Urban Mamas

Portland water has never been fluoridated, so most of the public concern about fluoride ingestion for kids in our city is imported from other hometowns (though we've had some past discussions about fluoride, here, here and here). I've done a little research on the topic in the past few years, helped by my dentist (an urbanMama reader who encourages even the most militant green among us to use fluoridated toothpaste because it's helpful when applied topically) and a great book, The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Kept It There. (phew.) So when I heard the news on NPR last week that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency were working together to lower the maximum recommended level of fluoride in water -- to 0.7 mg per liter from its current maximum, 1.2 mg/L -- my first thought was that it wouldn't affect us, much.

Then I started reading through the articles in greater detail, compared with the information in the book I have now on my lap, and found some interesting leaps to conclusion and some great shifts from unexpected sources. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long been the leading proponent of municipal water fluoridation, arguing that the benefit of preventing tooth decay overrode the risk of toxic effects -- and according to all government sources to date, the biggest risk is fluoridosis, or discoloration, streaks and spots on your tooth enamel. The NPR story begins: "Fluoride is a finicky friend to teeth. Too little of it, and you get cavities. Too much, and it starts to eat away and discolor the enamel of your pearly whites, " and quotes a dentist with the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry as saying, "There's a cosmetic risk, not a health risk."

There are a number of problems with these statements.

And back to our regular programming.  An urbanMama recently emailed: I know this topic has been posted before, but I would love another round of advice. My 5-year-old daughter and her already-crowded little jaw are destined for braces, and we'd like to get a preliminary evaluation for orthodontia. I have two questions:

1. Can anyone share their experiences with making a decision about doing an early round of braces/spacers/extractions/whatever? My impression is that the current practice is to do two rounds (one at age 8ish, one at 13ish), but there's controversy about whether the first round just adds expense and trauma without much payoff. I'd love to know what others have learned in researching, making the decision, and looking back on the decision.
2. Can anyone recommend an orthodontist (not necessarily pediatric), especially in SE?

Mamas, have you any suggestions?

I have seen posts on urbanMamas about dentists, but I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for a dentist who takes OHP. My son is almost two and hasn't seen a dentist yet, and I am hoping some names for dentists who take OHP, my son has Capitol Dental. If anyone knows of a great dentist who works with little ones and takes this insurance, please advise! Thank you.

And, while we're on the topic of teeth:

Does anyone have experience with/advice about dental sealants for kiddos?

Amy is looking for suggestions or recommendations on pediatric orthodontists:

Any recommendations for a pediatric orthodontist?  (We live in NE/ Rose City area...our dentist recommended that we see an orthodontist, as our 6 y.o. daughter has an underbite that he recommends we get taken care of sooner rather than later.  Anyone have any experience with underbite correction?  (or deciding not to...)

Fonda has a question for the rest of the urbanMamas community, seeking a specific dental provider:

I need to find a good oral surgeon as well as a good orthodontist (for multiple wisdom teeth removal and following orthodontic work).  We need someone who will be competent, patient, helpful in answering questions in a no-pressure way, and most of all *honest* in telling us whether the teeth really need to come out now versus wait-and-see. Have any of you had good experiences, either with yourselves or with your teenagers?  I live in Beaverton, so west side would be best.

We agree with Sarah! Opinions are wanted here.  Sarah's looking for a dentist for herself.  She writes:

I've become so dependent on urbanmamas that I can't make a decision without consulting the crowd. This time it's about me though. I need a really, really great dentist and I'm counting on the urbanmamas out there for some suggestions. I'm not fully trusting my current dentist and I definately need a second opinion. I'm having anxiety about a dental procedure for the first time in my life. N or NE preferred but I'll go anywhere for the right one.

I have seen a lot of great recommendations and honest assessments of health care providers for families on this blog, so I am hoping I can find the help I need here.

I haven't been to a dentist in a few years. I don't have any pressing issues, the real problem is that  I don't have a dentist that I am willing to see.  Admittedly, I'm not a dentist fan. I wish I had someone like Dr. Pike when I was a kid instead of the dentist and his team of sadistic hygienists I ended up with (there may be some hyperbole in that statement...)

Anyhoo, any recommendations for a friendly dental professional? I would prefer the Eastside but will make the trek for the right person. Thanks for listening!

Sara needs your help:

I'm looking for recommendations for a good pediatric dentist, preferably in downtown or NE, who doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Any advice would be very welcome, as my 2-year-old  just knocked out a front tooth, so we have to get to a dentist a little sooner than we'd planned!

Deb is looking for feedback on two specific dentists:

My almost 6 yr old is going to need some work. Our insurance covers two docs in our area fully, pediatric dentists Dr. Royce on SE 10th or Dr. Butler on SE Stark.

It's time to take our son to the dentist and we're at a loss as to where to even begin. I read over the A Visit to the Dentist post from a few months ago, but the majority of the dentists recommended are on the Eastside. Can anyone recommend a good pediatric dentist in the Beaverton/Tigard/Sherwood/Lake O/SW area? Thanks in advance!

Sara's wrought with worry over a nursing caries situation.  Any advice, please?!?

I'd like to ask if any Mama's have had to take a very young child to a pediatric dentist for extensive "nursing" caries. I saw one thread regarding the first dental visit, but it sounded as if those babies might have been much older than mine.

I co-sleep and night nurse my 12 month old son. Last month a very small pit, confirmed to be a cavity, developed in one of his upper front teeth. Over the last few weeks, while waiting to take him to the follow up exam, all four of his front upper teeth have become ravaged with decay. They are noticeably being eaten away. I am going crazy with worry over every aspect of this, the knee jerk "night nursing" diagnosis, the idea of him being strapped down to fill cavities, the idea that they might not even fill them or that it may be too late, the risks of general anesthesia, the cost, the slow referral/appointment/interview process in light of the very rapid decay. Not to mention the guilt. Or the numerous opportunities for emotional scarring. I am losing a lot of sleep, and can not seem to find much information. I plan to call the La Lecher League this week in hopes of finding a pediatric dentist who might be able to offer us options, or support, but if any of the Mama's have suffered through this and have any suggestions or referrals I would very much appreciate them.

My son, the fussy eater, likes to eat nothing more than fruit in all forms - fresh, dried, dehydrated, juiced.  We brush, floss, and use fluoride regularly.  But now that he's three, it really is time to take him to the dentist to make sure that all of the fruit and sugar consumption has not taken an adverse toll on the health of his teeth and gums.  How old was your child when you took her/him to the dentist?  Did you take your child to a pediatric dentist, or your own?  Any recommendations for a good pediatric dentist?

I've been discussing and contemplating when to take the little guy to the dentist for the first time. I saw fit to get my own dental needs taken care of so that I could be a good example (I've been burned, and poked, and broken SO many times by so many different dentists... you better believe that this was challenging for me). In any case... he has all his first set of teeth minus those extra molars in now. I'm trying to teach him the importance of dental health and so we brush his teeth every night. Wait... let me rephrase. I have to hold him down and pin back his arms so I can attempt to get the goo out of his teeth with a toothbrush. I would say that this could be traumatic for him but as soon as it's over, he's fine. He is very eager at that point to take his fluoride drops (yum??). At some point it will be time to add the little guy to our dental plan and have a dentist look at his teeth. If I were him.... it would scare the diaper off of me. How am I going to take him to the dentist and not have him hate it more than anything? Am I just projecting my own fears onto him or is it a legitimate thing that children probably don't want some stranger with rubber hands digging in their mouth? What about choosing the right dentist... couldn't this make all the difference in the world??? How did you go about the first dentist visit? Do you have any good recommendations for a children's dentist (especially for toddlers)?