My daughter has a cavity on her molar. My dentist wants to do a filling. I feel like that isn’t necessary for a child’s tooth, which will fall out anyway, but wanted to get a second opinion.

Maria B. – Brooklyn

Maria,

I’m afraid in this case your pediatric dentist is right.  Molars are different than front teeth. While front teeth often fall out in their younger years, molars need to stay put until your daughter is around twelve years old.

If you don’t treat her cavity, it will spread. This is an infection. Left unchecked, it will not only cause her to lose her tooth, but will spread throughout her body.

If she looses her tooth, you’ll need a space maintainer to hold that spot open, otherwise her other teeth with crowd in, causing her to need braces.

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