Have you ever wondered if it was really necessary to fill a baby tooth that would soon be lost? The family dentists at Cosmic Kids Dentistry
in Lake Havasu City, AZ, explain how fillings and other restorative cosmetic dentistry treatments protect your child's smile.
Why are restorative cosmetic dentistry treatments needed?
Restorative treatments restore decayed areas of primary (baby) and secondary sets of teeth and are also used to strengthen and stabilize teeth and improve their appearance. The treatments are important even if tooth decay or damage occurs in a baby tooth. A baby tooth holds a space in your child's mouth for the secondary tooth that will replace it and also helps guide the newly erupted secondary tooth into place.
Teeth also play an important role in speech development. If your child is missing teeth, he or she may develop a lisp or may have difficulty pronouncing certain words. Restoring teeth also makes chewing easier. If your child finds it difficult to chew, he or she may not be able to eat the variety of foods needed to stay healthy.
What types of restorative treatments do children typically receive?
Treatments vary depending on the condition of the tooth, but may include:
- Fillings: After the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, fillings fill and seal the space in the tooth and restore the chewing surface. Either silver amalgam or tooth-colored composite resin fillings may be used to fill your child's teeth in our Lake Havasu City office. If decay affects front teeth or tooth roots, glass ionomer fillings may be used.
- Crowns: Crowns may be needed if tooth decay is extensive or if a tooth is broken or cracked. Crowns are hollow inside and slip over your child's teeth. Also called caps, these restorations not only restore broken teeth but prevent cracks from progressing to fractures.
- Root Canal Therapy: Root canal therapy is needed if tooth pulp becomes inflamed or infected. Without the therapy, your child will lose his or her tooth. After the pulp is removed, the tooth functions normally and can be used to chew and bite once again.
Restorative dentistry treatments help keep your child's teeth healthy. If your child complains of tooth pain or has injured a tooth, call the family dentists at Cosmic Kids Dentistry in Lake Havasu City, AZ, at (928) 855-7717 to schedule an appointment.