What causes bottle caries in infants?

Bottle caries are caused by the frequent consumption of sugary substances, such as formula or breast milk, which can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel and the development of cavities.

How can I prevent bottle caries in my child?

To prevent bottle caries, make sure to brush your child's teeth regularly with a fluoride toothpaste, limit sugary substance consumption, and schedule regular dental check-ups.

What are the symptoms of bottle caries?

Symptoms of bottle caries include white or brown spots on the teeth, sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, and pain when eating or drinking.

Can bottle caries be treated?

Yes, bottle caries can be treated with a combination of professional dental care and good oral hygiene habits.

How long does the treatment process take?

The treatment process can vary in length depending on the severity of the condition, but it can take several months to a year or more to completely treat bottle caries.

Is the treatment painful for the child?

With modern dental techniques and anesthesia, the treatment process can be relatively painless for the child.

Are there any risks associated with the treatment?

As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with the treatment, including complications, allergic reactions, and the need for further treatment.

Can I take my child home after the treatment?

Yes, most children can go home after the treatment, but it's essential to follow the dentist's instructions for post-treatment care and follow-up appointments.

How much does the treatment cost?

The cost of the treatment can vary depending on the severity of the condition, the location, and the dentist's fees, but it can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Preventing Bottle Caries in Infants

Name: Our Daughter's Dental Nightmare: A Cautionary Tale of Bottle Caries
Item: Baby Essentials
Rating: 5
Author: NatalieCoop

Hello!

I never thought my kids would need dental treatment under anesthesia, but then my second daughter came along...

Her teeth started appearing at 5 months, and by the time she was a year old, she had a full set of 16 teeth.

We brushed her teeth from the very start, but maybe we chose the wrong toothpaste – we tried Splat and Oral-B.

In December last year, I noticed a strange buildup on her teeth. It felt like more than just a buildup – there was a small indentation. We used Oral-B Mineral Defense, but it was all for nothing, as her teeth were deteriorating right before our eyes.

Over 4.5 months, they changed dramatically, and the enamel just started falling off. The top teeth were mainly affected, with the lower teeth's cuspids being the worst. By March, it was better than in early May.

It looked pretty bleak:

December - top, mid-April - bottom

So, the process started at 1 year and 4 months. We made it to 1 year and 9 months. To be honest, we should have acted sooner – at least two months before. We were putting off the treatment.

Naturally, I started thinking about treatment right away. Everywhere we looked, there was only one option due to the child's age and the number of damaged teeth – anesthesia under sevoflurane.

Given the situation, the conclusion was clear – either treat the teeth or live without some of them until they fall out. Not exactly a fun experience for the child. We needed to save her teeth.

Choosing a clinic:

In our city, there are many dental clinics that offer anesthesia treatment. One clinic refused to treat us, citing that they don't treat children under 2 years old. We could have lost our front teeth by then.

Another clinic quoted us a maximum of 140,000 rubles (with some procedures being unnecessary, like a fresh chest X-ray before anesthesia). Plus, they wanted to perform additional procedures before the treatment.

We opted for the third option, which offered a fair price and good anesthesiologists. You shouldn't just choose a dentist, but also an anesthesiologist-reanimator – in fact, the latter is even more crucial.

Initially, we were expecting to pay around 120,000 rubles. In the end, we managed to get the treatment for 10 teeth and 3.5 hours of anesthesia for almost 92,000 rubles.

This was our initial plan:

Before anesthesia:

You'll need to take a general blood test, blood clotting test, ECG, and get a pediatrician's permission. That'll cost you around 2,000 rubles if you're paying out of pocket.

The kid needs to be absolutely healthy. No runny nose, light cough, or anything like that. If any of that had developed overnight before the anesthesia, they would've cancelled the procedure and rescheduled the appointment.

Fast from food:

On the day of the anesthesia appointment, you can't eat for 6 hours. We were allowed to stop drinking 2 hours before. You can have water and diluted juice (no pulp). Since the anesthesia was scheduled for 16 hours, we had breakfast at 9:30. We drank water until 1 pm, then had a nap and headed out.

Day X:

I was nervous right before the anesthesia – about an hour beforehand. The kid, of course, had no idea, being as young as she was.

First, sedation is administered through a mask. Then, once the kid is 'asleep', they perform the other procedures. My daughter didn't cry or scream, but she did try to wriggle free – I had to hold her tightly for 30 seconds. Then we carefully transferred her, and I left to wait for about 3 hours. 15 minutes later, the doctor came out and said everything was fine, and I could go about my business without needing to stay by the door.

The anesthesia lasted a whopping 3.5 hours. That's a long time, but we had a lot of broken teeth to deal with.

After the anesthesia, my kid slept like a baby and didn't want to wake up. We had to rouse them, and then the fun began. Cries, tantrums, wanting to play but struggling to walk properly. And of course, hunger. I gave them ice cream at home, and that calmed them down right away.

The night was pretty uneventful, aside from the fact that my kid spit out the Nurofen for pain relief. Not ideal.

The next day was a different story altogether - no more tantrums.

The top photo shows that my kid's gums were still bleeding a bit after a couple of hours. But after the ice cream, that stopped. We only got one filling, and the rest were crowns. One tooth was beyond saving, it had been too badly damaged.

All four teeth have metal crowns on them. You can only see them when my kid really smiles.

From a purely visual standpoint, it looks like we had a case of bottle caries.

Bottle caries, also known as circular caries, is a type of tooth decay that primarily affects the cingulum area of upper incisors, canines, and molars.

I've gotta say, one thing that really gets people going is nighttime feedings. Our kid was on formula, but those late-night sessions were a real challenge. I was waking up for them almost every time, even when I was exhausted. We finally stopped formula feeding at 1 year and 8 months, but maybe we should've done it sooner.

There are a few other potential factors at play here: genetics, getting sick during pregnancy, or even calcium absorption issues. We're going to schedule an appointment with the pediatrician to see if they can offer any insights.

Our doctor told us that it's becoming super common for kids to get their teeth fixed under anesthesia. I was waiting in the waiting room and saw a few parents on the phone, discussing their own kids' dental issues.

And here are some before-and-after pics:

Fast-forward 10 days after the procedure, and I can confidently say that our kid is finally eating better. Before, she would often turn up her nose at soup, but now she's willing to try almost anything. And the tantrums? They're way fewer and farther between. I think it's safe to say that those teeth were causing her some discomfort – she just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Care tips for baby teeth:

I wish I'd known this sooner, but toothpaste needs to have 1000 ppm fluoride and xylitol. I used to buy toothpaste without fluoride, no idea! We're using Splat toothpaste throughout the day. Drinking water after meals is a must. We're giving our kid the recommended dose of vitamin D3. We'll be gentle with those baby teeth – no crunchy or hard foods, please! And, of course, we're trying to prevent falls.

That's all for now:

I have to say, our only option was to save the baby's teeth under anesthesia.

Thanks for reading.

Update:

By the way, our little one lost three front teeth at different times. They were just too weak. One time, the kid fell onto a pillow and spat out the tooth. Another time, they bit down on a toy and that was it. The third tooth lasted longer, but I'm not sure how long. Our daughter was at grandma's when we got back, and the tooth was next to her potty. I guess that's just what these teeth are like - they're always looking for a way to come out.

Metal crowns are in place, and everything seems fine.