Why Your Child’s Baby Teeth Need Fillings
If your child has a cavity form in a baby tooth, then treatment is needed, even if this tooth is destined to fall out eventually. Otherwise, the tooth could develop painful infections and other complications. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about treating cavities with a safe and gentle dental filling.
When Tooth Decay Forms
Each tooth is composed of several layers. The outermost is the enamel, the protective portion that prevents bacteria from reaching the more sensitive inner layers of dentin. But when kids eat a lot of sugar, or go to sleep with a bottle or juice or milk, this can lead to tooth decay. Lack of proper brushing and flossing each day can only increase the risk. When a cavity forms, it actually grows in severity with time. That toothache your child complains about is only the beginning!
Treating Baby Teeth
Many parents assume that since the bay tooth is destined to fall out, that you can wait out the cavity. We wish that were so, but the fact is that the tooth may not fall out on its own until months or even years later. Which means the decay will grow in severity until the tooth causes your child pain. An infection then forms, and this could spread to other teeth and or into the jaw. The tooth could actually require extraction to safeguard the smile and stop more severe pain. To avoid these complications, which includes tooth loss and misalignment, we could treat the decay in one sitting with a safe and gentle dental filling.
The Dental Filling Process
Our team will numb the area around the tooth to ensure your child is comfortable, and or anxious kids or those with special needs, we could discuss sedation options. When your little one is comfortable, we will remove decay from the tooth and then clean it thoroughly. We apply the filling material, a metal-free composite resin, in several layers and then mold the tooth as the material cures beneath a light. The last step is to polish the tooth. In one sitting, this halts decay, prevents infection, and brings relief to your child.
If you have any questions about how we treat a cavity in one visit, or if your child complains about a toothache, then contact our team today to learn more and start the treatment process. We want to help little smiles of all ages stay healthy and strong.
PDC Kids Wants Kids Maintain Good Oral Health
We want to help safeguard little smiles against the infection and the risk of tooth loss. To find out more about fighting tooth decay and children’s smiles, call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids