeth out to give a space for the adult teeth. Would need to get more and more teeth out as the adult ones came through
wait and see how the new teeth came in

We went for option 2). She was back at the orthodontist last week (age 10) and has been put back on the recall list for next year as she still has lots of baby teeth so is not ready for any treatment yet.

s88 · 20/04/2014 15:15

I was 4 and had all 4 back teeth taken out as they grew through rotten I was put to sleep and I don't have any dentist fears !

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:16

So letting all the baby teeth come out first....this may be aged 11 or 12... Sounds better

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deepinthewoods · 20/04/2014 15:16

My DD is 13 and under the care of an orthodontist, so i have seen how meticulously they examine the mouth and jaw, making 3D computerised images, moulds etc, even then they willl often wait and monitor rather than dive in with treatment. My DD has been seeing the orthodontist ( under NHS) for two years now, but they haven't done anything other than monitor the progress of her teeth- she will go back again this summer and even then they may decide to wait again. She still has her regular 6 month examination with her own dentist, but orthodontics is very specialised, and most dentists don't have the training to make these analyses. Your niece's own dentist can refer under NHS.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:19

Great, you've helped put my mind at rest. My sister tends to rush into things and you can't go back with something like this so I just want to advise her as it's not something I would do with my own DD

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ilovepowerhoop · 20/04/2014 15:20

my niece has only started orthodontic treatment recently and she is 15 - she was monitored for several years beforehand but treatment did not start until she had plenty of adult teeth to work with. She got railtracks on her bottom teeth a few weeks ago and will get them on her top teeth in the next few months

mawbroon · 20/04/2014 15:24

Have a look into Orthotropics and see if there is anyone near you who does it. here

DS1 is having this type of treatment. Not to improve his face (which is lovely whatever ) but to expand his palate and open up his nostrils (he was mouth breathing) and his Eustachian tubes (he was having congestion, noise and hearing loss). Widening his palate has also stopped the bouts of apnoea he was having.

Sure, he will end up with straight teeth after this and won't have to have any out, but my main motivation behind seeking this treatment was the improvements in his health that have come with guiding his facial growth in the right direction using braces and night time headgear.

The difference in 18 months is astounding.

Pagwatch · 20/04/2014 15:25

My son had a tooth grow through his palate. That wasn't fun.

I think that telling her not to do this because of what a few people said on the Internet is as unhelpful as her going ahead because a friend said so.

Why don't you encourage her to seek alternative professional advice?

ilovepowerhoop · 20/04/2014 15:26

I'd get her to ask her dentist if they think her daughter needs referring to an orthodontist and take it from there

desertgirl · 20/04/2014 15:27

I had teeth out for overcrowding, at a similar age - however have subsequently been told that they wouldn't have, these days - and they didn't end up functionally as they should have been; had braces in my late 30s! would definitely consult an orthodontist.

deepinthewoods · 20/04/2014 15:27

pagwatch I don't think anyone here is suggesting that she does nothing, everyone seems to be saying to get that specialist advice.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:27

Gosh, great it's made such a difference and I wasn't aware such treatment existed. I'll look into that and see my sister armed with all the info

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Pagwatch · 20/04/2014 15:30

Good.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 15:56

Pagwatch
I just wanted other peoples thoughts, that's all.
Obviously the final decision will be my sisters, she's got a mind of her own, I was just trying to obtain some extra information.
Thanks for your help all

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WhoNickedMyName · 20/04/2014 16:05

I really wouldn't worry or get involved with this.

The final decision probably won't be your sisters. It's not like she can go along to her dentist and say "my mate says she needs two teeth out, so can you get on with it please" and the dentist will go "yeah no problem, open wide".

Pagwatch · 20/04/2014 16:08

Yes. I was just commenting upon the 'teeth may grow through the palate' thing which was rather brushed over.
It is unpleasant and needs dealing with.

That was my personal experience /information.

RobinSparkles · 20/04/2014 16:25

If the dentist said that she needs to have it out then I'd be tempted to go with what the dentist said, TBH.

DD1 had a supernumerary tooth taken out last week. It had grown through her palate (which hurts). She had it done with local anaesthetic (three injections in her gum and palate) and then they yanked it out. The root was massive! I was so proud of how brave she was (she's 6).

ilovepowerhoop · 20/04/2014 16:26

but it is a dentist friend who does not even treat the girl at her dental practice that has said she should get teeth out - not the girl's actual dentist

RobinSparkles · 20/04/2014 16:28

Sorry - I read it as "the dentist said" not a friend who is a dentist. Why do I keep misreading threads? It's the second time I've done it today!

In that case, if I were your sister, I would make an appointment with the dentist and follow what they said.

RobinSparkles · 20/04/2014 16:29

X posted.

Original poster

CandyLoo · 20/04/2014 16:31

The friend is a dentist

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