Severely Decayed Teeth

[auntymimi]

so, my 4 yo dcg has been complaining of her teeth again. A little back story, about 6 weeks ago I mention a dental apt for my own dd, dcm says she needs to make one too. Little dcg says I have cabities (how she says it) and opens her mouth and says "see". I was shocked at what I saw. Back 4 molars on both sides are so black they are actually crumbling. Just horrible. She started with me 4 mos ago and had to have a physical, nothing was mentioned, but this has to have been going on a long time to have gotten that nasty? Mom still doesn't have an apt, and it's not a money issue. She receives Medicaid and has the number to my daughters ped dentist who I know accepts Medicaid because I asked with her in mind. Is this something you all would report? I'm really worried they may abscess and mom still seems so nonchalant.

[Michael]

so, my 4 yo dcg has been complaining of her teeth again. A little back story, about 6 weeks ago I mention a dental apt for my own dd, dcm says she needs to make one too. Little dcg says I have cabities (how she says it) and opens her mouth and says "see". I was shocked at what I saw. Back 4 molars on both sides are so black they are actually crumbling. Just horrible. She started with me 4 mos ago and had to have a physical, nothing was mentioned, but this has to have been going on a long time to have gotten that nasty? Mom still doesn't have an apt, and it's not a money issue. She receives Medicaid and has the number to my daughters ped dentist who I know accepts Medicaid because I asked with her in mind. Is this something you all would report? I'm really worried they may abscess and mom still seems so nonchalant.

That's child neglect, I would report.

[Ariana]

That's child neglect, I would report.

Agree! poor girl she must be in some sort of pain from this.

[daycarediva]

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80030

JUST posted about similar issue!

I would require a dental visit. That's quite painful and potentially lethal.

[auntymimi]

So I called her this morning and basically told her that she HAS to get this taken care of asap or I'd have to discontinue care. I hate to "threaten" parents with cps. IMHO it's very rare that a child is better off in the system, but I'm a mandated reporter and to not report is criminal offense here. I hate this whole situation. I gave her until tomorrow to have an apt.

[Solandia]

Define "taken care of". Did she say if the child was in the care of a dentist or not?

My 5yo has 2 huge cavities (yes, very gross and noticeable) and several small ones that aren't obvious. He is completely non-compliance for the dentist...which means going under general at the hospital. My insurance makes us jump through hoops, so it will be about 11 months from the discovery of these cavities before it will be finally& two different pedi denstist to get this "taken care of" in January. Its a long sob story that I wouldn't share with anyone unless they asked me personally.

I would be furious is someone hotlined me for neglect because they assumed I didnt care... when the opposite is true. I could get it fixed of a lot sooner if I had $16K laying around, but I don't.

[auntymimi]

Define "taken care of". Did she say if the child was in the care of a dentist or not?

My 5yo has 2 huge cavities (yes, very gross and noticeable) and several small ones that aren't obvious. He is completely non-compliance for the dentist...which means going under general at the hospital. My insurance makes us jump through hoops, so it will be about 11 months from the discovery of these cavities before it will be finally& two different pedi denstist to get this "taken care of" in January. Its a long sob story that I wouldn't share with anyone unless they asked me personally.

I would be furious is someone hotlined me for neglect because they assumed I didnt care... when the opposite is true. I could get it fixed of a lot sooner if I had $16K laying around, but I don't.

I mean make an apt. If you had read the original post you will see that the child is on Medicaid so cost is not the issue, there is a pediatric dentist nearby who accepts it. This child ENTIRE back half of her mouth is completely rotten to the point of crumbling, there isn't much tooth structure left. This child has not, ever, to my knowledge even seen a dentist. It is causing her pain. I do not take calling cps lightly, but when it's not an issue of cost or ability to get her medical care, just that mom can't be bothered? I think that is neglect.

[Solandia]

I mean make an apt. If you had read the original post you will see that the child is on Medicaid so cost is not the issue, there is a pediatric dentist nearby who accepts it. This child ENTIRE back half of her mouth is completely rotten to the point of crumbling, there isn't much tooth structure left. This child has not, ever, to my knowledge even seen a dentist. It is causing her pain. I do not take calling cps lightly, but when it's not an issue of cost or ability to get her medical care, just that mom can't be bothered? I think that is neglect.

I missed the part where the child hadn't had any dental care. That is not okay, not at all. i would do the same as you.

[Ariana]

I mean make an apt. If you had read the original post you will see that the child is on Medicaid so cost is not the issue, there is a pediatric dentist nearby who accepts it. This child ENTIRE back half of her mouth is completely rotten to the point of crumbling, there isn't much tooth structure left. This child has not, ever, to my knowledge even seen a dentist. It is causing her pain. I do not take calling cps lightly, but when it's not an issue of cost or ability to get her medical care, just that mom can't be bothered? I think that is neglect.

Yes! I had a mom that couldn't be bothered to take her child to an allergist or a naturopathic DR and just doped her up with allergy meds every single day at 5 years old. I consider that neglect personally but apparently it isn't. Tooth decay is a whole other story.

[Baby Beluga]

Yes! I had a mom that couldn't be bothered to take her child to an allergist or a naturopathic DR and just doped her up with allergy meds every single day at 5 years old. I consider that neglect personally but apparently it isn't. Tooth decay is a whole other story.

Out of curiosity - are you upset that the child was on daily allergy medications or upset that the child hadn't had an allergy screening?

[nannyde]

I think I would tell her she must take the child to the dentist immediately before calling cps. Some parents believe because baby teeth aren't permanent that they aren't important or that if they have cavities it's no big deal because they are going to loose them anyway. You would be surprised how many people think that.

If she refused then I would have to call it in.

[Play Care]

Out of curiosity - are you upset that the child was on daily allergy medications or upset that the child hadn't had an allergy screening?

Personally I'd rather have a child on allergy meds than what I usually get - runny, sneezy, red eyed kids who clearly have allergies and they are just left to be miserable.

Unless my child had serious allergy issues I wouldn't rush to get testing. I just had a full panel done in September and it was ouchy. My younger DD freaks at needles so that's not happening. Her ped recommended we use children's Claritin when she has allergy symptoms. So far she's only needed it a few times. When she's older if she chooses (or her allergies become more problematic) then she can do the full testing.

But yeah, completely different than allowing teeth to rot.

[Unregistered]

Yes! I had a mom that couldn't be bothered to take her child to an allergist or a naturopathic DR and just doped her up with allergy meds every single day at 5 years old. I consider that neglect personally but apparently it isn't. Tooth decay is a whole other story.

I personally wouldn't be able to afford either of those. Allergy med's would be my only option. My dd allergies started at 3yrs old. Neglect? Maybe you need to look up the definition.

[Febby]

Yeah, it takes a while for teeth to get to that point, even if they're weak to start with. I've been known to neglect my own health, especially dental health, but I'm an adult and that's my own fault and my own consequences. Neglecting a child's health though? Not acceptable. She needs to get an appointment ASAP, otherwise, I'd report.

ETA: As far as allergy meds go, if the OTC meds control the allergy symptoms, then I don't see the neglect there. I ended up seeing an allergy specialist when I was younger, but it took lots and lots of different allergy meds and combinations of allergy meds to get me comfortable.

[Ariana]

I personally wouldn't be able to afford either of those. Allergy med's would be my only option. My dd allergies started at 3yrs old. Neglect? Maybe you need to look up the definition.

I'm Canadian so it's all "free" and ND appointments are covered under most insurance plans. Maybe you should have thought about how much kids cost before you had them I'd take on a second job if it meant saving my child.