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Post Info TOPIC: Help - should I extract my 5 yr old's baby tooth (which has turned dark due to an injury)??
alb


Marc Jacobs

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Help - should I extract my 5 yr old's baby tooth (which has turned dark due to an injury)??
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Hi all - another random question here but I'm hoping that some of you may have some insight.  My daughter got hurt on the mouth at school on the playground about a week ago.  Her front left baby tooth was hit.  We took her to a dentist and he said that the nerve in that tooh has died and that it will turn dark.  By the next morning it had turned grey (yikes).  Needless to say, it looks pretty bad but she doesn't seem to mind.  We had it x-rayed and were told that the tooth was loose and will probably fall out soon (she has already lost two bottom baby teeth, and the tooth next to it is also loose).  The dentist suggested we do nothing but be on the lookout for signs of an absess (infection) - which would include swelling but no pain.  If that happens, she needs antibiotics immediately so we will have to check daily. 

He then said "or we could extract it."  Apparently an extraction would prevent an absess and we wouldn't have to worry about checking for it (there are no other symptoms of an absess other than swelling so it may be hard to detect). we thought this sounded like a good option for that reason but the other reason is admittedly for asthetics - we could get rid of the black tooth and not have to deal with it anymore (it looks bad).  because part of the reasoning behind wanting an extraction is asthetics, i feel guilty, and therein lies the problem.

Is it right to put my child through a potentially painful procedure and deprive her of a front tooth for what may be a yr for asthetic reasons - when it doesn't seem to bother her in the least?  

I read online that usually an extraction is done after an absess has occurred, not before.  I also read that it is likely that the tooth will lighten back up in the next 6 mos., and hers has a white line on the bottom which I think could be the beginning of the lightening process (it's been said that it is somehwat like a bruise).

while my husband wants to get it pulled, i'd feel bad if i had her tooth pulled and it would have lightened up anyway and not gotten infected.

The procedure can be done in the dental office and they will use a topical anesthetic plus some type of IV thing in her mouth but it still sounds a bit invasive for a 5 yr old. 

Would love any thoughts or opinions - I'm really torn on this one!  Thanks in advance! 


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Boots


Gucci

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Is this the same daughter that is having some issues in school? Kids can be mean, especially if she is already labeled as "different" by her peers. Even though the dark tooth may not seem to bother her, I wonder if the other students might use it as a jumping point to make fun of her?


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alb


Marc Jacobs

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Hi Boots - Yep, it's the same one.  Most people I've talk to think I should just pull the thing and be done with it, so I am starting to lean that way.  I just feel bad about putting her through that when she will have to endure a bunch of tests and other stuff the following week.  But the tooth fairy will come - which will help.

Thanks for answering - and Merry Christmas! 

ETA - You make a good point about people making fun of her and that was my first thought when this happened.  It's been over a week though and none of the kids seem to care.  Also, she is not seen as different by her peers, I think the form I read was way exaggerated.  I've observed her enough at school to know that she is totally accepted by the others, just a bit reclusive.  But that could change so maybe it's better to pull it.

-- Edited by alb on Friday 24th of December 2010 02:25:43 AM

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Metric


Gucci

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I had 4 teeth pulled out as a kid (and another 4 as an adult) for orthodontic reasons. Its not the big deal they make it out to be. I hardly remember it.
The adult teeth were waaay worse. Maybe cause I was older I just remember it more, IDK.

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alb


Marc Jacobs

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Thanks, Metric.  Did you develop a lisp or anything or were they back teeth?  That's my primary concern. 

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Metric


Gucci

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they were my first molars on both sides. Nope, my speech was fine.

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Boots


Gucci

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I'm glad to hear that she's doing better at school than you'd been lead to believe. If she keeps to herself a bit due to her own choice (and not due to being excluded by the other kids) I wouldn't worry too much about her being made fun of for the tooth.

My friends son had this front tooth knocked out on a playground when he was three and didn't develop a lisp. His mom got a few new gray hairs from the incident, but he was fine.

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alb


Marc Jacobs

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Thanks, Metric.  Good to know.  We're pulling the thing!  it's pretty atrocious looking.

Boots - ha! Yeah, I think I have sprouted a few greys as well.  Thanks for your response.  Good to know about your friend's son.  Lucy seems to be doing fine socially - it's her potentially delayed motor skills, occasional reclusiveness and possible absence seizures that we are worried about.  Merry Christmas! 

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jettie


Kate Spade

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Something similar to happened to me when I was young and my parents didn't get the tooth extracted. I do have some interesting pictures with a strange colored front tooth. I don't remember it at all and I'm assuming I didn't care (and obviously wasn't a problem once I lost the baby tooth). looking back at old pictures, it did look a little funny though!

I think it'll be okay whatever you decide to do :)

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alb


Marc Jacobs

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Thanks for your reply, Jettie. It was extracted and looks so much better. All went well and she didn't shed a tear. :)

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Boots


Gucci

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Oh, that good to hear. I'll bet she looks cute too.

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alb


Marc Jacobs

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Thanks, Boots. It does look cute and she is so proud of it!

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Boots


Gucci

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alb wrote:

Thanks, Boots. It does look cute and she is so proud of it!



I like her!  Tell her to show off that gap!aww



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