[Saya]

We took DD, age 3, to the dentist to the first time this week and she appparently has 3 cavities. The dentist says that's actually less then he often sees in kids who have been internationally adopted and whose first mothers didn't have access to great pre-natal care. He says we should have them filled immediately so they don't worsen.

I wrote to a local parents' listserv I'm on asking what to expect having her cavities filled at this guy's office (he's a well-known local pediatric dentist), and unexpectedly got back a lot of prying questions and urges to find a second opinion, e.g.:

"Why does a 3-year old need her cavities filled? These are just her baby teeth, right"

"I'd go get a 2nd opinion before getting anything filled. I used to go to Dr XXXX but I found him to be alarmist. I've also heard unsettling stories about him over the years (similar to your three yr old's 3 cavities, 5 yr old needing a root canal, etc), so just felt the need to email you."

"You shouldn't have such traumatic work done without a second opinion. I had a lot of dental work done as a child (I lost a tooth in a bike accident), and it's just awful. It's hard to calculate the right amount of anaesthsia for a little body, and her mouth is so small it's difficult to work inside."

"I wouldn't trust it - if she drinks tap water with flouride and brushes, she shouldn't have any cavities now."

So now of course I'm second guessing myself. First of all I'm feeling like I have to go back on the listserv and explain that she's adopted and got poor pre-natal care, and this is not because I feed her candy all day or let her brush her teeth with coca-cola. Second, I find myself asking "does she REALLY need to have these filled?" And third, I'm wondering how traumatic it really is to have cavities filled as a 3-year-old.

What have your guys experiences been with guat-born kids and cavities?

[dac_cincy]

I can't answeer the questions you ask, but I will point out that that you woudl want them fixed becuase cavities are like holes- and if the rot gets to the bone or gums- it is a HUGE deal. Even before that it can be painful.

My dentist indicated that Baby teeth should start coming out at age 7 (depending on when the first teeth came in). if that is the case, you are leaving an opening for all sorts infections/pain/etc untreated for another 4 years. That is a long time.

Get a second opinion if you feel it is warrented- ask your personal dentist if you have a different dentist- but I would nto leave cavities untreated for any length of time.

Love to you,

[Slatond10]

ok, I don't know exactly how to answer your question either but not sure I agree w/ the responses from the listserv either.

My DD had 1 cavity and has "little" enamel on her teeth. ( the enamel issue is definitely due to her prenatal care) The dentist did fill the cavity. It was a WONDERFUL experience ( not traumatic) ... he explained everything he would do and all the tools etc. She never cried once and did AWESOME throughout the procedure. He also explained the importance of dental care and gave her a mouthwash to help her teeth since her enamel was so thin. She took everything very seriously and does a GOOD job taking care of her teeth now.

Like Saya indicated a cavity can get bigger / worse / infected and affect the gums. If u'd feel more comfortable w/ 2nd opinion , go for it. And ask dentist what you can do to make sure her teeth stay cavity free and healthy. I know they have some sealers / etc. Not sure how old they have to be b4 they can use them though!?

BTW -- My DD is 4 now but the work was done when she was 3 !!!

[gwenrenee007]

I can tell you that I had TONS of cavaties as a kid and had a lot of fillings. My parent's didn't supervise my brushing and I didn't brush at all I remember having them filled as young as 4 and I have no fear of the dentist. I actually LOVE my dentist and still drive 30 miles to see him and I will only see him - he is partly retired and it is hard to get in sometimes. I remember getting the "funny" gas too. If you dd freaks out I would wait a while or find a pediatric dentist. I would also offer her something if she good that she wants - a toy or something.

