What if Your Child Gets a Cavity?

Posted April 15, 2020

Protecting your child’s teeth means protecting them from a variety of potential threats, which is why good education about dental hygiene is one of their most important lessons. Cavities are only one of those potential threats, but they make up a significant portion of the problems that children can experience with their oral health. While cavities can be successfully prevented, there’s no guarantee that your child won’t develop one at some point. Fortunately, if your child gets a cavity, you can spot the signs early and help save them from more serious oral health trouble by designing an appropriate treatment.

Is it really a cavity?

One of the first signs that your child has a cavity may be pain or sensitivity in the tooth. A cavity is the result of tooth decay, which is an infection that erodes the healthy structure of a tooth. This can lead to increasingly worse discomfort the larger the cavity grows, and you should take your child’s complaints of a toothache seriously. You may be able to see visible signs of the cavity’s development, such as discoloration in your child’s tooth. However, the best way to know for sure if it’s a cavity is to have your child’s dentist examine the tooth and diagnose the decay, if it’s present.

Is it that serious of a problem?

If your child’s tooth has a cavity, the problem is a serious one. Even the earliest signs of a cavity shouldn’t be ignored, or the condition will only grow worse by the time you take it seriously. For your child, this can mean increasingly worse pain in the tooth and an inability to bite and chew their food properly. For your child’s oral health, this can also mean a need for more extensive treatment to save the tooth and stop the decay from causing more problems.

How to save your child’s tooth

The good news is that cavities can be treated and your child’s tooth can be saved with an appropriate conservative treatment plan. For example, mild to moderate cavities may be resolved with the help of a tooth-colored, biocompatible resin that’s customized to match your child’s tooth. The restoration, known as a tooth-colored filling, can stop the cavity from growing larger while also restoring the health and integrity of your child’s tooth well into the future.

Learn what to do if your child has a cavity

A cavity in your child’s tooth isn’t something you should ignore. Fortunately, we can help relieve the discomfort and save your child’s tooth with customized treatment. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.