I need advice for caps for children's teeth!

[rluey29]

I just want to clarify again that I DID get a second opinion.

I was sent from my dentist in my town to a pediatric specialist in West memphis. She showed me the x-rays and explained what was wrong with his teeth and then told me that they could sedate him but it was not guaranteed to make him sleepy and that he would still be very uncomfortable during the whole procedure. Then she also gave us the option of GA in the hospital where he would be totally asleepand it would be easier on him and everyone else.

The insurance wouldn't cover the hospital stay without a second opinion so I was sent to a male dentist here in my town who also said that he needed caps on 7 front teeth, but that I should just let him strap him down and give him numbing shots in his mouth and do the work. He also refused to do any white crowns because he said they were "pieces of crap". He was very unfriendly also and made me feel bad for even thinking of putting my DS1 in the hospital for dental work.

So see, with all of this conflicting information I'm a nervous wreck about it. It seems like alot of you have had good luck with your white caps and a few of you haven't. I really want white but I don't want something that will fall apart a month later. Stressful!!!

 

[DebMcDonald]

I just want to clarify again that I DID get a second opinion.

I was sent from my dentist in my town to a pediatric specialist in West memphis. She showed me the x-rays and explained what was wrong with his teeth and then told me that they could sedate him but it was not guaranteed to make him sleepy and that he would still be very uncomfortable during the whole procedure. Then she also gave us the option of GA in the hospital where he would be totally asleepand it would be easier on him and everyone else.

The insurance wouldn't cover the hospital stay without a second opinion so I was sent to a male dentist here in my town who also said that he needed caps on 7 front teeth, but that I should just let him strap him down and give him numbing shots in his mouth and do the work. He also refused to do any white crowns because he said they were "pieces of crap". He was very unfriendly also and made me feel bad for even thinking of putting my DS1 in the hospital for dental work.

So see, with all of this conflicting information I'm a nervous wreck about it. It seems like alot of you have had good luck with your white caps and a few of you haven't. I really want white but I don't want something that will fall apart a month later. Stressful!!!

How about a third opinion, when in doubt.......It might also make it easier on you to make a decision seeing you have two opposite opinions right now

 

[Mommy22]

I would go with the white if possible.

 

[torinsmom]

I was told my son needed 4 crowns(4 top front teeth) when he was 2 by two different dentists. They wanted to use the papoose at the hospital and told me I would not be allowed in the room. I said no way! My son's decay was from the bottle. The teeth were slightly yellow at that time, but they did not hurt at all. After deliberating, I decided not to do the crowns at that point. The dentist told me that if I didn't, it would affect DS' adult teeth, but I researched online and read that you could use topical flouride gel to keep decay from progressing or spreading. DS did topical flouride every night(I brushed it on when he was too young to swish) His teeth never hurt, although they did disintegrate some. They still looked like normal kids teeth. His baby teeth fell out at the appropriate times and his permanent teeth came in beautiful.

I guess my point is, it would not hurt to wait if his teeth are not hurting. Like someone said, get another opinion, even if you have gotten two. If you are going to do it, I would def. spend the extra for the white crowns. Even young kids can be cruel!

Marsha

 

[carj]

Alot of you are saying to get a second opinion, but I have already done that. The second person also said that he needed caps but he just wanted me to let him strap him down to do the work.

Could those of you who've put the white crowns on your kids please let me know what type they were, especially if they stayed on well.

I think that maybe it is the "strapping down" part that is giving people the feeling that your dentist may not be the one for you.

My DD had a tooth abcess and had to have it pulled when she was 3. I was horrified. My older son never even had a cavitity! After it was all said and done we spent over $2000 on her teeth. She needed a space maintainer for the place where the tooth was extracted, a baby molar. She also needed 2 baby crowns on other molars. Our dentist was wonderful.

I would never have believed that my daughter would allow him to look into her mouth, much less extract a tooth. They gave her nitrous and local anesthetic and she did so well. It was unbelievable. She didn't even cry when he pulled the tooth. This is a child that cries when he socks are too lumpy!

