Fillings & Crowns

One of the most frequently asked questions from parents is “why should I fix baby teeth when they are going to fall out?”. The baby teeth in front (incisors) fall around the age of 6-8 years and the back teeth (molars/canines) around 9-12 years. Baby teeth are much smaller than adult teeth due to which cavities tend to progress through them at a rapid rate. Delaying treatment can often result in pain and/or abscess leading to an ER visit and eventually a difficult extraction procedure. A filling or a cap (crown) appointment is a much more simple and relatively non traumatic appointment which most children over the age of 4 can cooperate for.

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Fillings

Fillings are often recommended for smaller cavities, and both baby teeth and adult teeth are treated at our office. The front teeth (incisors/canines) are always restored with white fillings, while the molars have options for both the “silver” and “white”. The material used will be based on parent preference and the most durable option for that cavity. The “white filling” material is also employed to build up fractured front adult teeth and are an excellent option for cosmetic restorations until the child is old enough for a permanent crown. Please discuss your concerns about the material being used with the dentist before the appointment starts. In addition, we do not perform any procedures beyond simple fillings for adult teeth. Older patients (over the age of 10 years) with multiple cavities or deep decay on adult teeth will be referred to the adult dentist for treatment.

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Crowns

Crowns or “caps” are often recommended as the most durable long-term option, especially in case of a bigger cavity on a molar. The stainless-steel crowns are used for molars and in some cases white crowns are used for the front teeth. While fillings are a great choice, they do occasionally break or leak requiring replacement and a second appointment for fixing the same tooth. This is particularly true for the kids who enjoy hard candy/chewing on ice or show signs of tooth grinding. Fillings are also more prone to getting a new cavity on a previously treated tooth. The stainless-steel crown provides a low maintenance and full coverage alternative, that can help avoid re-treatment of the same tooth. The baby molars with caps will fall out like non-restored teeth around the age of 9-12 years.