Dentist

LoveEeyore

Does your LO get fluoride treatment every time?  X-rays?  And DD is about to get her 6 yr molars and the dentist wants to seal them.  Is this normal or a bit much?

DS puked for hours after his first fluoride treatment so we don't do it for him anymore.  Insurance covers once a year- do you do twice or once? 

I walked away today for all three it was $450.  It feels like a money trap, and too much on the other hand their teeth and health are worth it.  I am cautious of $$$$ overtreatment because of health- not the $$.  What is your child's dental care like?

the_jackpot

My ds is 4, will be 5 in Nov and he had his first flouride treatment and his first set of x-rays. My insurance covers all of the treatment so I am not sure about the money aspect. I will most likely do what the dentist recommends as I trust her as the expert.

LSU628

DD had Xrays for the first time this last visit. They brush the fluoride on her teeth at both of her visits during the year. I'm kind of the mindset that I'd rather invest the money now and have healthy teeth then spend the big bucks down the road. I'd ask them why they went to seal her teeth? Does she have a history of really deep molars? I have had almost all of mine sealed now to prevent cavities. I think I pay $30 per tooth?

groovygrl

Not xrays every time, there is no need for that unless there is a problem...

They wipe the fluoride on w/ a gauze pad or something after the cleaning. I think fluoride each time is sort of standard? I didn't realize insurance would possibly only cover once a year, we haven't had a problem w/ that so far.

Sealants-  I am pretty sure the research supports using sealants routinely on those molars but the person has to apply them correctly or they can fail or need application....  maybe there are some dental ppl on here who know for sure.

LoveEeyore

groovygrl:

Not xrays every time, there is no need for that unless there is a problem...

They wipe the fluoride on w/ a gauze pad or something after the cleaning. I think fluoride each time is sort of standard? I didn't realize insurance would possibly only cover once a year, we haven't had a problem w/ that so far.

Sealants-  I am pretty sure the research supports using sealants routinely on those molars but the person has to apply them correctly or they can fail or need application....  maybe there are some dental ppl on here who know for sure.

Thanks all. I am SO not trying to pretend I know what's better for their teeth. Nor am I suggesting it's not worth every penny or that I would withhold to save a buck... I grew up on well water and we didn't start going to the dentist until kindergarten so I was feeling aware when the preschool friends were getting all that jazz at two. I started taking them at 3.5 and was scolded for waiting so long. It just seems that often the medical field practice is excessive and with an exponential $$ profit for the practitioner. I'm also a "village person" who once I fully trust, I follow blindly- be it a contractor in my home, auto mechanic, medical practitioner. If overtreatment in dentistry can't be harmful, then no sweat. I just worry that there is a chance all that stuff could be harmful in the long run. Or if she is an aggressive dentist that in a serious situation injury that I would be guided in an aggressive way. Ah well paranoid. Thanks for letting me know your norm.

rsd12

My younger kids go every 6 months, they do Floride once a year. They just started getting Xrays and that will be maybe once a year. My oldest goes every 4 months, he is 7. he has issues. We did seal 4 or 5 teeth so we do not have to fill his cavities. His dentist will replace the sealant at no charge if it falls off.

We had found another dentist that wanted to charge us 1800 to fill his cavities, and did not listen to me at all. Which is why we found this other dentist, who was willing to work with us.

meldoo2002

My kids are only 4 and have been to the dentist 3 times.  So far they've only cleaned them the first 2 times and done fluoride this last time.  No xrays so far.  

seethesmiles

I'm a general dentist so I thought I'd chime in. In my office, we recommend topical fluoride every visit until the child is about 12. However, I haven't started with my own son (he's 4, despite what my ticker may say) because he has some sensory issues. I don't think it would be horrible to do fluoride just once a year. We have several families that just can't afford to do it more often. I also don't judge families that choose not to do fluoride at all for their children. I do think it's beneficial (especially the systemic or "tablet" form) but there are some controversial studies out there that concern the "hippie/naturalist" part of me.

We recommend x-rays once a year starting around age 5. If a younger child presents with decay or other problem, we will start sooner.

