Discoloured new tooth

[LouBeeLou]

Has anyone's child had a tooth painted? My dd (6 yo) has an adult tooth growing through (bottom front) and the top half of the tooth is a dark yellow colour. All her baby teeth are lovely and white, she is very good at brushing morning and night and doesn't eat lots of sugary sweets.

My dentist said that the enamel has not formed and it could be that she bashed her chin before (when the adult tooth was still under her gum) or that sometimes antibiotics can cause 'ungrown' teeth to discolour (she did have anti-b's for numerous ear infections as a baby).

Anyway the dentist said that when the tooth is fully grown he will be able to paint it. This is her first adult tooth and I am panicking now that all her teeth will come out this colour (dentist cannot confirm whether they will or not). Also what will a 'painted' tooth look like?

Has anyone's child had this done? Does it look realistic? I know how cruel other kids can be and don't want her to develop a complex about it.

Hi, LBL.

My DS2's back teeth have patchy enamel - I think it's quite common for enamel not to form properly on some teeth. Your DD's other teeth may have perfect enamel, but even if they don't there are various things that can be done. (The antibiotics that used to cause tooth discolouration are tetracyclines and I don't think they are prescribed for children or pregnant women any more.)

My friend's DD who is nearly 17 has a couple of frontish teeth with poor enamel (she also used to have - may still have although I haven't noticed it recently - had a patch of white hair on the same side of her head - which is peculiar!) Anyway she has recently had these teeth fixed - I think they were "bonded" rather than painted, where a very thin veneer of porcelain is stuck to the front of the tooth. I haven't examined them closely but I believe she is very happy with them.

Thanks Janh.

I think my dd could have veneers/crowns/caps (not sure which is which), when she's older, but I don't know if they offer them to kids (NHS dentist). Also I am very nervy of the dentist myself and wouldn't like for her to have to go through any lengthy procedures at her age.

We are back at the dentist next month anyway, so I will see what he says then, and hopefully her other teeth will come through pearly white (touch wood!).