Providing Kids With Biocompatible Fillings
When a child complains about a toothache, this could be due to a cavity. Even if this occurs in baby teeth, treatment is necessary to avid infection that could otherwise cause premature tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about placing our biocompatible dental fillings.
The Warning Signs of a Cavity
When you bring your little one in for checkups and cleanings every six months, then our team has an opportunity to identify decay in the early stages of demineralization, often before painful symptoms arise. Without these visits, you may not know your child needs treatment until he or she complains about a toothache or tooth sensitivity that doesn’t subside with time. When your little one has pain in a tooth, even a baby tooth, please bring them in for a checkup. Otherwise, the decay will grow and spread. A painful infection could occur, and the risk of premature tooth loss and misalignment could increase.
Securing a Lifelike Filling
Our team will start with a detailed examination of the tooth using digital x-rays, so we can assess the position and severity of the decay and plan treatment in detail. Next, our team will numb the tooth so your child is comfortable as we remove decay from it and clean it. We then prepare and place the filling material. With composite resin, we have a metal-free option that is safe for kids of all ages. We shaded this to blend with the tooth and apply it in several layers. As we cure the composite resin under a light, we will sculpt and mold the tooth. Finally, we polish it for a brighter appearance. The process only takes one visit, and kids leave with a healthy and beautiful tooth!
Avoiding Tooth Decay
Our team can also recommend treatments to help lower the risk of cavities and the need for future fillings. For example, during checkup visits we can apply a fluoride varnish to the teeth to strengthen the outer enamel and limit the risk of enamel erosion and cavities. Since kids often have a hard time reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss, we could apply dental sealants to the molars. This acrylic layer prevents food and drink particles from being caught between these hard-to-reach teeth, and they can stay in place for up to ten years!
If you have any questions about how we treat tooth decay with a filling, or about our cavity-prevention options, then contact our team today.
Schedule Your Child’s Dental Filling Appointment Today!
Our team wants to help your child avoid painful complications, such as infection, with a dental restoration. To learn more about how we treat issues like tooth decay in little smiles, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids