Common Dental Restoration Options for Pediatric Patients

Because kids are expected to lose their teeth as they grow up to make way for their adult teeth, few people ever give thought that a child would need to have their teeth restored. Many don’t even quite understand what pediatric restorative dentistry is. Like adults, kids can suffer from complications such as cavities, broken teeth, and other issues that need to be addressed before they become a larger issue. Here are some of the common dental restoration options for pediatric patients that you can expect.

Fillings

If tooth decay is found in your child’s teeth, fillings are used to fill cavities after the decay is removed. These fillings are most often made of composite resin which looks entirely natural as opposed to silver or gold fillings. Fillings are perhaps the most common dental restoration options for pediatric patients simply because tooth decay is a common phenomenon that many people suffer from.

Crowns

Also referred to as “dental caps,” crowns are meant to protect and reinforce a tooth that has been cracked, chipped, or has any other form of damage. This ensures what remains of the tooth is preserved and doesn’t experience any pain from nerves that may have been exposed by the damage. Like fillings, modern dental crowns look much more natural in appearance and will quickly become very unnoticeable.

Root Canals

If your child complains about their teeth being sensitive to heat, cold, and sweet foods, it could be indicative of pulpitis—a condition where the pulp in a tooth has become inflamed due to dental decay. This inflammation is located within the core of the tooth and runs the risk of becoming infected or causing premature tooth loss. When this occurs in children, baby root canals, or pulpotomy, removes the decay from the tooth. This process is entirely safe and sensitive of how delicate a child’s mouth can be, so rest assured that your child will receive the utmost care. If possible, the baby root canal will preserve what is left of the baby tooth to best ensure that the space between the child’s teeth is maintained when their adult teeth begin to grow in.