5YR old cavities - filling or tempory filling ?

[Hellobell]

hi all,

so we took our 5yr to the dentist for the first time and they did an xray and said he had 3 cavities, the dentist did 3 temporary fillings as it was his first time, when i asked if these were enough she said its better to have proper fillings, so i took him the following week to have one, and now i need to do the other 2, hes worried this time (i hate the dentist so i get him) and i dont want to put him under any worry or stress for nothing, on the last visit she said the temporary fillings could last until the teeth fall out (then he gets his adult teeth) so I'm not sure what to do !

Any dentists or anyone been in any similar situation ?

Also we do brush teeth morning and night but i was using fluoride free toothpaste for 5 years now i have switched to fluoride.

I wouldnt put him through any more as he will develop a hate for going. I'd leave the temporary ones for now.

This child is 5 , the teeth should last until they are 10 or 12. In baby teeth the nerves are very large so it doesn’t take a big hole to cause an abcess. These teeth have only been in the mouth a couple of years at most and x rays always make the holes look smaller than they actually are.

Leaving the teeth means the only option when they inevitably abcess, get infected and cause pain is to have the teeth out, probably with a general anaesthetic.

Nothing will make a child phobic quicker than attending a dentist in severe pain and needing teeth out. Proper treatment now (probably stainless steel crowns) will save a lot of anguish and pain later.

The main thing is keep up with fluoride toothpaste and make sure that everything that is eaten or drunk inbetween meals and, especially just before bedtime, is not sugary/starchy that includes fruit juice, yoghurt, raisins, flapjacks , smoothies , milkshakes , anything with honey in etc.

The cavities haven't been left though, they have been filled and those fillings should last

Beside what you're asking but why or why have you not been to the dentist sooner?? 5 years! No wonder he has cavities poor kid

No they have temporary fillings. That means the decay has not been removed and a material has been used that is not designed for long term use. Temporary fillings are not meant for long term use especially as decay is not removed.

Why didn’t you take him until he was 5?

thanks for the detailed feedback.

crazy but i used to give him rasins as a toddler as a snack a lot, honey on his greek yogurt and porridge, he also only had oat milk after he turned 1 for a whole year, and in summer we live of fruit smoothies so yes i need to really starting thinking about what im giving him, i thought they were all healthy but now thinking about it they are all full of natural sugar.

Appointment booked for Monday for the second filling, hopefully after the 3rd, thats it.

If im honest i hadn't a clue people take their kids so young, i know its shocking of me, but now i know and both him and little sissy will be having 6 monthly check ups !

My daughter is 44 and never had or needed a filling something has gone wrong.

wow thats fantastic, can you share any tips that you and all your family have used to needed any ? Apart from good brushing, :) we do good brushing in our house as well.

I thought there was a safe non floride option, we buy it in Barratts! Is it no good then? Uses xylitol instead.

im not sure about that one, we were using Jack N' Jill Natural Toothpaste for the last 5 years but now changed to a fluoride one called VITS

Yes that's the one I mean. I did some research and thought it was ok!

from what feedback i have received i think its down to diet, tooth brushing and regular checks, i dont think the paste alone will do all the work but im trying everything to avoid any more, if its working for you and your family and your cavity free then just keep doing what your doing :)

I'm 50, and have never had a filing in my life (long may that continue!). You now know yourself, that your son should have been having regular 6 monthly check-ups way before the age of 5. Fluoride toothpaste should be used, my son has used fluoride since his teeth started coming through, and is now 14. It's never done him any harm, and also never had a filing. Fruit juices contain natural sugar, and although appear healthy, they aren't. Occasionally, there's nothing wrong in having smoothies or juices but not on a regular basis. The same with carbonated drinks like Cola, lemonade etc. All fine, occasionally but not regularly. Teach your child to brush their teeth but you should be brushing their teeth twice per day - they have a go first, and then you take over.

Our 2 children were brushing teeth twice a day since teeth arrived - sometimes it was a matter of literally holding them tight and cleaning their teeth when they were toddlers. We had to be cruel to be kind sometimes but it paid off in the end.

I had teeth trouble from a young age.
We used to have fizzy drinks every day.

Dentist told me that raisins are like toffee.
My child is fond of sweet things, too.

We’re using a non-fluoride toothpaste.
Trying to switch my kid to a different brand.

You don't develop a fear of the dentist by going too often. Going frequently to get small things done (even if it involves an injection or two), for checkups and for cleaning is literally the best way to overcome dental fear. The worst cases are people who avoid going to the dentist for 10+ years and end up with mouthful of missing teeth.

JellyCupcake is right. I had a lot of dental work, as a small child. I’ve never been afraid of the dentist. I’m pragmatic about it.

to be honest when he had his 1st filling he didnt even know he had the injection, we did alot of prepping before going but he was a champ, it was the noises and pressure that i think worried him and he said after he didnt want to go back but ill try make it as smooth as possible, we dont do the laughing gas at my dentist its the gel and injection only, we could go to another private dentist that does the gas but i have had all the xrays and treatment at this dentist so we will stick with it.

The introduction of fluoride toothpaste in the 70s was responsible for the largest decrease in children’s decay rates seen.

Unfortunately I’ve had to take many,many teeth out from children and adults when they’ve started using fluoride free toothpaste , particularly when it’s often combined with a diet high in natural sugars eg non dairy milks, smoothies, dried fruit,honey etc

would imagine that’s the reason for the cavities
always fluoride toothpaste and don’t rinse after brushing

I would use fluoride toothpaste with at least 1000ppm fluoride. I wouldn't use fluoride free paste

I'll alert the Pride of Britain committee

Ok, thanks, I'll change back.