Four Basic Restorative Dental Procedures for Kids
Posted on October 18th, 2024 | Christopher Neal
The Importance of Dental Restorative Procedures
Even with proper dental care, many children will face dental issues as their smiles develop. These problems can range from small cavities to unexpected injuries. Symptoms may be mild until the problem becomes too large to miss or simply impossible to ignore. In such cases, restorative dental procedures may need to be performed to save an existing tooth and restore functionality to a child’s smile.
There are many types of restorative dentistry procedures for kids. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Basic Restorative Dental Services for Children’s Teeth
1. Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are one of the most common restorative procedures you will hear about in the world of dentistry. They are suitable for patients of all ages and can help prevent the need for root canal treatment.
Fillings are a reliable treatment method for restoring and strengthening natural teeth that have been compromised by decay. They fill holes in the surfaces of teeth known as cavities. If a cavity is not repaired, the inner dentin of a tooth remains exposed, allowing acids to degrade the structure of the tooth and increase sensitivity.
2. Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used to repair teeth that have been badly damaged, either due to trauma or decay. A crown sits atop the damaged tooth and strengthens it by holding it together. This protects the tooth from cracking down to the root and restores functionality so a patient can eat and talk normally.
Crowns also protect the natural tooth structure from bacteria and decay by covering the entire visible portion of the tooth. Crowns can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth.
3. Orthodontic Care
If a child’s teeth are crowded, gapped, or crooked, fixing their alignment early on is key to preventing poor smile development. Proper dental alignment can improve both smile appearance and a patient’s oral health and hygiene.
Pediatric orthodontic treatments help protect young smiles and prevent issues down the road, like cavities, impacted teeth, malocclusion, and more. Common orthodontic solutions include clear aligners and traditional metal braces.
4. Pulpotomy
When a child’s baby tooth has become infected or severely damaged by decay, they may need a pulpotomy. A pulpotomy is more invasive than a typical cavity filling but not as invasive as a root canal procedure.
During a pulpotomy, the dentist removes only the uppermost portion of the tooth pulp and leaves the roots. The area is then sterilized, medicated, and sealed, and a crown is applied to protect the tooth.
Pediatric Restorative Dentistry From Chicago kiDDS
If you’ve been searching for restorative dental treatment for kids in Palos Heights, IL, reach out to Chicago kiDDS Pediatric Dentistry. Our team performs complex and basic restorative dentistry procedures to maintain the health and function of children’s smiles.
Schedule an appointment online or by calling our office at (708) 448-6700 today.