Our approach is to keep one question in mind: “What would we do for our own child”.
Hearing the words “Your child has a cavity” may make you feel like you have failed as a parent, but be easy on yourself because sometimes tooth decay can occur despite proper hygiene.
Resin (white) and Amalgam (silver) Fillings
If your child has a cavity, we may recommend either a white or a silver filling, depending on where the tooth is located and/or how large the cavity is. Resin fillings are typically the material of choice unless the decay is too large and a stronger material, such as amalgam, is needed to withstand biting forces. We value your opinion in the selection of filling material and encourage parents to discuss the options with us! Our treatment philosophy is to work together to determine the best option to fit your child’s specific needs.
Local Anesthetic (Numbing)
When it is necessary to numb an area, our office specializes in using distracting techniques to make it the most comfortable experience possible. First, a topical anesthetic (jelly) will be rubbed over the area to reduce the sensation of the injection. We take great care to keep our tools out of the view of the patient and engage in fun conversation to remove the focus from the procedure being performed. These techniques, combined with the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), typically make the experience easy and most children do not realize what is being done!Pulpotomy
Baby teeth are small, and sometimes a cavity can be large enough that the bacteria extends deep into the tooth and reaches the pulp, or the tooth’s nerve. Infection of the tooth’s pulp requires pulp therapy in order to prevent the spread of infection. A pulpotomy is the partial removal of the nerve tissue, followed by placing a sedative material to help soothe the tooth and seal the remaining exposed nerve. The tooth is then restored with a stainless steel crown, covering the remaining tooth structure and providing strength to withhold biting forces.Stainless Steel (silver) Crowns
A stainless steel crown is a prefabricated SILVER crown that covers the entire visible portion of the tooth. Stainless steel crowns (silver caps) are incredibly durable and the favored choice for restoring back teeth when a large portion of the tooth is lost due to extensive decay or a fracture. Stainless steel crowns are extremely durable and can sustain normal biting forces and are fairly well hidden because they are located in the back of the mouth.
Zirconia (white) Crowns
If your child had large decay or a fracture on a front tooth, we may recommend a resin crown to cover the entire tooth structure. Resin is a moldable material and is available in many shades allowing us to custom match the natural tooth color. While resin crowns are aesthetically pleasing, they do have the tendency to stain and discolor and can fracture or break over time. For this reason, they are recommended only for front teeth and special care is recommended to prolong the longevity of the filling.
