Dental Fillings and Crowns
Dental Fillings and Crowns for Children in Indianapolis
and Fishers, IN
Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood illness, with 42% of children ages 2-11 suffering with cavities. Unfortunately, many of these early cavities go undiagnosed and untreated. In fact, 23% of children within the same age group have untreated cavities, leading to even more discomfort and decay.
Since your child is not familiar with the symptoms of a dental cavity, you may overlook them. Instead of complaining about a sore tooth, your child might suddenly develop an aversion to eating, drinking, or speaking properly. This is even more of a problem when cavities occur in the molars or in between the teeth, where they are difficult to see. Since dental disease in children has also been tied to dangerous systemic diseases such as diabetes and pneumonia, it is crucial to bring your child in for their normal dental exams and checkups.
Children’s Dental Center helps families set the stage for a life-long commitment to oral health in a friendly and approachable manner. Our team provides a pleasant visit to the dental office, promoting trust and confidence in young patients that lasts a lifetime. Call 317-932-7134 today to make an appointment with Children’s Dental Center. Our office is located at 9885 E. 116th Street, Suite 100, Fishers, IN 46037.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child in to Children’s Dental Center as soon as their first tooth appears or before your child’s first birthday, whichever occurs first. After that, your child should have a dental checkup and cleaning every six months to prevent tooth decay and proactively treat problems.
Dental Restorations for Children
Fillings and crowns are the most common types of dental restorations for children. The goal of dental restorations is to return the tooth to its original healthy shape and function, so that your child can eat, speak, and drink normally without pain. Choosing a dental filling or dental crown depends on the tooth and how much of the tooth is still healthy.
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We are always ready to help protect your child's teeth!
The mission at Children's Dental Center is to build a dental home valuing prevention, early detection, and treatment of dental disease in children.
Some Information Regarding Fillings
Dental fillings are designed to patch the hole that dental decay has left in the tooth. Without fillings, food, plaque, and bacteria could easily collect in the space again, causing deeper and more painful cavities.
After we numb the area with a local anesthetic, the decay is removed with a gentle dental drill. Next, either a tooth-colored composite resin filling or a silver amalgam filling is used to fill in the cavity. The surface is smoothed, and the tooth is polished, leaving a strong, healthy tooth once again.
- A Few Pros of Dental Fillings They are less expensive in the short term. The option of a tooth-colored composite can preserve the aesthetics of the tooth.
- A Few Cons of Dental Fillings They are inadequate for teeth with large or multiple fillings; decay so close to the nerve that removal of decay would expose nerve; or a baby tooth in which the nerve has been removed. There is a 60% failure rate in two years for the first baby molars. They tend to leak and stain, resulting in a crown or a possible extraction and spacer.
Some Information Regarding Dental Crowns
Stainless steel crowns are silver caps that cover the entire visible tooth. Porcelain crowns are tooth colored. Dental crowns for children are generally completed in one visit and will usually last until the tooth falls out at around the age of 12.
Often, if a two-surface filling is used to restore a first baby molar, the tooth may decay again, or the dental filling may break due to the shape of the tooth. If that occurs, the tooth may need a stainless-steel crown or to be extracted and treated with a space maintainer. That would mean your child would have to go through an extra procedure and you would pay for treatment of the same tooth twice. Our goal is to restore the health of the tooth for longevity. We place crowns on first baby molars that have decay in between the teeth, or on teeth which are too damaged to be repaired with fillings.
- A Few Pros of Dental Crowns They are quite durable. A less expensive solution in the long term. Crowns are less likely to fail and need additional work, which can save money. They can be completed in a single visit. The tooth-colored options for older children concerned about aesthetics.
- A Few Cons of Dental Crowns Stainless steel crowns can be obvious and unsightly. Ceramic white crowns potentially chip and are silver underneath. More tooth structure removed leading to possible nerve treatment. Excellent cooperation by your child is necessary.
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Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver Diamine Fluoride is an antibiotic liquid that has been approved by the FDA, used in the treatment of active dental caries. It is an easy, noninvasive method of slowing or stopping lesions that cannot be immediately treated with a restoration. This is especially helpful in young patients, children with excessive decay, children with special healthcare needs and those youngsters who cannot return for dental treatment in a timely manner. Treatment with Silver Diamine Fluoride does not eliminate the need for dental restorations, but it will often buy you and your child valuable time to have their treatment completed.
Make an Appointment for Your Child Today!
The mission at Children's Dental Center is to build a dental home valuing prevention, early detection, and treatment of dental disease in children. Our goal is to provide a pleasant visit to the dental office promoting the establishment of trust and confidence in children that lasts a lifetime. Our vision is to serve as the premier provider of patient focused dental care for infants, children and teens through compassion, skill, and teamwork. Call 317-932-7134 today to make an appointment with Children’s Dental Center. Our office is located at 9885 E. 116th Street, Suite 100, Fishers, IN 46037. Let us keep your child healthy together.
Meet Dr. Edwards
MICHELLE H. EDWARDS, DDS, MSD
Indianapolis Pediatric Dentist Dr. Edwards helps families set the stage for a life-long commitment to oral health in a friendly and approachable manner. She provides a pleasant visit to the dental office, promoting trust and confidence in young patients that lasts a lifetime.