Question: my child, 13 years old, is missing 4 permanent teeth, he has an over bite and the orthodontist is wanting to remove the baby teeth , braces and then eventually have 4 implants, how do I know this is the best option?

Answer: When a child is missing permanent teeth, there are often several treatment options. One may be to hold spaces open for eventual implants while another might be to close all spaces orthodontically. The best options vary among children based on the teeth that are missing and the child’s growth, among . . .

Ask an Expert: Dennis McTigue DDS, Dental and Oral Health (Children) View full article

Crowns for a 3 yr Old

Question: I found out yesterday that my perfectly healthy 3 yr old grandson will need 4 caps in the front and 3 crowns in the molar region $4800 They want to use an anesthesiologist to put him to sleep for 90min to complete this procedure. other than one front tooth I can see no other visable signs of decay. . . .

Answer: Thank you for the question. While I don’t necessarily think the treatment sounds unreasonable. (the decay may be on x-rays, or suspicious areas) I absolutely believe in second opinions, and think for something so significant, it is warranted.

Ask an Expert: Sarat Thikkurissy DDS, MS, Dental and Oral Health (Children) View full article

Over Retained Primary Teeth

Question: My 15 year son has front upper teeth over retained primary teeth. It has a mass or cist behind primary teeth which is blocking the way of permanent teeth. What to do. If only excursion of primary teeth and the cist is enough and the permanent teeth will come naturally at its place or it is to be pul . . .

Answer: It sounds like extra (supernumerary) teeth or a cyst have prevented the eruption of your son’s permanent front teeth (incisors).

The treatment is to remove the extra teeth or cyst and expose the permanent incisors.

At the age of 15 it is unlikely that they will now er . . .

Ask an Expert: Dennis McTigue DDS, Dental and Oral Health (Children) View full article

What is This?

Question: what could be causing my 12 yr old sons tongue to burn

Answer: Ask an Expert: John Kalmar DMD, PhD, Dental and Oral Health (Children) View full article

Extra Tooth

Question: My 18month old son has an extra tooth.It is located in the front near his eye tooth. It`s fully out. Do you think i should get it pulled or wait to see if it falls out on its own?

Answer: Thanks for the question. I would have it evaluated by a pediatric dentist -- in some cases, an ’extra tooth’ can actually be a normal tooth in the incorrect position. In other cases there may be a partial or total fusion with another tooth. A pediatric dentist (or a general dentist who is trained in . . .

Ask an Expert: Sarat Thikkurissy DDS, MS, Dental and Oral Health (Children) View full article