I have a 26mth old daughter with ECC - early childhood cavities. Her four upper teeth are brown and worn down and her two upper molars are riddled with cavities. They weren't when I first took her to the dentist with brown on her front two teeth. That dentist did nothing but berate me for breastfeeding and giving chocolate, juice etc. After two weeks the decay was so rapid I demanded to see a paediatric dentist. She was nice but didn't seem to know anything about caps. She puts fluruide varnish in every two months but she only put it on the front four teeth and not the molars which went on to get cavities (despite diet changes, no juice, better brushing etc). I got my GP to refer me to a hospital dentist who told me that they don't do caps for babies and when I pointed out I'd seen many references to this online she said 'oh, that's probably in America then' and that 'even if we could do caps your daughters teeth are too worn down for bonding now'.

In total I've seen 6 dentists. None will do anything but tell me to get them extracted. Noy even fillings. The last one was a private clinic and said that all my hard work was working as the teeth were harder and the decay 'inactive' and that I wouldn't need them extracted yet. I was so happy but now I'm not so sure. One of my daughters tooth is turning black. I can see indents in one of the bottom molars. I'm terrified of more teeth failing!

An American dentist online talks about all these things they can do, from sealants to caps to teeth spacers and how important preservong the teeth are until they naturally fall out.

Are none of these options open to UK? Or have I just not found them yet? I am getting very disheartened with this one-sided fight to save my daughters teeth!

Is this paid dental services. Are you paying for the services, have you went and asked for the services the american dentist suggested

The first dentists are NHS so are free to under 16's. That is why I went to the private dentist (the 6th) as I thought if I was going to pay they might offer me more options/these other treatments.
But instead he said that the decay was 'inactive' etc etc. I am due to go back in Dec. He didn't charge for the consultation despite taking a good amount of time to listen to me and even took digital pics to compare with. He explained, caps wise, that he didn't think it would be fair to put a child this young under GA for fillings or caps.

iin america pediatric dentist hospitalize young patient (outpatieny) and perform under ga. They say it is less stressful and does mor good than harm.

I can't imagine what pain your child is in. wish you the best.

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Originally Posted by crimsonmama

The first dentists are NHS so are free to under 16's. That is why I went to the private dentist (the 6th) as I thought if I was going to pay they might offer me more options/these other treatments.
But instead he said that the decay was 'inactive' etc etc. I am due to go back in Dec. He didn't charge for the consultation despite taking a good amount of time to listen to me and even took digital pics to compare with. He explained, caps wise, that he didn't think it would be fair to put a child this young under GA for fillings or caps.

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My son was 18 months old and was put under to have chrome crowns put on decayed stubs ("nursing bottle mouth"). These lasted until his baby teeth fell out and the permanent ones started to grow. He looked strange but he didn't lose any teeth. Eating and learning to talk were not affected.

Decay does NOT become "inactive" and crowns are not "unfair to your child" -- plus your child has to be in pain.

Does your daughter avoid biting with her front teeth or avoid anything cold or sweet? Are there any bumps on her gums above these teeth? If she doesn't avoid using these teeth they are probably not causing her any discomfort.

Decay CAN be arrested and fluoride varnish is good for this.

There may not be enough tooth surface left to cement a crown to. If that's the case, and if the decay is arrested and her teeth are not bothering her, it's better to leave the roots in place until the adult teeth come in. Continue having the varnish applied.

As for the back teeth with decay... can they be restored with fillings?

Wondergirl: That's what I want for my daughter. I see that you are located Chicago right? But here in the UK - or at least where I am - they don't seem to know much about doing caps/crowns for children.

Flossie: She doesn't seem to be in pain yet. She was biting her fingers once and I was worried but it turned out it was teething as a new molar came through. She's been fine since. I was told to keep an eye out for abseces so I do check the gums etc.

Treatment wise she has fluriode varnish put on but they won't treat the unaffected teeth and I wish they would to discourage further decay developing. I brush her teeth 3 times a day and put GC tooth mousse on once to help remineralise. I also let her chew a small piece of Xylitol chewing gum a few times a day after meals and she only drinks water or milk and treats are limited.

This is why I am hoping to put off extraction for a while longer. Her cousin had 7 teeth removed at age 4 (despite his 4 elder siblings being fine teeth-wise) and he wasn't offered any other options either.

But a friend of ours has a 3yr old with one small cavity and the dentist are pushing the mum to get it filled? But when I asked for my daughters molar to be filled they said no. They seem to think that seeing as they have to pull out the four front teeth they might as well pull out the two molars too at the same time rather than save them?

I don't understand it I really don't!

I've seen british dentistry... not pretty! Unless the teeth are really decayed they should be restorable with pulpotomies (root canals for kids) and stainless steel crowns. The front teeth can be restored with resin, or acrylic crowns if they are really broken down. Just find a good pediatric dentist (ideally in my opinion, someone in their 30 or early 40's... old enough to have experience, but not too old to be stuck into obsolete methodology) What we need to do here is prevent infection/pain, and maintain space for the adult teeth so you don't need extensive orthodontics. For now, brush with a PEA SIZED fluoride toothpaste (make sure she doesn't swallow), floss, and DO NOT put her to bed with juice or milk... only water.

I've seen a paediatric dentist. She is the only one who put fluriode varnish on, and does so every 2 months. She didn't seem to know about crowns for kids either.

Perhaps you can print and take this information to her the next time you visit.


