My 2 Year Old Needs Silver Caps on Her Teeth, Should We Put Her Through That?

I would not worry too much about the anesthetic procedure as I would about the materials they're planning on using for the dental work. My younger son had to be knocked out for early dental work and he had no issues with the anesthetic part, but the "silver" materials they used contain mercury, which is toxic. Here's a summary of the scientific literature documenting that:
http://www.toxicteeth.org/Fact%20Sheet2006.pdf

If your dentist says that it is safe because the ADA says it is, I would suggest you find another dentist. Other materials are more costly and harder to work with, but they're well worth the cost and effort.

I'm speaking from experience as we made a huge mistake and let them put "silver" fillings and caps in both my sons as they too had lots of problems when they were young due to lack of enamel on their baby teeth. I did not learn about the hazards of the mercury until several years later when we all started having health issues. My younger son and I both had toxic levels of mercury in our bodies.

More importantly, the problems with their not having enamel on their baby teeth was due to my having celiac disease and thus nutritional deficiencies while I was pregnant with them. Celiac disease is genetic and it's an intolerance to the gluten found in wheat, rye, oats and barley. So, both you and your daughter should be tested for celiac disease. Here's a journal article on this topic in case either the dentist or pediatrician doubts this suggestion:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2...

Be well,
M. B

1 mom found this helpful

I would find out if the silver caps have mercury or any other metal in them, and if they do, I would absolutely not do that. Find out of any other alternatives.
We've had to put both of our boys under anesthesia before for different things when they're young, and even though it's scary, as long as you're at a good hospital she should be fine. That just seems extreme for baby teeth. Good luck- and let us know how it turns out!

When my son was 2 he underwent anesthesia for dental work. I would say that yes your daughter should get the caps. Those cavities can get worse and cause damage to the nerve. My son has a silver cap on one of his molars. My other suggestion is that once her permanent molars come in get them sealed by your dentist. Our insurance company covers it but even if they didn't I'd still have it done and pay out of pocket for it.

if your child has cavities they definately need to be taken care of because if they get really bad then it can lead major infection which can get into her whole body. however you do not have to use silver caps, this is just the cheapest way to go. i used to work for a dental lab & we made crowns & bridges & have done lots of work for kids. ask your dentist about alternatives for silver caps, but keep in mind they will be more costly. also many labs offer more than one kind of silver that may not have such a high mercury content as the cheapest. the only thing i would worry about it allergies to the metal, if there are none & you are only concerned with how the silver caps will look keep in mind that they are baby teeth you are repairing & you may not want to spend that much for only a few years until adult teeth come in.

I hope you get some good advice.

I did not have your problem, but my daughter had bad teeth and had MANY cavities filled starting at age 5. Her teeth were horribly crowded (since then she's had 5 pulled, some of them were permanent... she's 13 now)and she was a big juice drinker, which together with the crowding really didn't help the growth of cavities.

We did have sealant put on all her teeth except the front after the first round of cavities. You may want to do the same.

I would get a 2nd oppinion.... don't know what dentist you went to but we used to go to Dental Care 4 Kids in Flower Mound and they were wonderful.

Check around, because some children's dentist offer natural looking caps now. My friend had her son's teeth done that way and you can't even tell they are caps.

My son had is done when he was 3, he has 4 capped and plus he had to get his front tooth fixed (he hit it and made his tooth discolored). The only problem was that the medicine that give him to help put him under made him seem like he was drunk and like a helpless infant. Then when he was done he still had his IV in and he did NOT like it but they wouldnt take it out until he drank something (considering he had to be there at 8am with no breakfast or drink except water). He threw a major fit since it was in his arm. The first dentist he went to didnt even look at his teeth and told me that all of them needed to be capped so I got a 2nd opinion and he only needed a few capped. At first, the caps will hurt but will go away. He calls them his "robot teeth." But if this is taken care of it will get worse. I was very nervous when he was going through this but then now his mouth looks better. His insurance paid for all of it. He is 4 now. If you want go ahead and get a 2nd opinion and compare the two and decide what you want to do.

My daughter had a cavity when she was 2 and i was reluctent to put the silver cap on, my dentist bonded her tooth. It was the same color of her tooth so no silver caps. I am not sure if it is an option for your daughter. They did not have to put my daughter under though. Good luck!

Keep in mind that Dentistry is a business. They are not like Doctors, that give treatment needed for your health. I am not saying that your daughter does not need the work done, however, I have also ALMOST been taked to the cleaners by a dentist. They are like car repair men. You know, you go in for a cleaning and walk out with an estimate of thousands of dollars of work that needs to be done. Just like you go in for an oil change and leave with a list of things that are on the verge of breaking.....yea right. Anyway, if I were you, I would ask around for a dentist that someone really trusts. I have one but he is in Richardson. I know that is a bit of a drive for you, however, I know that he would only recommend work that would HAVE to be done. Let me know if you want the info.

My daughter went through the same ordeal at 3,she is now 11 and they have all left along with her baby teeth. I suggest it be done because the cavaties will grow onto the others and it will be worse on her later.N.