Malaysian mother shares son’s dental ordeal after severe tooth decay led to extraction of all teeth
A Malaysian mother’s candid Facebook post has struck a chord with parents nationwide after she revealed her young son underwent emergency dental surgery to remove all 12 of his severely decayed teeth.
The emotional account, shared in a viral comment thread, details the frightening medical journey that ultimately led doctors to discover the extent of the dental damage caused by years of poor oral hygiene habits.
The ordeal started several months ago when the boy began experiencing severe headaches upon waking. Despite appearing to follow his morning routine normally, his mother noticed he seemed unusually lethargic and weak.
After returning from school, the headaches intensified. The child lost his appetite, vomited twice, and appeared dizzy and inactive—alarming symptoms that prompted his mother to seek medical attention.
A clinic visit resulted in prescribed medication, but the vomiting continued and the dizziness persisted. Concerned about the lack of improvement, the mother returned to the clinic the following day, where doctors made the decision to admit him for comprehensive testing.
Hospital physicians struggled to identify the root cause of the persistent headaches. They recommended performing a lumbar puncture to rule out brain inflammation—a procedure the mother declined.
Specialists then referred the boy to Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) in Terengganu for a CT scan to investigate further. Upon arrival, medical staff sedated the child for the imaging procedure.
The scan results came back clear, showing no abnormalities. However, doctors kept him admitted for several days of close observation, administering antibiotics while the paediatric team conducted follow-up examinations.
During routine physical examinations, one physician noticed something unusual while listening to the boy’s heartbeat. Subsequent scans revealed a very small hole in his heart—an unrelated but significant finding.
More alarming, however, was what doctors discovered when they examined his mouth. All of his teeth showed extreme decay, with damage so severe that dental specialists were immediately consulted.
The oral surgery specialist at HSNZ delivered devastating news: none of the teeth could be salvaged. The decay was too advanced for fillings, crowns, or partial extraction—complete removal was the only option.
The boy was placed on a surgical waiting list, which took approximately two to three months before a date could be secured. Before the procedure, he was admitted early so medical teams could monitor his condition closely, as complications like fever or coughing could interfere with anaesthesia.
The mother attended a pre-operative briefing with the anaesthetist to understand the risks involved in putting a young child under general anaesthesia.
On surgery day, one parent was permitted to accompany him into the operating theatre until he was fully sedated. The procedure proceeded smoothly, with doctors observing him for thirty minutes post-surgery before transferring him to recovery.
He awoke groggy and cried briefly due to numbness and mild discomfort, but eventually settled down. Medical staff waited four hours before offering him porridge to prevent post-anaesthetic vomiting.
The mother candidly admitted that her son’s severe cavities developed due to prolonged bottle feeding combined with inadequate dental care. He continued using a milk bottle until age four and frequently fell asleep without brushing his teeth.
This habit caused his teeth to gradually turn black and deteriorate over time. The mother expressed deep guilt over failing to manage his oral hygiene properly during those crucial early years.
Despite the traumatic experience, the mother reports her son is now active, healthy, and recovering well from the surgery. She acknowledges he also lives with eczema, a squint eye, and several other medical conditions, yet remains energetic and cheerful.
She expressed gratitude that he came through the surgery successfully and emphasized she doesn’t mind the numerous hospital appointments as long as her child stays healthy.
The story serves as a powerful reminder to parents about the critical importance of establishing proper dental hygiene routines early in childhood—and the serious consequences that can arise from neglect.
