I noticed he has cavities in two baby molars and the dentist says he needs treatment. I'm not sure if it's worth spending money on it if they're going to fall out anyway or if I should just let them fall out naturally. Are there cheaper options?
You have to treat those cavities even though they're baby teeth, because if they get infected they can damage the permanent teeth underneath and cause more expensive problems later. An untreated cavity in a baby tooth hurts, can lead to infections or abscesses, and on top of that it speeds up tooth loss (which throws off the permanent ones). The dentist can offer more affordable options like basic fillings instead of more complex treatments, so ask them directly about the simplest and cheapest thing they can do. It's worth investing now in prevention and basic care to avoid orthodontic bills or extractions down the road.
What your dentist is telling you is right - I've seen cases where leaving a cavity untreated in a baby tooth ends up in infections that damage the permanent tooth growing underneath, and that really does get expensive. Treatment on baby teeth is usually simpler and cheaper than fixing permanent teeth that got damaged later, so even though they're going to fall out anyway, it's worth doing it now. If the clinic is asking you for a lot of money, call a couple other places - prices vary quite a bit, but a basic treatment shouldn't be outrageous.
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