Treatments To Restore Your Child’s Tooth

Posted February 20, 2025

Our team knows that an untreated cavity in your child’s smile could eventually mean infection or even premature tooth loss. Which is why we offer dental restorations to address cavities and even dental injuries, protecting little smiles. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about our restorative dental treatments and how they help protect children’s smiles of all ages!

The Warning Signs of Trouble

If you bring your child in for a dental exam every six months, then we can monitor the smile and if we find the early signs of issues like tooth decay, we can take action to treat the issue and protect the tooth. This could be done before your little one even experiences common symptoms, like toothaches. Otherwise, you may not know your child needs treatment until he or she begins to complain about a toothache or pain when eating. Persistent discomfort that lasts for more than a day could be a sign of tooth decay, and a sign that your child needs restorative dentistry to preserve the tooth and stop discomfort!

Dental Fillings

If we find your child has a cavity, then we could offer relief in only one visit with our dental fillings. Instead of using metal, we opt for a metal-free blend of glass-like and acrylic-like particles known as composite resin. This material is biocompatible and bonds with the tooth, and offers a more lifelike appearance too. We will numb the tooth so your child is comfortable as we remove the decay and clean the tooth. We then prepare and place the filling material, shaping the tooth as we cure the composite resin beneath a light. The last step is to polish the tooth. Along with treating tooth decay, composite resin can also be used to address minor damage to a tooth.

Crowns

What if your child has a more severe case of tooth decay, or a tooth that is chipped or cracked? In these situations, our team could offer a full restoration known as a dental crown. A key component of restorative dentistry, the crown can cover the visible portion of the tooth and offer major improvement for an array of issues, including chipped, cracked, and worn-down tooth structure, as well as more severe cavities. Our team can provide a stainless-steel option that can handle the more severe bite forces required of side and rear teeth. We also have a more natural looking NuSmile zirconia crown for the more front facing teeth. Placement involves our team numbing the tooth and removing structure to make room for the crown. We then attach the restoration with a powerful bonding agent. Your little one then leaves with a stronger smile!

Pulpotomy

For adults, when a tooth is infected then the dentist could use a root canal to treat and preserve the tooth. But for kids, we offer a more conservative alternative known as a pulpotomy. Our team will numb the tooth and we may recommend sedation to help your little one enter a state of calm and relaxation, even if they have dental anxiety or special needs. Our team then opens the tooth to remove the infected portions of the inner tissues. We then add a special medicated filling to the interior of the tooth. For some, this completes the pulpotomy. But for others, we may need to cap the tooth with a dental crown. The pulpotomy instantly stops discomfort and helps protect kids from premature tooth loss and a greater risk of misalignment.

Protecting Teeth 

Our team can also talk about ways you can help protect your children’s teeth. If they play full contact sports, then be sure they wear a mouthguard to prevent injuries to the teeth, or to keep them from being knocked out. At home, be sure they brush in the morning and at night for two minutes each time, using a fluoride toothpaste. Flossing before bed is essential too. These actions help remove stray food and drink particles to control plaque buildup and limit the risk of cavities and gingivitis.

If you have any questions about our approach to restorative dentistry, or if you would like to schedule a visit for your child, then contact our team today to learn more.

Talk to Our Team About Repairing Little Smiles

Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda is ready to help kids of all ages enjoy strong and healthy smiles with restorative dentistry and other treatment options. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call our Dallas, TX, team today at 214-321-4880 today.