Pediatric Dentistry: White Crowns For Baby Teeth


The Repair or Restoration of Baby Teeth


You may also want to ask her about putting pit and fissure sealants on any teeth without decay to prevent the biting surfaces from getting cavities. You must keep flossing her teeth especially if there aren't any spaces between them!

Good luck!

Thank you. I will take it, although I just received this message from a woman who has been a dental nurse for 12yrs in the UK:

"Hi hun,
I do feel for you but I'm sorry to say that you are fighting a losing battle ! No toddler will be given such treatment in the UK , perhaps a filling if necessary, but that's it .

You're right, here the attitude does seem to be " they are only baby teeth" and you will not change that attitude no matter how hard you try ."

I'm now looking into options abroad.

Crimsonmama, Keep fighting for your kid. I live in Maryland. I just returned from the operating room. My son had the same problem - 14 cavities that just descended on his teeth despite all precautions and numerous teeth brushing activities we adopted once we noticed the first cavity. The doctor finally confirmed my hypothesis today after working on his teeth - his teeth were soft. Anyway, the first dentist wanted to pull out all his front teeth. I said HELL NO. The second dentist recommended pulling out two and capping the remainder with stainless steel. Unacceptable in my dictionary. What was really annoying is the nonchalance when they recommend these "I am too lazy to be innovative" suggestions. The last dentist I found after much research said he could place crowns over them. And that is what we had done today. My sons case was complicated by stains from iron supplements he took. Looking at his teeth, it appeared that he had really severe cavities. When the doctor finally went into his teeth, he said that not event he worst looking one had much damage into the pulp. Cost me several thousand dollars. Real blood money in these times - about 3000 Euros. But all his teeth except the ones in the back that had problems have white crowns, two premolars in the back have stainless steel crowns. I would visit NuSmile® Primary Crowns and ask them for pediatric dentists that purchase their products in the UK. That would be a short cut to finding out who can help you out with a more palatable solution than pulling out every important tooth in the mouth of a baby that is learning speech. Good luck.

Crimsonmama, out of curiosity, do you eat a lot of shellfish like shrimp, clams, oysters etc? I ate a lot of that and some research I am engaged in tells me there may be a storyline with the shellfish.

xaymama,
This may be of interest to you:

Babies are born without any of the harmful bacteria that causes decay in their mouth, and studies have proven that moms (rather than dads) typically infect their children before age 2. It happens when you transfer your saliva into your child's mouth -- by repeatedly eating from the same spoon as your baby, for example, or letting your toddler brush his teeth with your toothbrush. And if you've frequently had cavities yourself, you're particularly likely to pass the germs along. Once a child's mouth has become colonized with mutans, he'll be prone to cavities in his baby and permanent teeth that can cause pain and difficulty eating. "It's an old wives' tale that 'soft teeth' run in families, but what's really passed along in families are high levels of decay-causing bacteria.

Thanks Xaymama. I have been talking to a clinic in Europe which are prepared to do a composite build-up on her teeth. Its like a filling only it reconstructs the shape of the missing tooth/teeth and is white so appears natural. As it covers the whole tooth it offers some protection (although good brushing etc is still important and which we already implement along with a tonne of other stuff). They said she can't have a crown bridge or caps as the teeth are too far and offer no 'anchor'.

Anyhoo, a composite build-up looks very interesting and promising. I've had 4 people in the last two weeks notice her teeth and not ask 'oh what's wrong?' but instantly say 'Oh did you give her lots of sugar?' which is so hard as yes it is a contributing factor but I didn't give her a bad diet, just a normal one which DID contain sugar, fruits and juices. I think is good that this composite will make the teeth look normal - an important factor for her confidence. I can't believe how much dentists here don't take anything else into consideration and its not like I'm not willing to pay because I am, whatever the cost!

The Europe clinic hasn't got around to quotes yet although from their website a composite is listed as £54 per tooth on average (so is £324/$600) and then hotel, flight and GA on top of that.
I am hoping that now I know about this option (as opposed to caps) I am going to go back to the private dentist I saw and beg and plead that they will do the treatment here.

Anyway, I'm guessing your son was put to sleep (GA) right? Was he OK? That is a hard thing to see but I am told it would be kind of than my daughter having to sit through 6 teeth being reconstructed - even if done at intervals.

And no - I don't like any fish except Cod :) (to answer your question)

Flossie: Yes your right about the mother-to-infant thing. I have researched so much into this and there are SO many different factors its really impossible to pinpoint any one. Soft teeth or being born with low or no-enamel is also possible. I feel my daughters teeth must have been weaker than normal as so many kids eat so much junk without the deterioration she has. Her cousin had the same teeth issues as us whereas his 4 elder siblings teeth were fine (which in this case would possibly rule out the mother-bacteria idea) and the only link he and my daughter have were both being premature. Another factor? Maybe?
One woman with her kids (online) thinks she has found a link with thrush and 'bad bacteria' and is over a 100% sure that eating pro-biotic yogurts have stopped her 5th child getting the decay her 4 others did and also improving the existing decay.
I'm not sure what I think about that but my daughter and I have a pro-biotic a-day now!

I wish I had known more though sooner about protecting her from MY bacteria as I just believed a mother-baby relationship was so intuned and natural that sharing saliva through food etc would be fine. Even just chewing gum through pregnancy and for up to 2 years after is supposed to significantly make a difference.