[JustBarbara]

Jillian - wow, you certainly got some interesting responses from your listserv. Okay, here's my two cents. Your DD will not get anaesthetized for a filling and it will not be a 'traumatic' experience. YOU can explain what will be happening before the visit and let her know that you too had to have cavities filled (sorry, I'm just assuming here). I don't see the need to go back to listserv and 'explain' that she was adopted, little pre-natal care etc. If the dentist feels she needs these fillings I'd get it taken care of pronto. A lot of kids are getting cavities again now because they are drinking bottled (non-fluoride) water. Heck, my non-adopted niece is 7 but she had to have some cavities filled when she was five. And yes, you need to take care of the baby teeth (and gums) just as you would adult teeth. If that argument ran true then everyone would be saying no need to go to any dentist until adult teeth come in, right? Poor dental hygiene can lead to so many other medical issues. Sorry - the responses you got from listserv are well, way off. The question is are you happy with the dentist? My dentist recommended DS's pediatric dentist and he has no fears about going to see him. Good luck.

[mommyto2guatboys]

My son is 4.5 now, when he was turning three I noticed a dark spot on his tooth, took him to a dentist and without doing ex-rays the dentist said my son had 4 cavities, which I didn't doubt because you could see them. He filled them without any novacane etc, alittle traumatic, lesson learned unfortunatly and since I didn't like the dentist I went to a pediatric dentist. My son was not traumatized but refused to go back to the mean dentist, so lesson number one get a good pediatric dentist and one you like, because if she has 3 cavities now she may have more.
So we went to the new dentist, very well respected Ped. Dentist in town, very expensive but was told not to sacrifice with my child and I totally agreed. The results were so bad, his little mouth was filled with cavities and needed caps, and fillings, it made me so sad. The dentist was great in telling me that it wasn't our fault, that is was lack of prenatal care, and that my son has no enamel on his teeth. It is hard to see his teeth go from normal to a huge hole on his tooth right in front of our eyes, the dentist says that is common is no enameled teeth. My son has had 1 filling at new Dentist and two caps, he unfortunatly needs a few more caps, we are just waiting to get these all done. My son does get gas and novacane when these are done because it is a mini rootcanel and cap, no fun! My son is a trooper and doesn't cry, he doesn't enjoy it but I don't enjoy getting a filling also, just uncomfortable and that is what I can get out of it with him. I asked the Dentist why we couldn't just pull the bad ones and he said that only our front teeth are the ones that fall out early, mollers are around 10-12 and eye teeth can be not until age 13, I never knew that. So it is important to get her teeth fixed. Defiantly get a second opinion of you want, or ask the dentist to see the xrays, you can usually see what he is talking about if he shows you. If she has little enamel by chance on her teeth, the longer you wait the worse they will get and if the decay fills the whole tooth then a cap may be needed, and they can't do fillings. Sorry this was so long, I have just had a lot of experience with bad teeth and my son!

Magen
My family!

[DPline]

My son had to have two crowns at just barely two years old - soon after coming home - because he has no enamel on his teeth and these two teeth were starting to rot. They gave his a little gas and honestly it was no big deal. He was not tramatized at all and we have managed thankfully to keep any more cavaties at bay so far. (He is now age 6.) I do think it is well worth working with a pediatric dentist in this situation as oppposed to someone who primarily works on adults.

Listen to the people here who are living it, not the people on that list serve.

Good luck!

[curt'sgirl]

My daughter's cavities were picked up around 3 y.o. also. The dentist explained about her protective enamel missing d/t lack of prenatal nutrition. The cavities were filled easily without novacaine and some of the teeth were sealed. Our last cavity in February required novacaine but she was given the laughing gas/coconut numbing gel and sang/giggled throughout the visit. No trauma and she's a 6 y.o. drama queen.
Start now - get your child used to dental visits. What worked for us was bringing a snuggly doll/animal with us and giving her a small trinket toy afterward for a great job.
Nancy

[Devora]

Although our son has not had a problem, I did ask his dentist about this because of what I had heard from other adoptive parents. His dentist concurred:

* lack of enamel is associated with maternal/prenatal diet

Due to poverty/inadequate maternal diet, many internationally adopted children have little enamel which leads to more cavities. So for those of us who are raising our children in middle class or affluent communities, our children are more likely to deal with this than are their peers.