PA - Mom jailed for son's rotten teeth

[christine2448]

I say again, then agree to disagree, this was not 1 tooth, this was not 2 teeth, it was 12...12 teeth, that had to be pulled because they were so bad. Could you imagine, please, put yourself in that childs shoes!

Amra, you said yourself they try and save teeth, because of the $$ in the treatment, they didnt' try to save these, they were so bad they had to pull them, there were nerves exposed. The mom admitted he had been in pain, since the summer of 2005 :doh: and she 'thought' they would just fall out cause they were baby teeth. Don't just think, get a Dr opinion. He will never have the teeth he should have had....this mom messed up big time, and I still say it's abuse, the mom is where she needs to be, I hope other mothers learn from this, that's my opinion.

 

[christine2448]

Take your child to the dentist by age 1 or 6 months after cutting teeth, whichever is sooner, that is what I am finding the most.


http://www.babyyourbaby.org/infantinfo/baby_teeth.htm

http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/first_visit.asp

https://www.edocamerica.com/healthtip/Archive/eDocAmerica%20-%20Childrens%20Dental%20Disease.pdf

http://www.drmeckler.com/faq.asp

I have found a couple that say 2 yrs, one that says 3...but the majority say 1 including the Academy of Pediatrics.

I have made my point. And BTW I wouldn't let any dentist hold my child down or restrain them in anyway! That I do agree with you other posters on. But my children have never had to deal with that. You just have to search for the right dentist for your kids just like you search for the right dr/dentist for yourself.

 

[Amraann]

I have never heard wait until their five. I think all my daycare children have been to the dentist except the 1 year olds. I know both of the 3 year olds have been several times. Regardless of the age they say the child has to be seen if a child had nerves exposed and was in pain I can't think of one dentist that would turn the child away knowing the child was in pain. Heck, even a pediatrician would have seen the child and then referred the child to a dentist or pulled the teeth themselves. There is NO excuse to let a child go in pain like that. NONE! That is ABUSE! It's no different than broken bones, it hurts like heck and needs to be fixed. Like I said, maybe the dentists may not take a child under 5 for regular checkups or fillings but for the types of problems he had I can't see anyone turning him away once it was explained.

Inthe past 5 years there is a surging growth towards dental care.
And its nice that everyone thinks that a child in pain would somehow get care even though the dentists won't see those under 5.
I am telling you .... THEY WOULD NOT.
MY child had a cavity... And condemn as you will ...
There was NOT ONE dentist who would TREAT a child under age 5. I mean do I really need a dentist to say "brush their teeth?" NO I need a dentist who will not only take my money to look but also treat issues if any are there.

 

[Amraann]

If your child was in horrible pain and you knew it you WOULD search for 24 hours straight if you had to to find someone to take the pain away.

And when you do ands EVERYONE says no???
I lived not this but a CHILD in pain..

I am telling you they WOULD not treat him.
They refused to treat a child under 5. PERIOD.

 

[gardenmom]

I really don't completely blame the mother on this one. First, just let me say that I have taken my own children to the dentist since they were about 2. Luckily I had dental insurance. Dentistry is dang expensive! I can't tell you how many times I have needed to go, and not gone because although we have dental, it is not good coverage. If this mother was low income I can certainly see where her reasoning would make sense to her. My own kids have had cavities on teeth that were/are about to fall out anyway. yes, we have also waited. I just told my kids that if they are in pain to let me know and I will have it filled. I am not a bad parent. :truce: Maybe it was a choice for her between food on the table or having a dental visit. An ideal choice? No. Just don't rush to judgement on this one.

 

[gardenmom]

My daughter took Emma to a dentist recently for her 2 year check. It was the only dentist she could find that treated children under five. When she got there they explained that my daughter would have to wait in the lobby and that Emma would be secured in a papoose for the exam. My daughter said no way and took Emma and left. Not a chance she was going to let some dentist she had never seen before take Emma into the exam room alone and harness her.

My son was 10 when the dentist threatened to do this to him! My son is really afraid of the dentist. We had a great dentist, but then moved over an hour away, so we go a new one. We had one visit for a cleaning, then the very next day, I kid you not, he chipped his permenent tooth. I took him in and he was so scared that he fought, crying, rolling his head, etc. The dentist, a pediatric dentist, said he couldn't finish him, and left his bonded tooth crooked, discolored, and nasty. He said he would fix it, but at another time. Well, my son didn't want to go back. So, we find dentist #2, another pediatric dentist who said he would do it with laughing gas. We go in, son freaks out again, cries, and this is before the dentist does anything. The dentist, again, refuses to work on him. Only this time, acts totally inapropriately, restrains him with his hands (Oh, I don't think so!). He doesn't even try to give him laughing gas, gives up on him, tells me he can restrain him, but not at this appointment. Like, I would come back?! He charges me for the visit, for my son "wasting his time". Now, mind you, this was money out of pocket, I believe $80, which we really couldn't afford, and his tooth still was not fixed. I was crying, my son was crying. My son was punished because of his tantrum. What we ended up doing was going back to our old dentist, over an hour away. She was wonderful, and caring , and made him feel relaxed. She fixed the bonded tooth with nothing, no laughing gas, just good old fashioned patience. My son did not act up at all. Although, we did threaten him. And, I had to pay again, to have this tooth fixed. So, basically I paid three dentists to fix the same tooth. So, anyway, people, don't tell me this was a bad mom. My husband and I have the means, little as they are, to pay these bills. Maybe this mom did not. His one tooth cost nearly $300, not to mention his cavities, cleanings, and his sister's cleaning a cavity. Our crappy insurance (military BTW) doesn't pay for all, or even most of it.

