Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

So my son went for his twice a year checkup at the dentist the other day, and they did x-rays for the first time. To my great horror, they showed 3 cavities. One was worse than the others. Obviously, I feel like a horrible, horrible mother. I thought we were doing a good job with brushing and flossing, but I guess not. :( I've really tried to limit juice and sweet drinks and whatnot as well. Oh well. At least I know that what we're doing isn't working and we have to change things up a bit.

Anyway my question is, has your child had fillings? We love our pediatric dentist and she's been great so far. She says she tends to do fillings for little kids with nitrous oxide only because the novacaine injections and numbness freak them out and upset them, and that many kids can get by with just the gas. Obviously I'm pretty nervous about this approach. She says she'll use his reaction as a gauge, and give him novacaine if he needs it. I worry that by then he'll already be in pain. :(

We went for his 5 year old well-child visit and the pediatrician was NOT in favor of this plan. She thought it was unnecessary to fill baby teeth when they're going to fall out anyway. And that doing a procedure without pain meds was cruel... "Would you undergo a dental procedure without novacaine?" She's afraid it will lead to dental phobia.

I've been researching online and there's a lot of stuff that says you SHOULD fill these teeth, but a lot of the sources are from the Pediatric Dental Association and other parties that may have a bit of bias.

BTW, these aren't back back molars... these are the first molars on the bottom that are next to the four front teeth.

Would love to hear anyone's input!

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

First off let me say I feel your pain. We went through it over a year ago with my then 4 year old. We had found out at 3 he had some cavities & we pushed it off thinking the same, they are baby teeth! Well this was the worst thing

When we went back, my son had to have major work done. It couldn't be done with laughing gas bc he's too anxious. We had to put him out under general anesthesia. He ended up needing3 root canals with crowns, 1 extraction & 4 fillings. I was beside myself & even now looking in his mouth & seeing all the silver. If we would have done it from the get go it would have been better.

Our dentist told us that as much as the juice is a cause, some kids are just prone to it. Please trust your gut & get it done ASAP. You don't want to put the child through more then necessary bc we are negligent to fill. Luckily my DS has no recollection of if & still loves the dentist

Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

How bad are the cavities and I would ask the dentist when those teeth are suppose to fall out. If they are the molars that fall out at around 10 then definitely do it. I also have no problems with nitrous oxide since the first time I ever used novicane was when I had a root canal at 30 years old.

Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

My daughter is only 6 and has had so many cavities. The dentist said its not just about brushing and juice, there is a genetic component that just makes you more prone to cavities. My daughter has done fine with just the nitrous oxide.

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

Fruit snacks are a big culprit too for cavities.

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

I understand how you feel, but you can't blame yourself. Unfortunately the same happen happened with my DD when she was 4. She went for her first dental visit and they found cavities. The pediatric dentist used laughing gas to calm her and then novacane. I have been told sometimes novicane is not needed if the cavities are small. It turned into a horrible situation- but that was due to the dental practice and is a total other post.

We have since changed dentists and our new dentist is absolutely amazing. She uses both laughing gas and novacane for the procedure.

And I agree that you should address the cavities and not wait til the teeth fall out. I would think the cavities are in the molars and those don't fall out until around age 9ish. That is a long time to go with a cavity that will only get worse.

Good luck!

Message edited 8/26/2015 9:56:51 AM.

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

My older da had two cavities filled. He ralexed him with the gas, but then used Novocain also,

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

My 8 y/o has had two teeth filled with nitrous oxide used. I like that they have been easy procedures and they have not caused her to be anxious about having dental work done. We use a pediatric dentist and she uses white fillings so there is no sign of this dental work like I had as a child.

Message edited 8/27/2015 9:03:28 AM.

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

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Message edited 3/20/2016 10:24:33 PM.

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

Re: Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

Our DD was 5 when she had her 1st and only filling. It was hurting her and it was filled by our family Dentist with novacaine only. And this is a child who never drinks juice, only water. Our youngest drinks juice occasionally not a cavity in sight.

We would NOT be comfortable with sweet air for our little ones or for ourselves..

Fillings for a 5 year old with Cavities?

My son has high anxiety and I would have never been able to get his teeth filled without the sweet air. We tried and it was a disaster. When we went back they gave him a super small amount just to take the edge off and he was fine. About halfway through they turned it off and started just oxygen. That brought him "back" and by the time we left the office he was fine.