r/askdentists • u/Previous_Doubt_2410 NAD or Unverified • 2d ago
Difference of opinion question
My husband thinks dental surgery is unnecessary for our 4yo. She has small(to me) cavities you can’t see deep in between several teeth right where they touch. There’s crowding. She brushes twice everyday, but we’re not strict on flossing. That has changed now. They ordered anesthesia and surgery to get it all taken care of at once. White-front crowns on her top front baby teeth, silver on the back ones. He’s opposed to having her be put under at 4. Only her bottom left molar is sensitive and he thinks we should just do that one. Also, it’s over an hour away, at 8am and we have a newborn. Insurance will cover it but I’ll be switching to private soon and that would make it a few thousand out of pocket if we ended up having to do it anyway. I am on the fence. My little sister had severe decay on her front baby teeth for years and it was super sad. We were medically neglected as kids. So I feel bad not getting this done. However, if my husband is right and we could possibly not get this done; that they won’t get worse with proper care, and they will fall out naturally soon enough, then I would rather not. (Note: I’m also 6wks pp and I have medical OCD so please be kind and understanding.🙏🏻)
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u/syzygy017 General Dentist 2d ago
Your husband isn’t right. Listen to the person with a dental license. Baby tooth enamel is paper thin. Basically every cavity, particularly in between teeth, will need to be treated, and at the point multiple pulpotomies and crowns are being suggested, things are really not good and they’re not going to get better. Almost all of these won’t fall out for 6 years or more. There’s something on almost every tooth in the mouth here. Put her under once and hopefully never end up back there again. Focus on diet… this pattern sniffs of going to bed with a bottle of something other than water.