[Lil-Mum]

Hi

Looking for opinion regarding my son (5yo) teeth.

He had an injury about 2 months ago where he fell face down in a bath, and had swollen lips and gums.

I took him to the dentist at the time, she took an Xray to check his permanent teeth and they were okay.

However he recently had swollen gums on his 2 top front teeth, so I took him to the dentist today. The dentist said the swollen bits are abcesses and the 2 front baby teeth have to be extracted. She also ordered Amoxycillin for the abcesses, and X ray for his jaws.

I questioned why the baby teeth have to come out, and she said because of the injury, the baby teeth may have died and need to be removed otherwise they will cause more abcesses.

Does this make sense? Should I get a second opinion re extraction of baby teeth.

Also would a local be ok? or would he need to have a general?

Thanks

[littlewink5]

yes this does make sense! What the dentist said is right....I dont know why you think she would just lie! They/We dont just extract teeth because we like it..FWIW the permanent upper incisors are due to erupt at age 6/7.
Thanks

[*Lib*]

I'd be inclined to leave them, treat him with antibiotics this time, and next time it happens (if) then extract them.

[LoT]

Local OK depending on your son. I would be inclined to have them removed, and let the area heal. Missing front teeth would be fine at his age. Abcesses are not fun and can affect the permanent successors to the injured teeth. The original dentist should have told you (or you might have been too flustered to remember) that the injured teeth may change colour or abcess and may need extracting.

[i-candi]

yes this does make sense! What the dentist said is right....I dont know why you think she would just lie! They/We dont just extract teeth because we like it..FWIW the permanent upper incisors are due to erupt at age 6/7.
Thanks

Really because a dentist extracted 4 of DS baby teeth to help with overcrowding etc. Roll on a year or so later when I took him to the orthodontist she asked me who took those teeth out because the adult teeth are now impacted and will not come down DS is having treatment with a twin block appliance which the orthodontist said will take about two years then he will have to have braces.

Sorry OP I digress.....

I'd be more inclined to treat with AB's and see how it goes then if more abscesses come then extract. I speak from someone who is now over cautious about extracting teeth.

[Guest_tigerdog_*]

Yes, this happened to my nephew at 18 months, he also fell over and hit his mouth on the side of the bath, he had no front teeth until the permanent ones came through recently (age 6).

This post has been edited by tigerdog: 14/04/2012, 10:50 AM

[Guest_tigerdog_*]

I took him to the orthodontist she asked me who took those teeth out because the adult teeth are now impacted and will not come down

This doesn't sound right - I'd say they were probably impacted to begin with. I thought 'impacted' meant they were wedged in the jawbone and couldn't come down - surely removal of baby teeth might alleviate this, not exacerbate it?

This post has been edited by tigerdog: 14/04/2012, 10:52 AM

[i-candi]

This doesn't sound right - I'd say they were probably impacted to begin with. I thought 'impacted' meant they were wedged in the jawbone and couldn't come down - surely removal of baby teeth might alleviate this, not exacerbate it?

Not sure, the orthodontist had a look at the x-rays and said they are impacted????

They are opening his upper jaw to make room, not sure what's happening with the lower jaw. His two front top teeth have gone from a V shape to a more normal looking shape - not flat yet though.

He had nice looking teeth until the dentist took out the four baby teeth. Oh and the dentist now doesn't work at our dentist anymore so I can't ask him.

[--Me--]

Dental therapist here - I deal with this ALL the time. Yes the dentist is right, abscessed teeth have to come out as the infection can damage the developing adult teeth underneath.

The AB's are to ensure the infection goes down before tying to anaesthetise the area otherwise the anaesthetic won't work. If you don't remove the source of the infection (the teeth) it will reoccur.

He may be without teeth for a while but the adult teeth should erupt by age 7.

[LoT]

Really because a dentist extracted 4 of DS baby teeth to help with overcrowding etc. Roll on a year or so later when I took him to the orthodontist she asked me who took those teeth out because the adult teeth are now impacted and will not come down DS is having treatment with a twin block appliance which the orthodontist said will take about two years then he will have to have braces.

This was common practice years ago. Its called "serial extraction". But to be effective, he would have needed to have sequential early extractions of the baby teeth, to alleviate crowding of the erupting adult teeth then extractions of 4 permanent premolar teeth. This avoids braces altogether and still have nice straight teeth. That's the theory. Doesn't always work due to his jaws not being properly aligned or there is excessive crowding etc. Braces is more controlled, so its more favoured. Also better because if premolars require extracting to provide space, the kids are older. Serial extractions can start at 8 years old.