Sealants, in my opinion, are worth every penny. The trick is, though, to not place them too young. I make sure the adult molar is FULLY erupted and that the child is cooperative enough to stay open for a relatively long period of time. The sealant can not get wet during placement or it will fail. This is extremely difficult due to the amount of saliva a child normally produces and how small a child's mouth is (meaning, there's really no place for all that spit to go except right into the sealant I'm trying to place!). I find the best age to place sealants is around 7 or 8 but that can vary widely based on the kid.

Hope that helps!

stever

Nope, just cleaning so far.

LoveEeyore

seethesmiles:

I'm a general dentist so I thought I'd chime in. In my office, we recommend topical fluoride every visit until the child is about 12. However, I haven't started with my own son (he's 4, despite what my ticker may say) because he has some sensory issues. I don't think it would be horrible to do fluoride just once a year. We have several families that just can't afford to do it more often. I also don't judge families that choose not to do fluoride at all for their children. I do think it's beneficial (especially the systemic or "tablet" form) but there are some controversial studies out there that concern the "hippie/naturalist" part of me.

We recommend x-rays once a year starting around age 5. If a younger child presents with decay or other problem, we will start sooner.

Sealants, in my opinion, are worth every penny. The trick is, though, to not place them too young. I make sure the adult molar is FULLY erupted and that the child is cooperative enough to stay open for a relatively long period of time. The sealant can not get wet during placement or it will fail. This is extremely difficult due to the amount of saliva a child normally produces and how small a child's mouth is (meaning, there's really no place for all that spit to go except right into the sealant I'm trying to place!). I find the best age to place sealants is around 7 or 8 but that can vary widely based on the kid.

Hope that helps!

Thanks, it is very helpful.  I am really hoping her 6 yr molars take their sweet time so they seal them at her 6.5 year apt- later, like you said. It just seems like too much to me.  It's a relatively new thing to do that and I don't think enough generations have passed to show the long term effects of using them on teeth in adulthood.  Call me paranoid but it just seems to me, not having crap and brushing well would be a lot better than these short cuts that involve putting chemicals in the mouth to seal it up.  I don't know...  thanks for your thoughts!

seethesmiles

LoveEeyore:

seethesmiles:

I'm a general dentist so I thought I'd chime in. In my office, we recommend topical fluoride every visit until the child is about 12. However, I haven't started with my own son (he's 4, despite what my ticker may say) because he has some sensory issues. I don't think it would be horrible to do fluoride just once a year. We have several families that just can't afford to do it more often. I also don't judge families that choose not to do fluoride at all for their children. I do think it's beneficial (especially the systemic or "tablet" form) but there are some controversial studies out there that concern the "hippie/naturalist" part of me.

We recommend x-rays once a year starting around age 5. If a younger child presents with decay or other problem, we will start sooner.

Sealants, in my opinion, are worth every penny. The trick is, though, to not place them too young. I make sure the adult molar is FULLY erupted and that the child is cooperative enough to stay open for a relatively long period of time. The sealant can not get wet during placement or it will fail. This is extremely difficult due to the amount of saliva a child normally produces and how small a child's mouth is (meaning, there's really no place for all that spit to go except right into the sealant I'm trying to place!). I find the best age to place sealants is around 7 or 8 but that can vary widely based on the kid.

Hope that helps!

Thanks, it is very helpful.  I am really hoping her 6 yr molars take their sweet time so they seal them at her 6.5 year apt- later, like you said. It just seems like too much to me.  It's a relatively new thing to do that and I don't think enough generations have passed to show the long term effects of using them on teeth in adulthood.  Call me paranoid but it just seems to me, not having crap and brushing well would be a lot better than these short cuts that involve putting chemicals in the mouth to seal it up.  I don't know...  thanks for your thoughts!

To be honest, most sealants (even when placed properly with a dry field) won't last until adulthood. They can get worn away by normal "wear and tear." However, they are great to get kids through that preteen and teen age, where kids are too old to have their parents controlling their hygiene habits but not old enough to understand the importance and long-term ramifications of poor hygiene. You are definitely right, though. Teaching proper hygiene is far more important than placing sealants.