Hi all—hoping to get some professional insight here because I’m feeling a bit stuck. Insurance won’t cover a second opinion so here I am.
My 5 year-old recently had a dental visit, and the dentist identified two areas on the lower molars (second from the back on both sides). They said these spots are not cavities yet. I have pictures of the x-rays if needed.
For treatment, they gave us the following options in this order: Crowns, Fillings, curodont treatment, or do nothing and monitor.
Any crowns or fillings would likely involve sedation, which I’m hesitant about due to concern for a negative experience.
I’m trying to make a thoughtful, informed decision here, but I’m struggling with the idea of jumping straight to crowns when it’s not yet a confirmed cavity—especially given her history of NO cavities.
My questions:
Is recommending crowns at this stage typical or considered aggressive?
In this situation, is it reasonable to try remineralization first and re-evaluate in a few months?
What factors would make you lean toward immediate restorative work vs a more conservative approach?
How often do you see these early spots successfully reversed or stabilized?
I really respect the dentist’s expertise and don’t want to undertreat something that could worsen, but I also want to avoid overtreatment if a conservative route is appropriate.
Thank you so much for any insight or guidance. This decision feels bigger than I expected.