Tooth Decay

[jillie]

Hello everyone, I've been reading the boards for a while and have now decided to ask for any advice.

I am ashamed to admit that whilst looking in my daughters mouth (4yr) I noticed that she has a noticeable cavity in one of her molars.

I feel thoroughly ashamed of this because, as her mummy I should make sure her teeth are cleaned.

I'm making an appointment at her dentist tomorrow but would like to know if anyone has had children in a similar situation and what action the dentist took i.e. Fillings etc.

I'm dreading taking her as for start I don't like the dentists I always start shaking as I walk through the door and also my dentist is quite stroppy and daren't even think what she is going to say to me about how bad a parent I am.

So please any help would be gratefully appreciated.

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Change dentists, jillie. I'm sure making you feel like a bad parent was NOT part of a dentist's job description, last time I looked.
We have some superb and lovely dentistry experts on mumsnet and I hope they'll see this and be able to offer you some more specific advice.

I think some people just naturally have weaker teeth than others - so cavities probably aren't 100% preventable in any case. And reading between the lines your own reaction to dentists suggests you probably haven't had good experiences yourself in the past, so perhaps teeth which are susceptible to decay just run in the family?

Jillie, I agree with scummy, the dentist should not be making you feel like a bad mother. In fact, IMO, if you're scared of dentists it's even more important that you find a good sympathetic one. I'm sure someone here will have some good practical advice but in the meantime I'd agree, change your dentist and also try not to worry too much about it - I know it's not the done thing to say, but they are first teeth so she will get big teeth later won't she? I know there's a reason for taking care of baby teeth (probably to do with establishing good teeth brushing habits? There may be more, I'm not sure what but seem to remember reading it somewhere) but, still. As ds said to me recently "I know I'm not good at doing my teeth but when I've got more big ones I really will look after them because they've got to last me the rest of my life haven't they?" Yep matey, they have.

We've recently changed our dentist because DD had to have two fillings and the experience wasn't pleasant for either of us. In fact, I was utterly appalled at

a) the way she was treated

b) that in spite of my putting her medical condition on the form he didn't ask me how it may affect treatment and yet when I brought the subject up it was clear he had no knowledge about her condition

Ask around for a recommendation of a child-friendly dentist. We were only with ours because he had taken over the practice of the dentist I had had since I was a child.

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