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Dentistry/Toddler tooth decay

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Expert: - 11/22/2008


Question
My son is 23 months old and has some decaying teeth. He started teething at 3 months and had almost all his baby teeth by 12 months. His dentist noticed the problem at 18 months and did some filing and minor filling. Now that brings us to the point we are now where the fillings have fallen out and our dentist is recommending to have his four front upper teeth pulled out or a long procedure involving root canals and capping. Are any of these recommendations from his dentist correct? Is there possibly another option that involves stopping the progression of the decay and waiting until he gets his second set?

Thanks, for any insight you can offer for this problem

Sincerely,
Theresa

Answer
Dear Theresa,
The four top teeth should be removed when and if any one of them shows an infection in the bone.
Until then even though they do not look nice they can stay in the mouth without any problem.
I recommend strongly that you do not have any more fillings or root canals on those teeth.
Once they are removed your son will heal and the permanent teeth will erupt more quickly and take their proper place.
All the best,
Dr.Moss

Dentistry

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Stephen J. Moss

Expertise

I am a professor emeritus at New York University, with a background that includes extensive research, scientific writing and biology. I also am an international consultant in health education, particularly in developing education on new science for health professionals and consumers. I am a past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, former head of the NYU Division of Oral Biology and I represent the World Dental Federation at the United Nations. I travel around the world to provide health education to professionals and consumers.

Experience

Having retired from New York Universit, where I directed the pediatric dentistry training program, a walk-in dental clinic and research on oral biology, I formalized my professional and consumer health education initiative in the form of Health Education Enterprises. This entity consults and provides information on new science pertaining to oral and general health, particularly leading edge concepts that can be employed in the health professions to improve the public's health. As such, I am an expert in communicating new science and its usefulness to professional and lay audiences alike. I also had a pediatric dentistry practice in New York City for nearly 30 years.

Organizations
I am affiliated with the American Dental Association, the World Dental Federation, the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry among other formal organizations. My experience has included a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and work at the Forsythe Dental Research Center

Publications
lpha Omegan USA, Nowa Stomatologia Poland, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, The Journal of the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry USA, News Bulletin Japan, Journal of Marmara University Dental Faculty Turkey, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Italy, Asian Dentist Singapore, The Journal of the Israel Dental Association Israel, ROBRAC Brazil, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
Italy, FDI World, STOMA Portugal, Pediatric Dentistry The Philippines, Modern Stomatology Bulgaria, Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry India

Education/Credentials
I obtained a doctor of dental science (DDS) degree, a master of science degree and am a board certified pediatric dentist.

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