What Happens if My Child Has a Cavity?
Many dental patients don’t experience their first cavity until later in life, but some have their first dental caries in childhood. This is due to the less mineralized nature of baby teeth, not being able to brush and floss teeth thoroughly, and eating too many sugary or sticky foods.
If a cavity is picked out on an X-ray at your child’s next dental appointment, consider the following:
Pediatric Dental Caries Require Treatment
Some parents believe that, just because primary teeth will fall out, they don’t need to be treated and restored. However, this isn’t true. Your child still needs their teeth to function, so they can bite, chew, and properly digest food. Leaving pediatric dental caries untreated only allows decay to spread and can make children chew on one side of their mouths only to prevent hitting a sore tooth.
Without treatment and restoration, decayed baby teeth can affect the health and development of permanent teeth. If it’s recommended that your child receive a filling or crown on a baby tooth, it’s a good idea to invest in their oral health by doing so.
Picking the Right Treatment
Like adults, children’s teeth can require a number of restorations to combat decay, from white and amalgam fillings to stainless steel crowns. Because we know that kids care about the way they look too, we provide white fillings to ensure that our young patients feel confident about their smiles after treatment. White fillings are best suited for children with decay on tops of teeth, as cavities between teeth can be problematic.
Silver fillings are a treatment option for back teeth (molars) or decay between teeth, as they are more durable than tooth-colored fillings. In the event that decay on a baby tooth is extensive, a dental crown, which replaces a larger amount of damaged dental enamel, can be used to keep your child’s smile healthy.
Creating Positive Experiences
Even children who aren’t nervous about the dentist in general can become anxious about receiving a filling or crown. We combat and alleviate this anxiety by using kid-friendly language, always keeping a positive atmosphere in our office, and providing sedation dentistry for children who need it. Our entire team makes sure that your child feels good about their treatment, further promoting positive interaction with the dentist.
For more information about how we care for young patients with cavities, contact Keen Dentistry in El Cajon today.
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