Why Might My Child Need Restorative Care?
Oral health issues can follow people for all their lives, so it’s really important to stay on top of your child’s dental needs. In some cases, restorative treatment might be necessary when your child is dealing with some dental problems like cavities, chipped teeth, or even infections.
Even with a good oral hygiene routine, these dental problems can still appear and affect the health of your child’s teeth, which is why it’s so important to make routine visits to the dentist’s office from a very early age.
What to Expect During the Appointment
First, the dentist will inspect the child’s teeth to spot the signs of troubles, such as cavities forming, or cracked or chipped teeth. Based on what we find, we can establish a good treatment plan to address these problems right away, making sure your child’s teeth are healthy and strong.
Children can have a difficult time during their visits to the dentist, especially if they are already experiencing a bit of tooth pain. Not to worry because the team at South OC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics have a gentle and caring approach that will help your child get through their treatment!
Restorative Treatment Options for Children
Composite Dental Fillings
If your child has a cavity, the dentist will remove the decayed area and fill the hole with a composite dental filling to restore their oral health.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
These can be necessary for bigger cavities, but also to repair a broken or chipped tooth, or a primary tooth that hasn’t grown correctly.
Space Maintainers
These are used to hold the space left by a baby tooth until the primary tooth can grow, making sure the child won’t have misaligned teeth later on.
Pulpotomies
If there’s a baby tooth with a severe cavity, a pulpotomy can remove the decayed tissue that has likely reached the nerve, causing pain.
Extractions
Baby teeth can be extracted before they loosen on their own to allow the primary teeth to grow better, reducing misalignment problems and other dental issues.
Sedation
Even adults worry about feeling pain at the dentist’s office, and many restorative care procedures can add fuel to this fire. However, South OC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has several sedation options available to make sure your child doesn’t feel any pain or discomfort while we restore their dental health.
Restorative Care FAQs
WILL RESTORATIVE TREATMENTS AFFECT MY CHILD’S ORAL HEALTH LONG-TERM?
Restorative care is designed to support the child’s healthy dental development. The goal is to address the dental issues while taking into account the future changes the child’s teeth will naturally go through.
Why would a baby tooth need a filling if it eventually falls out?
Even though baby teeth are temporary, they are vital to your child’s oral health. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections and even affect the development of permanent teeth. Filling a cavity in a baby tooth helps maintain proper spacing for adult teeth, supports speech development, and prevents decay from spreading. Dr. De Lorme ensures that fillings are durable, comfortable, and tailored to your child’s needs.
What types of fillings are best for kids?
Dr. De Lorme typically uses tooth-colored composite fillings for children, as they blend naturally with their teeth and are metals-free. Composite fillings are durable, bond directly to the tooth structure, and require less healthy tooth material removal than silver amalgam fillings. The choice of filling material depends on the cavity’s location and size, which Dr. De Lorme will discuss with the parents.
When is a dental crown needed for a child?
If a tooth has extensive decay, a large fracture, or has undergone a baby root canal (pulpotomy), a crown may be the best solution to restore function and protect it from further damage. Pediatric crowns are designed to be durable and preserve the tooth until it naturally falls out. Stainless steel and tooth-colored crowns are available, depending on the child’s needs and preferences.
What is the difference between a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy?
A pulpotomy, which preserves the healthy section of the pulp (inner tooth tissue) while removing the infected piece, is the infant tooth’s version of a root canal. A pulpectomy removes all the pulp inside the tooth if the infection is severe. Both procedures help save the tooth and prevent pain or further complications. Dr. De Lorme will determine which treatment is necessary based on the severity of the infection.
Can baby teeth be extracted if they’re damaged?
If a baby’s tooth is severely decayed or damaged beyond repair, extraction may be necessary to protect surrounding teeth and prevent infection. However, premature loss of baby teeth can cause alignment issues, so Dr. De Lorme may recommend a space maintainer to maintain the proper spacing for adult teeth. We gently perform extractions to ensure your child remains comfortable throughout the process.
How can restorative treatments impact my child’s future smile?
Restoring baby teeth with fillings, crowns, or space maintainers helps maintain proper tooth alignment, speech development, and oral function. Early intervention prevents more serious problems, such as misalignment or infections that could affect permanent teeth. By addressing issues promptly, Dr. De Lorme ensures your child has a healthy foundation for a beautiful adult smile.
What can I do to help my child avoid restorative treatments in the future?
Preventive care is the best way to avoid cavities and dental damage. Encourage twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing, and limiting sugary snacks and drinks. Regular dental checkups allow Dr. De Lorme to detect potential issues early, minimizing the need for restorative treatments. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments provide extra protection against decay, helping to keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy.
