I took my 5-year-old son to the dentist for the first time. It took me by surprise when our dentist said he had several cavities and needed fillings. I asked for white fillings, but he said he wants to do the old amalgam fillings on him because he said children can’t get white fillings. I really don’t want to do that. I didn’t go forward and said I’d like to take him to a children’s dentist. But, really I just wanted to see if he was telling the truth. I don’t want a mouth full of mercury in his body.
Amelia
Dear Amelia,
Some General Dentists Treat Children
There are a few things going on here. First, you should know that many children get decay, some even younger than your son. It all depends on several factors: What they put into their mouths, their genetic makeup, and how often they are taken in to see a dentist.
It’s usually recommended that you take your child in to see a pediatric dentist after their first tooth completely erupts. It’s important for their first experiences with a dentist are fun and not painful. Too many parents wait until there’s a problem and they end up taking their child to an emergency dental appointment.
White Fillings in Children
While children can get white fillings, not every dentist is able to provide them for them. The dentist needs to be not only knowledgeable in the technique for composite fillings, which is different than the amalgam filling technique, but they also need to be good with children.
First, you’ve got a child in pain. They’re also frightened. Composite fillings must be kept dry during the application process. That’s challenging for some young children. However, even the wiggliest children seem to do well with some nitrous oxide. In fact, many of them will sleep through the procedure.
What Type of Dentist Should You Seek
Look for a dentist who is either a mercury-free dentist or possibly a metal-free dentist. But that isn’t enough. You’ll either need to schedule with a full-fledged pediatric dentist or a general dentist who’s great with children. If they meet both of those criteria, then you’ll likely have a dentist who can give your son the mercury-free fillings you want.
Don’t put this off too long. The decay will spread. If it blows up into an infection, it can get serious quickly.
This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.