Baby Teeth Fillings
Here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we always do what is best for our child patients and their particular needs. In some cases, this may include filling a baby tooth. If your child has a cavity in a baby tooth, it causes decay which can break down the tooth structure and can lead to pain if the decay gets close to the tooth’s nerve. If the dentist feels that the best way of preserving this tooth is with a filling, then they will proceed to drill a small hole in the area of decay in the tooth. They will then fill this hole with the appropriate filling material needed for the extent of the decay. Once filled this material will help this tooth function as normal and prevent any further decay in that area. Our dentist will go through some tips on how to prevent further cavities such as limiting sugary drinks and maintaining good oral hygiene. Here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we believe that prevention is one of the most important factors when it comes to healthy teeth. One of our dentists will explain thoroughly what procedure the child will need and create a treatment plan to suit the child.
There are a number of factors that one of our expert dentists will consider before filling a baby tooth. These factors include:
- How close the tooth is to falling out
- Calculating the size of the cavity
- Assessing your child’s cavity-risk.
How Close is the Baby Tooth To Falling Out?
If the baby tooth is close to falling out, we may suggest improving oral hygiene, cutting down the amount of sugar in the diet, correct brushing and flossing techniques and coming to regular check-ups here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic. These tips will be recommended if the baby tooth has the possibility of falling out in the next year. Our dentists can identify the time frame if the tooth falling out by assessing how much of its rot is still there. When the adult tooth starts to come down, it will dissolve the root of the baby tooth gradually. To identify how much of the baby tooth root is left, the dentist may have to take some x-rays.
Calculating the size of the cavity
If a cavity is identified during a child’s exam and has reached the dentin of the tooth it will more than likely need to be filled. The outer layer of the tooth is called enamel and is hard to protect the inner layer of the tooth. The inner layer is called dentin and is softer and more porous. When the decay is found in the inner layer of the tooth, it can spread fast which is why a filling may be suggested to stop the spread to the nerve of the tooth. If decay gets to the nerve it can cause the child pain and the tooth may be to broken down to fill. If the cavity is large and spread across multiple surfaces of the tooth, it may need a crown to be restored. If the cavity is too large for either of these options, an extraction may be recommended. If the dentist identifies a pre cavity spot, they will usually just monitor it to make sure the decay does not get any bigger. A pre cavity spot is an area where demineralization is occurring but only on the enamel and has not gotten through to the dentin.
Assessing your child’s cavity risk
Cavities cause decay to the tooth and can also spread from one tooth to another. If a cavity is left untreated it can lead to decay in multiple teeth in a child’s mouth. This is why assessing the risk of cavities is very important. If a child has a high risk of getting more cavities than a filling may be the best option to prevent decay in other teeth. Once the decaying tooth is restored the other teeth will be protected from this tooth’s cavity spreading.
If you think your child has a cavity please book and appointment here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic. You can book online or call us at 01 5253888.