Crowns restore your child’s tooth when it’s severely decayed or damaged. At the two Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry locations in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, Oklahoma, the dedicated dentistry care team can gently restore your child’s teeth with functional crowns to prevent tooth loss. Special needs adults are also welcome. Book an appointment by phone today.
Crowns repair your child’s tooth when it’s badly decayed or damaged. A crown restores full function so your child can chew without pain. Although fillings are usually the first choice for tooth restoration when children have cavities, there are situations where fillings aren’t sufficient.
For example, if your child has a very large cavity, there might not be enough natural tooth structure left to keep the filling stable. But, after filling the tooth, your child’s dentist can add a crown to keep the tooth stable and functional.
There are several options for crowns, including:
Stainless steel crowns are the most common kind of crown for children, especially for placement on baby teeth. Many kids have stainless steel crowns on their molars because they offer excellent durability.
Tooth-colored crowns are made of materials like porcelain or zirconia. They're matched to your child's natural tooth color, so tooth-colored crowns are essentially invisible. If your child has a large cavity in one of their front teeth, you might prefer this over a stainless steel crown.
There might also be other options for crowns, depending on your child's specific needs. Your child's pediatric dentist at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry can help you make the right choice.
Crowns on primary teeth usually last until your child loses the tooth naturally to make way for the adult tooth. Crowns on adult teeth usually last 5-15 years, depending on how well your child takes care of their oral health. Your child’s pediatric dentist examines their crowns during regular exams to make sure the restorations are stable.
In nearly all cases, keeping a tooth (with help from a crown) is better than extracting it. You might be surprised to learn that this applies to primary teeth as well, even though your child will inevitably lose them.
If your child loses a primary tooth too early, the surrounding teeth could shift, creating serious alignment issues and possibly even preventing timely adult tooth eruptions. Plus, tooth gaps can be a breeding ground for bacteria so it could contribute to decay in the bordering teeth.
With a crown on your child’s vulnerable primary tooth, you can prevent all of these issues while helping them maintain full use of the tooth.
Book your child’s appointment at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry by calling the office today.
