Stainless Steel Crowns Can Prevent Tooth Loss and Further Decay
When your child’s baby teeth develop, they can seem small and temporary. However, baby teeth play a very important role in long-term oral health, so you need to carefully tend to them. If caries (cavity) have weakened your child's teeth, especially molars, it is vital to restore teeth with a reliable restoration. A stainless steel crown placed by the doctors at Children's Dental of Waltham is durable and functional and can provide protection from tooth decay until your child’s adult teeth erupt. Our friendly, compassionate pediatric dental office in Waltham, MA, is an ideal environment for your child to comfortably receive the restorative treatment they need.
Importance of Baby Teeth
Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, generally begin erupting when a child is around six months old. These teeth are vital in helping children learn basic life skills, such as speaking and chewing. Baby teeth are also key in the development of your child’s permanent teeth. When properly cared for, baby teeth should naturally fall out, beginning around age six or seven. Keeping your child’s baby teeth free from cavities can ensure that permanent teeth develop into their proper position, preventing shifting and overcrowding, as well as costly and extensive orthodontic treatment in the future.
An unhealthy baby tooth, or a tooth that is lost too soon can negatively impact the health of your child’s permanent teeth. In cases where your child develops severe caries, our team can cover the tooth with a stainless steel crown to rebuild it and prevent the need for dental extraction.
What is a Stainless Steel Crown?
Because baby teeth have a thinner layer of enamel than permanent teeth, caries can travel quickly and deeply into the inner layer of a tooth (pulp chamber), which is why it is important to repair it as soon as possible. A dental crown is designed to cover a tooth that has suffered from decay that is too extensive to repair with a dental filling. Designed from strong and durable materials, such as porcelain, zirconia, metal, or stainless steel, this type of restoration can restore the structural integrity of your child’s tooth and prevent tooth loss. Stainless steel is often recommended for young patients because it is highly durable and affordable. These restorations will stay on baby teeth until they naturally fall out.
How Stainless Steel Crowns Are Placed
Prior to beginning treatment, we can administer the appropriate pediatric sedation to make your child more comfortable. After numbing the tooth with a local anesthetic, one of our doctors will remove all decay and damaged tissue before thoroughly disinfecting the area.
Once the tooth is carefully prepared, a crown of proper size is selected, adjusted and cemented.
If your child is experiencing dental sensitivity, there is a high possibility that tooth decay is developing. To prevent an extraction, Children's Dental of Waltham can place a customized stainless steel crown.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crowns provide many benefits for young children, such as:
- Protects long-term oral health
- Prevents further decay
- Provides better option than metal fillings
- Reduced dental sensitivity
- Reduced chance of retreatment
Caring for your child’s crown is critical to extending the benefits of the restoration and preventing further decay from occurring. You can do this by encouraging good oral hygiene habits for your child, which include brushing their teeth after at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly, and visiting our team every six months for regular checkups.
Protect a Decayed Tooth
If your child is experiencing dental sensitivity, there is a high possibility that tooth decay is developing. To avoid the need for an extraction, Children's Dental of Waltham can place a customized stainless steel crown. Contact our office online or call our team at (781) 899-7070 to schedule a consultation.