Baby bottle syndrome treatment and cost?!


Question: Our son is alomst 4, and we took him to the dentist yesterday. I knew he had baby bottle mouth, and I wanted to get something done about it. The dentist identified 13 cavities so far (couldn't get my son to cooperate for the x-rays), and said he'd like to fix the teeth rather than extract them (even the worst of them). Some of the cavities are just small, simple ones that would just be normal fillings, but he's also identified some teeth that he wants to do pulpotomy(?) and crowns.
The cost is estimated to be $3000, not including the anesthesiologist and surgery center fees--I'm guessing it'll be close to $5000 altogether. We have no dental insurance, and I'm sure our medical won't pick it up. My husband is having a cow about doing this much work on baby teeth.
Has anyone else had this experience with their child? Were the treatments and costs similar, and what were the results with your child's teeth?
Thanks for any info.


Answers: Our son is alomst 4, and we took him to the dentist yesterday. I knew he had baby bottle mouth, and I wanted to get something done about it. The dentist identified 13 cavities so far (couldn't get my son to cooperate for the x-rays), and said he'd like to fix the teeth rather than extract them (even the worst of them). Some of the cavities are just small, simple ones that would just be normal fillings, but he's also identified some teeth that he wants to do pulpotomy(?) and crowns.
The cost is estimated to be $3000, not including the anesthesiologist and surgery center fees--I'm guessing it'll be close to $5000 altogether. We have no dental insurance, and I'm sure our medical won't pick it up. My husband is having a cow about doing this much work on baby teeth.
Has anyone else had this experience with their child? Were the treatments and costs similar, and what were the results with your child's teeth?
Thanks for any info.

It is understandable that you and your husband are concerned about the cost of the treatment. Yes, this estimate sounds correct. It is very expensive to repair the effects of baby bottle decay. I have seen several patients who have had this problem and the results are good as long as the patient is not still drinking from a bottle. A pulpotomy is done when the decay goes into the nerve of the tooth... it is comparable to a root canal on an adult. If your son does not get treatment he will very well suffer from infection (abscesses) in the near future due to the need for the pulpotomies. In addition, if you don't get the teeth fixed the decay can go through the baby tooth into the adult teeth that are still unerupted and wreck havoc there. Or, he can lose the teeth due to decay and have to get space maintainers so there will be room for his permanent teeth. I hope this helps... and know that I'm not trying to scare you... I have a five-year-old son that only had two cavities filled when he was 3 and my heart goes out to you and I know how hard it can be to watch your little guy go through this. Good luck.

This is very expensive and the cost he quoted you is about right. It's very important to take care of the 1st teeth( all the caries, etc) so the second teeth do not suffer. It could have been avoided.





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