If your child has a cavity or a damaged tooth in Highland Village, Dr. Clapp, Dr. Bell, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Smith are here to help provide them with the care they need. As experts in restorative pediatric care, we can get rid of their pain and discomfort, treat their tooth, and restore their smile. Contact us now for an appointment, or learn more about our services below.
Composite fillings are the best way to treat minor-to-moderate cavities. Unlike amalgam fillings, composite fillings are tooth-colored, so they won’t affect your child’s appearance. They also have a very strong hold and require the removal of less enamel during the preparation process. For these reasons, we exclusively use composite fillings at Pediatric Dental World.
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped dental prostheses made from medical grade stainless steel or porcelain materials, and they’re designed to cover up and protect damaged teeth. Typically, crowns are used to treat heavily-decayed teeth to protect a tooth after a root canal or pulpotomy, or to repair a tooth that has been damaged by oral trauma.
If you would prefer to avoid a filling for your child, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) may be a good option for a decayed baby tooth. Learn more about this treatment below.
First, your child’s tooth will be cleaned. Then, a blend of silver, fluoride, ammonia, and water will be applied directly to the tooth, killing bacteria and halting decay. After the SDF is applied, the tooth will be coated with a fluoride varnish to keep it strong and healthy.
SDF works by destroying the bacteria that cause decay, and filling in the microscopic pores of the tooth surface, strengthening it and stopping further decay. It’s usually applied once per year, and is used until the baby tooth falls out naturally. It is not usually used in permanent teeth, because it stains the treated tooth black.
If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, they will need to get a “space maintainer” to ensure their adult teeth develop properly. As the name suggests, a space maintainer is attached to your child’s teeth and rests in the area where their missing tooth used to be. This maintains the proper spacing between their teeth as they grow and their adult teeth begin to erupt.
If your child has an infected baby tooth, a pulpotomy may be required to restore their smile. This treatment is used to remove the infected material, strengthen the tooth, and preserve it until it falls out naturally. Here’s how it works.
First, we’ll clean the area and numb your child’s mouth, and your child’s dentist will create an opening in the surface of the tooth.
Through the opening, decayed and infected pulp will be removed. Then, the interior of the tooth will be cleaned and disinfected.
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Next, your child’s dentist will apply a healing dressing to the tooth, and seal it with a filling or a crown. The dressing will help the tooth heal and recover, and stay healthy for years to come.
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