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I have a seven year old daughter with a cavity. I know it needs to be treated. I am aware of what will happen if I don’t. The big problem is that she is the most obstinate, uncooperative child you have ever met when it comes to seeing a dentist. Have you ever had a child like this? If so, was there a way to help them get the treatment they need?
Nadia
Dear Nadia,
I can tell you are very stressed about his. The good news is that we have encountered this many times. The easiest thing for you do is find a sedation dentist. They can give your daughter a medication to take that will completely relax her. She’ll be so relaxed that your daughter will likely sleep through the procedure.
While some pediatric dentists do offer sedation, given your daughter’s intense fear, I want to suggest that you use oral conscious sedation. Not all pediatric dentists offer that option. If you run into that problem, there are great general dentists that treat children and also offer sedation. It would be perfectly fine to switch to see that dentist in order to get your daughter the treatments that she needs.
I know it is stressful taking a strong willed child to a dentist. Despite that, I do not want you to put off her treatment. The last thing you want is for that cavity to develop into a tooth infection. That can lead to a dental emergency.
You didn’t say which tooth it was. If the worst case scenario happened and the tooth gets infected, there is a child’s version of a root canal treatment, known as a pulpotomy. If it is too far along for a pulpotomy, then you will have to extract the tooth. In most cases, with a children’s tooth, that is no big deal. If it is a back molar, those are ideal to stay in until she is twelve years old. If it must be extracted, then make sure your dentist places a space maintainer in order to keep the space open and available for her molars when they are ready to come in.
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. John Theriot.