They want to remove my daughter (18 month) chipped tooth..worrying

[A196x]

My daughter isn’t two yet, but when I first went to my dentist with her I said I felt her tooth was chipped. I didn’t ever see her chip or anything happen that aware of.
This was before she was 1. My dentist said everything looked normal.

I finally got her registered at a dentist fee months back. They said yes tooth is chipped, would remove if got infected. Today on check up they said there is a bubble on gum below that tooth so they said infected and she will need general to get it removed.
I’m now worrying like mad as wish there was another alternative? Can it not be treated and left in, because I read that if toddler tooth does get taken out in that space it can cause crooked and knock onto adult teeth and how they come in etc.

Is it also a childrens hospital or a dental hospital? And do they get out same day at that age

 

[drhirst]

Hi @A196x
This is a difficult situation, no one wants their very young child to have a general anaesthetic.
The bubble you describe sounds like a gum boil or an area where pus is leaking from a broken dead tooth.
It is not ideal to retain a dead infected tooth as, at this age, it could damage the adult tooth that is developing in that area.
To save the tooth your daughter would need to have a form of root canal treatment and this would be extremely difficult to achieve as she is unlikely to be able to co-operate due to her young age.
I guess it may be worth seeing a private specialist children's dentist for an opinion.
Gordan may be able to give a better insight as this was his field.
Regards

Lincoln

 

[A196x]

Hi @A196x
This is a difficult situation, no one wants their very young child to have a general anaesthetic.
The bubble you describe sounds like a gum boil or an area where pus is leaking from a broken dead tooth.
It is not ideal to retain a dead infected tooth as, at this age, it could damage the adult tooth that is developing in that area.
To save the tooth your daughter would need to have a form of root canal treatment and this would be extremely difficult to achieve as she is unlikely to be able to co-operate due to her young age.
I guess it may be worth seeing a private specialist children's dentist for an opinion.
Gordan may be able to give a better insight as this was his field.
Regards

Lincoln

Thanks Lincoln,

Damn, that’s what they’re maybe meaning as they definitely mentioned this could impact adult teeth. It was like a white spot I seen on the gum at that tooth location. It hasn’t gave her any pain when eating drinking so when they said I was a bit I just wondered to prevent that space is there some magic thing they can do (put something into space) as dread the thought of future teeth coming in crooked or trying to go into where tbat tooth should have been then that knocking onto adulthood as well ie braces etc
@Gordon Hope you can help!

 

[A196x]

google freaked me out with
What happens when you pull a baby tooth out too early?



Removing a tooth too early could lead to crooked adult teeth and other dental problems later on.16 Mar 2021
(

 

[A196x]

The tooth and gum area

 

[Gordon]

Step back from Google...

That's got to go soon, there is a risk of damaging the adult tooth if you leave it. Root canal treatment is not possible at such a young age, you don't need to worry about causing problems for the adult teeth if it's removed, that's really only an issue with baby molars where there is already a bit of crowding. This is an incisor and there seems plenty of space.

It will be "day surgery", usually for kids it'll be in first thing in the morning and home by lunchtime. It's unlikely to be done in a dental hospital due to lack of supporting facilities, usually done in a general hospital.

 

[A196x]

Step back from Google...

That's got to go soon, there is a risk of damaging the adult tooth if you leave it. Root canal treatment is not possible at such a young age, you don't need to worry about causing problems for the adult teeth if it's removed, that's really only an issue with baby molars where there is already a bit of crowding. This is an incisor and there seems plenty of space.

It will be "day surgery", usually for kids it'll be in first thing in the morning and home by lunchtime. It's unlikely to be done in a dental hospital due to lack of supporting facilities, usually done in a general hospital.

Thank you, I asked the dentist when she phoned today and she didn’t provide any reassurance so I’m like agh. Cause it’s the future and unknown. Along with could it affect how she eats etc!

 

[Gordon]

No it won't affect how she eats in the slightest.