 

[SewingDeb]

Amra,
I'm in NC and my children have had regular teeth cleanings from age two. That is at a pediatric dentist office.

 

[Anngelique]

And when you do ands EVERYONE says no???
I lived not this but a CHILD in pain..

I am telling you they WOULD not treat him.
They refused to treat a child under 5. PERIOD.

I totally understand them saying no for a cavity. This was not a cavity. This was rotten, INFECTED teeth with nerves exposed. This is not even close to the same thing. A pediatrician would have treated the child even. You see, this left untreated can actually cause death. I don't think you completely understand how bad it was. Anyone with a rotten tooth or who has had a nerve exposed can tell you how painful it is. But this child did not just have one.

For future reference here is a link to Pediatric dentists in your state of Florida.
http://www.childrens-dentist.com/florida.html

 

[Anngelique]

Here is a pediatric dentist in the city she was located.

http://www.childrens-dentist.com/pabethlehem.html

Stating how dangerous this is to leave untreated and they're talking about just one abcessed tooth, he had many....

Any abscessed tooth has the potential to become a life threatening situation. Infection of a tooth in the lower jaw can cause swelling of the check and under the jaw bone. If the swelling under the jaw becomes too advanced, swallowing and breathing can become critically impaired (Ludwig's Angina).

An infection of a top tooth may produce swelling in the check, side of the temple or under the eye. The gradual closing of the eye due to swelling and infection represents a dire situation (Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis).

Individuals with any of the advanced swellings, in the worst case scenarios, are at risk for death. Although rare, these examples are given so that tooth aches and infected teeth are not taken lightly. A swift hospital visit is a necessity.

However it occurs, an abscessed tooth is a serious condition. The pain and discomfort are only part of the story. If left untreated, the infection will kill the tooth and may even damage the surrounding jaw. Fortunately, modern dental techniques can stop the infection, ease the pain, and, more often than not, save the tooth.

http://healthresources.caremark.com/topic/abscess

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

Not surprisingly, abscessed teeth are usually very painful. You may feel a shooting or throbbing pain every time you bite or chew. The pain may linger even when there is no pressure on the tooth. The tooth may also be extremely sensitive to heat and cold. In addition to pain and sensitivity, you may notice a fever over 100 degrees, redness and swelling in your gums, a bitter taste in your mouth, foul-smelling breath, tender or swollen glands in your neck, or, in very serious cases, swelling in your jaw. Such an infection could spread to other parts of your body and cause serious damage, so an abscessed tooth requires immediate treatment.

 

[lucimhome]

This is CRIMINAL there is pediatric dentist...My daughter has been going to the dentist since she's been 1. And at the age of 5 she was sent to the orthodontist, she is 16 now and has beautiful teeth. My sister takes hers every 6 months for there cleaning and they are 4 and 2.(the 2 year old just finished in july her 3rd cleaning)
Amraann having your teeth fixed at 6 and then later needing a root canel is what saved you from being like this little guy. Also you should contact your local dental association and find a dentist that will see your child.... or report the one who won't.
All dentist will do what ever they can to save your tooth. They are doctors.
Back to the Pediatric Dentist we have about 9 in our City. We also have dentist and clinics that see people without dental insurance. :twocents:

 

[Amraann]

Umm And now I have to ask what insurance they took.

Now who said or claimed she did not try to get a cavity treated???
Now its well beyond that..
But I contend if they refuse the treat a cavity when exactly do you go and beg?

 

[lucimhome]

Umm And now I have to ask what insurance they took.

Now who said or claimed she did not try to get a cavity treated???
Now its well beyond that..
But I contend if they refuse the treat a cavity when exactly do you go and beg?

I'm not sure if you are asking me but this is my :twocents:
I did have dental insurance but they only pay 50% of the treatment. Our Health Dept. has a clinic. We also have a clinic that will go by your income. There is a new clinic in town that takes Medicaid and Medicare.
Try your local Dental Society or if there isn't one local try your state Dental Association. They will be able to give you a referal.
If this child ever had been to a dental office before it had gotten this far you can bet the headline would of been.
Dentist Jail for Not Treating A Child with Rotten Teeth........
The Dentist would of been charged and his license would of been taken from him.

 

[MrsMush99]

Umm And now I have to ask what insurance they took.

Now who said or claimed she did not try to get a cavity treated???
Now its well beyond that..
But I contend if they refuse the treat a cavity when exactly do you go and beg?

