27 month old with many cavities :(

[kapknh]

Hello all, I am new to these boards. I have been searching them for a few days trying to get as much info as possible. My 27 month old has brown spots on all four of her top front teeth. She was bf for 2 yrs and she did night nurse for the whole 2 yrs. When I went for her 2 yr well check at the ped I asked about the spots on her teeth. He told me it was probably calcium build-up. That children this age tend to get that. So I didn't panic at all. I did schedule her 1st check up at the ped dentist a month later to find out she has a mouth full of cavities. 6 TOTAL! Four front top teeth and two molars! I have been a wreck since finding out. The ped dentist told me right away she needs to go under GA for oral surgery at the childrens hospital for 4 baby root canals, 4 crowns, & 2 fillings on her molars. I can't even try to make myself consider GA for her baby teeth. My older daughter had GA at 2 yrs old but I had no choice she had a fx femur. So I went and got a 2nd opinion at another ped dentist to hear something totally different and now I'm only confused more. She said she does not need root canals. She told me she would do 3 crowns and 3 fillings. All the work would be done in her office with NO sedation at all. She would only use lidocaine. Not to mention all this would be done while she is in a papoose. She told me it would take her about 20 minutes for everything. And she does allow one parent in the room as long as I don't freak out and cry. I know I would get crazy though so it would have to be dh in there with her I guess. I am so torn!!! I had the appt today to have the work done with the 2nd ped dentist but I canceled it. I am going to get a 3rd opinion tom at a ped dentist that has been practicing for over 30 yrs. I have also started treating her with xylitol paste (spry) and I also bought the sugar type but haven't been able to figure out how to give it to her. I tried putting in her water and she spit it out. Any suggestion?? Anything else I can do?? Please anyone that has advice...help me out.

[Shellie]

In my experience, there are two schools of thought in ped. dentistry. One is to put them under GA so as not to risk traumatizing them for life. The other is to avoid the risk of GA, strap them down and do the needed work (sometimes with Nitrous and sometimes not). As much as I like the idea of not traumatizing them, I believe children are resilient and that the benefits of GA does not outweigh the risk (and cost...in most cases I've seen insurance does not pay for the OR and anesthesia) .

We currently see a ped. dentist who advocates doing it in office with oral sedation + nitrous. He is the only ped. dentist in our area who allows a parent in while the work is being done. That I demand. But I don't feel comfortable with the sedation on a very small child (he uses versed) for my 3yo and 1yo, so I am searching for a dentist who will do their needed work strictly with lidocaine. I feel OK about the nitrous for my older children.

FWIW, my 8yo had 4 baby root canals in office with just lido and a little nitrous and did not feel a thing--it was a pleasant experience.

[Mirzam]

Did you find these threads?

Curing Cavities with Nutrition

Discussion group for curing cavities without dairy

Healing Early Childhood Tooth Decay Naturally

[kapknh]

Today was our 3rd opinion with yet another ped dentist. It happens to be the same ped dentist my husband went to when he was younger. He told me he would never put a child under for GA for cavities in baby teeth. He also told me he could fix all of her cavities in office w/out sedation and he thinks we don't even need lidocaine. He will not do caps though. He trys to be as conservative as possible. He says they are baby teeth they don't need caps and he will just fill all of them and that she should do fine w/out lidocaine. AND BEST OF ALL NO PAPOOSE. Mommy or daddy and nurse will have to hold her down while the work is done in two sessions. What do you all mamas think? TIA

[JSerene]

I've schedule my dd's repair next month under GA. I'm very worried and find the advice you got to be very interesting.

Please share, what material will he use to fill them?

[supercrunch]

I had stitches done in my chin when I was 3 years old in the ER using a papoose board. I have horrific memories of the ordeal and I have been paralyzingly claustrophobic since then. There have been times that it was really, really, really bad, but I'll spare you the details.

We just found out that my 3 year old needs extensive dental work on his molars due to his reflux, and after we tried the first quadrant using only nitrous oxide and lidocane (which started surprisngly calmly...but ended in disaster including tears and flying instruments)...we are going the IV sedation route with an anesthesiologist present to get the rest of the work done in one appointment.

I will admit I am scared about the appointment, but I know that if I continue to force him through the rest of these appointments he will be traumatized, and I would like to avoid that.

There's really no easy way to do it.
It seems to me that sedation would be harder on the parents, and holding the child down or restraining them with a papoose board would be harder on the child.