Lisa

I am just lurking and skimming some posts that relate to teeth and the mouth.
 Today I am busy preparing for an in-service hospital presentation I am
giving tomorrow.  I am also preparing an outline for the "importance of
breastfeeding" article I promised to write.  A freelance writer saw my
post-ILCA interview on TV and contacted me.  She is an RN with 21 years
experience in newborn intensive care units - and her husband is a
pediatrician.  She will help me write the article, and in return, I will help
provide information for the articles she plans to write - for national
parenting type journals on the importance of breastfeeding.

Sorry to hear of your challenges.  You have a pretty classic case - infant
with decay due to extensive hypocalcifications caused by a fever during the
development of those teeth.  Teeth with hypocalcifications (less calcium) are
"soft" and more prone to decay.
A local children's hospital does TEN full "bottle mouth syndrome" cases PER
WEEK - caused by babies being allowed to constantly have bottles filled with
sweetened fluids!  Doing extensive restorative dentistry on a 2 1/2 year in
several short appointments can be traumatic to all concerned.  Although
general anesthesia is always a concern, that might be the best option in
extensive cases - and the whole mouth is done in one procedure.  The dentist
can work much quicker and more efficiently when he does not have to be
concerned about a struggling infant.  If the infant still needs a lot of
work, you might want to find a pedodontist who has hospital privileges, or go
to a children's hospital that has a dental clinic.

Do not feel guilty about breastfeeding - but do clean and rinse infants teeth
on a regular daily basis with a cloth or small tooth brush (use a non
fluoridated toothpaste at that age) - and be careful what goes INTO his mouth
- check labels of all foods and medicine for sugar content - you will be
surprised at the "hidden sugar" in much of our food.

After I have completed my article, I will then address the issue of the
Pedodontic Association's statement that infants should be weaned from the
breast at 12 months.  I do not believe they have the documentation to make
that statement!

Hope you have a pleasant day!

Dr. Brian