I have to wonder about insurance also. There is not one pediatric dentist in my area that takes our insurance. My son is 5 and I was just told at his last check up that he should go to a dentist. Not because he has bad teeth, he doesn't it's just time for him to go. But like I said, no pediatric dentist in my area that takes my insurance, NOT ONE.

ETA: I would never let him suffer for a year. I would have brought him to any dentist I could find that would see him.

 

[Gina_M]

Found a bit more info:

At http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/all-4teethsep13,0,923530.story?coll=all-newslocalbethlehem-hed

The boy had complained of pain in his mouth and headaches since the summer of 2005.

Resto said she had been aware of his tooth decay for months, but had not attempted to get dental care for him until December.

Dr. Talel Noumeh, a dentist who has offices in Allentown and Phillipsburg, told investigators that on Dec. 10, the boy had a total of 11 severe cavities in his front and back teeth. Noumeh said he recommended the boy see a specialist for follow-up treatment.

Noumeh said he did not see or treat the boy after Dec. 12.

On Feb. 17, the boy was treated by Dr. Nicholas Prusack of Allen Oral Surgery Associates in Salisbury, police said. Prusack said he removed 12 of the boy's teeth, including all of his molars.

Prusack wrote a letter to Racz on Feb. 25 saying he was concerned about the child's welfare. Prusack said the boy's dental condition resulted from his lack of dental care and it would have taken two to three years for his teeth to reach such an advanced stage of decay.

 

[Gina_M]

It also mentions in a few articles that the boy is her foster son.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4557061

 

[bakerprune64]

It also mentions in a few articles that the boy is her foster son.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4557061

Her foster son:furious: Foster children are wards of the state and therefore are afforded full medical and dental coverage. Hell for that matter here in california they are provided orthodontial care is some cases. If this is the case and he is her foster child....Get the freaking rope NOW!!

 

[Amraann]

SO he is a foster child??

Lets say we believe the dentist.
2 -3 years of decay?
Where was the social worker who should be checking on him??

ETA...
Insurance doesn't mean she could easily find a dentist who treated someone under five.

 

[mom3dd]

also it doesn't say how long she had been his foster parent. This seems to be a little bit on the not enough information side to make judgements. And I agree where is the DCF case worker?

 

[Sheromom]

As a ward of the state, wouldn't this child be REQUIRED to have pediatric visits? My doctor always checks their teeth during a standard exam. Surely she was referred to a dentist! My kids have seen dentists since infancy. That gets them used to sitting in a dental chair so they won't freak out when they do need work done. Only one of my kids ever had problems sitting still and the dentist recommended drugging her before bringing her in so she would already be relaxed BEFORE the needed work. I feel this was plain neglect; there is no excuse for allowing a child to suffer for so long. If my kids were to complain of pain, I would make them an appointment that SAME day. We, too, have two pediatric dentists in the area and live in a small town!

 

[Jack]

My daughter took Emma to a dentist recently for her 2 year check. It was the only dentist she could find that treated children under five. When she got there they explained that my daughter would have to wait in the lobby and that Emma would be secured in a papoose for the exam. My daughter said no way and took Emma and left. Not a chance she was going to let some dentist she had never seen before take Emma into the exam room alone and harness her.

I took my son to a dentist when he was probably around 5 or so, a pediatric detist too. I consented to the papoose (he had a toothache and I didn't see any other way to have it treated in a timely manner) but was allowed to be in the room. It was horrid. He cried and screamed because he was scared to peices that he was being restrained like that. I cried too, but when the doc actually yelled at him to stop I was so PO'd. We got to the desk to pay our bill, son still crying holding on to me terrified. And when they asked when I wanted to come in for "the rest" of his treatment I unloaded on them. I never NEVER should have let them put him in that papoose. To this day he is terrified of the dentist even though he is a big strapping young man now. The next time he had a cavity and got a toothache he refused to let a different dentist into his mouth for a shot and the doc was afraid he would move and break the needle. Second try for that same tooth was that I would give him some medication an hour before so he would be groggy but still awake. He was, until he got into the dentist's chair and then it was like he was given nothing at all screaming and crying (we're talking about an 8 year old here). The dentist again refused and said we'd have to do it in a hospital under anesthesia. This was a simple cavity, in a baby tooth no less. My insurance wouldn't cover that sort of thing and I was a single parent barely making ends meet. Needless to say the tooth stayed until it found it's way out on it's own. I had to take him to his primary doctor and insist that they treat him for the infection that was causing the pain and then battled my insurance company for over a year because they said a dentist should have treated it. I said an infection is an infection and it was serious to warrent treatment so they should pay. I finally had to get the doctor to remove "dental pain" from the invoice or whatever and they paid. And my son hasn't seen a dentist since although we recently did discuss that he's going to have to go for a cleaning and he will probably have a cavity in there somewhere so he is trying to prepare himself. He's 13 and still scared of the dentist. I can't say that I blame him. I've been to many and I still don't like it.