How We Help Restore Your Child’s Tooth

Posted November 21, 2024

When your child has a chipped tooth, or if one aches due to a cavity, then a restoration is likely needed to bring relief. Our team can offer options that are safe for kids of all ages, and help stop discomfort and complications. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about our approach to restorative dentistry for kids.

Tooth Decay and Chipped Teeth

When a child develops a cavity, this could cause toothaches and sensitivity when they eat or drink. Treatment is needed to avoid the cavity becoming an infection that threatens smile stability and causes worsening pain. Likewise, when a tooth is damaged, we need to repair it to avoid the onset of tooth decay and infection, keeping your little one’s smile intact. When they complain about a toothache or have a damaged tooth, let us know right away. We will arrange a time quickly to see your child and conduct a dental exam.

The Exam Process

During the exam process, our team will take a close look at the smile with advanced imaging technology, including digital x-rays. This way we can accurately assess the extent of the injury or decay, and plan treatment in detail. Every smile is different, so we take a personalized approach to care, providing treatment designed to repair teeth and ensure proper bite balance afterward too.

Anesthesia and Sedation

Our team wants to ensure your little one has a positive experience in the office, which is why we want to offer a local anesthesia to the area being treated. This numbs the area so your little one is comfortable during the etretinate process. If your little one has anxiety or special needs that make undergoing care a difficult process, then our team could offer sedation. With dental sedation, children enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure at all. We could choose from options like nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and even IV sedation, which can help ensure your child is comfortable and doesn’t dread his or her next visit.

Dental Fillings

If your child has a cavity, then we can offer lifelike treatment with a dental filling. Instead of metal, we create our fillings from composite resin, which contains no metal and is instead a more natural looking material that can better blend with the smile. Our team will numb the tooth to keep your child comfortable as we remove decay and then clean the tooth. We then prepare and apply the composite resin to the tooth, and sculpt the tooth as the martial cures under a light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. This only takes one visit! For minor chips, we could repair the teeth with the same material in what is known as a bonding procedure.

Custom Crowns

What if the damage or decay is too severe for a filling, or what if a tooth is infected? We could help with a dental crown, a restoration that covers the entirety of the tooth. For the side and rear teeth, which endure greater bite forces and pressures, we could use stainless steel crowns. For the more front facing teeth, we could use NuSmile zirconia, which is more lifelike in appearance. Our team will numb the tooth and remove structure to make room for the crown. We then attach the restoration with a powerful bonding agent, so it can stay in place for years to come. If you have an infected tooth, we can conduct a pulpotomy to remove the infected tissues from within the tooth. We then add a filling and may cap the tooth with a crown.

If you have any questions about how our team will help little smiles with a restorative procedure, or if you want to schedule a visit with our team, then contact our team today to learn more. We’re ready to help your kid receive treatment before the holiday season gets too hectic. You can also use your 2024 dental insurance benefits and health savings account funds before they expire at the end of the year.

Talk to Our Team About Restorative Dentistry

If you have questions about how we help little smiles, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our team, call your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, at (214) 321-4880. We want to help return your child’s smile to optimal health, function, and beauty, often in as little as one visit. Everyone deserves a healthy and bright smile, and we’re ready to help!