The entire office was amazing. They gave her a prize every time she did anything that they asked and gave her choices about everything. It wasn't just that their office had videos and toys, it was their entire attitude with children that made the difference. (Honestly it was their attititude with me too because I felt like such a terrible mother!) Her dentist even showed me his mouthful of crowns! He said that was why he became a dentist because his teeth were so bad!

 

[Forevryoung]

About dentists asking parents to leave the room- you might not agree with it but it is common for a reason. My dad is a dentist. He's explained it this way:

Many people/parents already have a negative expectation of the experience, kids do not. However, the expectation creates a bigger deal out of the experience. Additionally, it hurts parents more to see their kids in that position than it bothers the kids themselves. AND kids tend to act up more when their parents are in the room.

My dad has sent me to other dentists simply because he couldn't send himself out of the room and it was making the situation worse for both of us.

Of course it depends on how old the child is. But usually with the right dentist and staff, the experience will be fairly easy and positive.

 

[torinsmom]

I'd say strapping a 2 year old to a table with strangers all around doing weird things to them is just plain traumatizing. I mean, if you're going to put the child under anyway, why not wait to have the parent leave the room and put the child in the papoose until after the anesthesia is administered?

I do agree that for regular dentists appts., it's better to send kids back alone after the age of 3 or 4.

Marsha

 

[brighteyes]

Hi there dis'ers...

I feel like this is budget related because it could potentially cost me alot of money depending on which way we go.

My 15 month old son is scheduled for oral surgery at the hospital in about 20 days so I don't have alot of time to make up my mind. His 4 top teeth and 3 of his front bottom teeth are needing caps. Since he had to have these teeth for the next 6-7 years, I wanted to get the white caps so that he could take nice pictures and not be teased by any children. The problem is that his insurance won't pay a penny on the white ones and will only cover the stainless steel. The white ones are $235 per tooth out of pocket.

My husband and I decided that since it was so expensive that maybe we'd have the top 4 white and the bottom ones silver, but when I talked to the surgeon's office this morning she was telling me that the white and silver can both fall off but only the silver would be covered by insurance for reattachment. She also said that the white can scratch and chip easily.

Now I don't know what to do. I hate the thought of him having a mouth full of silver teeth for so many years but it will cost me $944 for something that may not last.

Have any of you opted for the white caps for your children, and how well did they hold up??

I have been in this situation, mind you I was a little older. I was about 11 when I broke the bottom half of my two front teeth. No need for root canal because the nerve was not exposed. They looked great. They were not silver, but not real caps. they were molded out of composite and shaped around my remaining teeth. Great. Right? Wrong.

I did not know they were TEMPORARY and had I would have had my parents replace them. I spent the last 15 yrs with old yucky looking teeth, and just finally got real crowns pearly pearly white.

So how well did they last? TOO LONG they just stained too. I have spent the last 15 yrs wondering why my parents did not opt to get me real crowns when it was covered and I had to spend the last 15 years not feeling confident about myself because of my smile.

So having spent years with ugly looking teeth and never wanting to smile, I say go for the white ones. He may not care now when he is a little one but when he gets older and notices he has silver, I am sure he will feel self conscious. I understand about the money though and that these are only his baby teeth. Mine were on my permanent teeth.

Just wanted to give you some perspective from someone who wished my parents would have spent a little bit extra so that I would not have had to go through that. I forget at what age they lose their teeth at, but being through it, I can't imagine having silver teeth.

I don't envy you. Good luck to you and your little guy. Whatever choice you make will be made out of love.

Stephanie

 

[wendylovesdisney]

My daughter is 5. At age 4 she had a silver cap put on one of her back teeth. She was put "under" for it, thank god. She hates the way it looks. Even at age 5. She asks when it will fall out. You can see it in her pictures, even though I thought you would not. We laughingly refer to it as her "pirate tooth". I would never do silver again.

 

[DVCsince02]

Does your dentist offer financing? Lots of dentists in our area offer CareCredit. It's a healthcare credit card that you can get up to 18 months of no interest. Minimum payments are required but they are low. If you can't swing the 18 months they offer other financing options as well. Lots of other medical professionals accept this form of payment. Even veterinarans. Go to CareCredit.com to see if your dentist is on the list of providers.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[EMom]

I'm giving my 2 cents on a side topic. I would NEVER take my child to a dentist that did not allow me to accompany my child during treatment. I've been "in the know" regarding a couple of child fatalities at dental offices and having read the case files, depositions, etc., I will never let my child have treatment unless I am right there beside her. If a dentist refuses to let me go back with her, that is one dentist I don't ever want to touch my child.

DD has gone to the dentist every 6 months since she was one year old and loves it. We have a great pediatric dentist who lets parents come with children if they like. I was amazed at how many dentists refused to allow this when I called to find a dentist for DD. It made narrowing my list a lot easier.

On the subject of stainless steel crowns, I would pay for the other. If you can afford it at all, just pay for the porcelain ones since your child must have them for so long. When I see a mouth full of metal on a small child, I cringe and I know that the poor kid gets teased. I'd hate to see your child become the target of teasing, and it's almost inevitable. One tooth might be alright.....but not that many.

 

[rluey29]

I'm glad to hear that most of you would spend the extra money on the white caps. I have $1000 saved for it and I'm hoping the dentist will do all 7 for close to that amount instead of the $1600 she's wanting for them, but if not then I'll look into the Care Credit.

I haven't even thought about not getting to go back with my child during the surgery. It is being done in a hospital instead of a dental office so do you think that hospital policy will prevent me from doing so?

I will let you know how it goes though. I'm hoping that the white ones hold up for awhile. I would hate for them to start falling off and then the baby having to have another procedure to put them back on.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

Is this from bottle decay? My son was about that age when he had his done but that was like 18 years ago and they only did the white ones and he never had a problem with them, they fell out on time and never chipped. I would personally go with what your most comfortable with, and yes kids can be VERY mean even in Kindergarten so If I had to make the decision it would be the white and then if something happens then have it replaced with the other, frankly I don't understand the difference and why the insurance company can decide for you, gotta love those insurance companies Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Vijoge]

Does your dentist offer financing? Lots of dentists in our area offer CareCredit. It's a healthcare credit card that you can get up to 18 months of no interest. Minimum payments are required but they are low. If you can't swing the 18 months they offer other financing options as well. Lots of other medical professionals accept this form of payment. Even veterinarans. Go to CareCredit.com to see if your dentist is on the list of providers.

Let us know how it goes.

We've used CareCredit for both DH and myself. We have dental insurance but also have a $1000 pp per year limit , and believe me, you don't get much done at the dentist for $1000!

 

[Vijoge]

I haven't even thought about not getting to go back with my child during the surgery. It is being done in a hospital instead of a dental office so do you think that hospital policy will prevent me from doing so?

If it's being done in a hospital it will be done in a regular operating room, and no, they're not going to let you in there, just like they wouldn't let you in if he was having an appendectomy or any other surgery. You'll need to wait in the waiting room.

 

[EMom]

If it's being done in a hospital it will be done in a regular operating room, and no, they're not going to let you in there, just like they wouldn't let you in if he was having an appendectomy or any other surgery. You'll need to wait in the waiting room.

No, if it's in a hospital, you'll have to stay outside. I was referencing the dentist's office. I would never take my child to a dentist who did not allow me to accompany my child, especially given the things I know from the cases I've worked on.

 

[kimmie]

When Dd was 2 she had her teeth done in the hospital. The staff was great! We brought her blanket and a dolly. They took her back in a little red wagon and I can still see her waving bye-bye to me! It went perfectly! The caps fell off when the big teeth came in. We had a small incident with one when she was about 4 and was eating a sucker (a big no-no) but the replacement of the front was not that much. She is 14 yo and her permanent teeth are going to be beautiful when she gets her braces off next month!
I am sure it will be fine for you too!

 

[Kbah]

I'm in same situation and stumbled across your thread. Could you give me an update on how everything turned out? Thanks!!!