Restorative Dentistry
Tooth decay (cavities) is the most common chronic early childhood disease in the United States. Nearly 5 out of 10 U.S. children will have had tooth decay by the time they go to kindergarten. Unfortunately, this means there may come a time where tooth decay becomes a reality for your child and restorative dentistry becomes necessary. The size of the cavity determines the restorative treatment necessary.
Nearly 5 out of 10 US children will
have had tooth decay by the time
they go to kindergarten.
Tooth Colored or “White” Fillings
At Pediatric Dentistry of Central Florida, we use resins or “tooth colored” fillings to restore smaller sized cavities on teeth. Tooth Colored Fillings are made from durable plastics and glass particles known as silicates. More commonly referred to as composite resins in the dental field, Tooth Colored Fillings are highly esthetic and allows for more conservative treatment as only the decayed tooth tissue is removed preserving a greater amount of healthier tooth structure.
Crowns
When a cavity is too large to be filled, a crown restoration is necessary. Crowns are full coverage restorations that will protect the tooth and last longer than a filling.
Stainless Steel Crowns
Used to save teeth that otherwise would be lost. One of the strongest and most durable services in pediatric dentistry, they last longer than fillings and cost less than other types of crowns. Their greatest disadvantage is their color. Stainless steel crowns are not the color of teeth, but the color of polished silver. Because of their color, they are primarily used for posterior (molar) teeth.
Composite Resin (Tooth Colored) Crowns
Resin crowns can be selected as treatment for the same reasons as stainless steel crowns. For example, they are recommended for treating severe decay or restoring a tooth with a fracture or developmental defect. On the plus side, resin crowns are natural looking and can provide an excellent cosmetic result for your child. However, they are more expensive, may be less durable, and may require longer treatment time than stainless steel crowns. They are generally only used on anterior (front teeth) due to their esthetics and lessened durability.
Prefabricaded Ceramic Crown
With the strength of a stainless steel crown and the esthetics of a composite crown it is truly the best of both worlds and the next best thing to your child’s natural tooth. They can be used anywhere in the mouth. They are the most expensive option when it comes to restoring your child’s tooth and there is a level of case selection that does not allow for use on all patients.
Nerve Treatments
Every tooth has nerve tissue, known as the pulp, and it needs to remain healthy for your child’s tooth to be vital and pain free. Extensive decay that has damaged the nerve or a traumatic injury that has also injured the nerve will create infection that will result in tooth pain and infection. A pulpotomy (partial nerve removal) or a pulpectomy (complete nerve removal) will be performed to properly restore your child’s tooth and return it to good health. Which nerve treatment is performed depends on the tooth being treated and the extent of disease being experienced by the tooth. Once completed, a crown restoration is usually performed to return the tooth to complete function. One of our pediatric dentists can discuss this treatment with you in greater detail if it becomes necessary for your child.
Space Maintainers
A baby tooth usually stays in place until it is ready to be lost on its own and replaced by a permanent tooth. With some children, this may not occur until the child is as old as age 14. Sometimes though, a baby tooth is lost too soon due to injury or dental disease. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, the remaining adjacent teeth may shift or drift into the empty space. When this occurs, it creates a lack of space in the jaw for the future permanent tooth. The results in a permanent tooth that may not emerge or if it does, will do so in an improper position. This condition will ensure the need for orthodontic treatment and add to its complexity and cost. A space maintainer, also known as a spacer, if deemed necessary, will help prevent the unwanted affects listed above. By holding open the empty space left by the premature loss of a baby tooth, the space maintainer will stabilize the remaining teeth preventing movement until the permanent tooth that replaces the prematurely lost baby tooth comes in.