Even with excellent oral hygiene and habits, natural teeth can chip, crack, decay, or fall out. For instance, your kid might play football with friends only to fall and break their teeth. When such damage occurs, your kid’s smile, bite function, and tooth structure can be infected.
These damages can prevent them from eating a balanced diet, leading to malnourishment. Similarly, teeth damage can make a child feel unattractive, negatively impacting mental health and confidence. These damages can lead to long-term complications like tooth loss and bone loss if left untreated.
Restorative dentistry aims to resolve oral issues and restore your kid’s oral health, function, and appearance. These can include filling tooth cavities, bonding a cracked tooth, crowning a severely weakened tooth, replacing missing teeth with bridges or dentures, and straightening crooked teeth.
The best way to know whether your kid is a good candidate for restorative dentistry is to visit our pediatric dentist in 92014. The dentist will examine your child’s mouth and create a customized treatment plan to restore and protect their oral health.
Typically, restorative dentistry can correct numerous dental problems, such as:
Most dental restorations take one to two dental appointments. The exact procedure will vary depending on your kid’s condition and the type of treatment they are undergoing.
Let’s look at some of the common types of dental restoration procedures and what to expect:
Lack of thorough brushing and flossing and regular snacking are common causes of tooth cavities among kids. To repair a cavity, the dentist begins by numbing a tooth to prevent discomfort. Next, they will remove the damaged parts of the tooth, leaving behind a hollow area. Then, the area is filled with a filling material. Dentists can also use fillings to repair cracked, chipped, or decayed teeth. With proper dental care, a filling can last for 10 – 15 years.
If your child has crooked or misaligned teeth, the dentist can recommend traditional braces or clear aligners like Invisalign to re-align their bite. Traditional braces consist of metal wires and brackets attached to teeth, gradually moving them toward the desired positions. Invisalign uses removable aligner trays to move teeth.
The dentist can recommend a dental crown for moderate to severe dental damage like cracks, chips, breaks, and decay. A tooth crown is a dental cap placed over a damaged tooth to improve its strength, function, and aesthetics. The dentist must shave a minor part of the tooth’s enamel to allow the crown to fit perfectly. A crown can last 10 – 20 years or more with proper care and habits.
If your child has lost their natural tooth, the dentist can recommend a partial denture to restore oral function and appearance. A partial denture is a dental prosthesis with artificial teeth and gums. To make the denture, the dentist will take impressions of the kid’s mouth and send them to a dental lab.
Dental bonding might be ideal if your child has minor tooth damage like chips, cracks, misalignments, or gaps. The procedure entails applying a tooth-colored bonding material to the tooth and shaping it to restore its structure and aesthetics.
Dental veneers can correct minor dental imperfections like cracks, chips, misalignments, gaps, and stains. The dentist places a thin shell of porcelain or composite on the front of the tooth to hide or repair the damage.
Dental restorations can either be temporary or permanent. Temporary restorations serve a particular purpose for a short period. In most cases, temporary treatment doesn’t involve changing a tooth’s structure. Examples of temporary restorations include dental bonding and composite veneers.
On the other hand, a permanent restoration last more than five years. In most cases, it entails changing the tooth’s structure. Permanent teeth restorations include dental crowns, fillings, porcelain veneers, and dentures.
Generally, most dental restorations can be for all ages. However, your child may not be eligible for permanent dental restoration, such as dental implants. Consult our pediatric dentist to determine whether your child qualifies for specific restorative dental treatments.
Do you need more information about children’s restorative dentistry? Contact Sunny Smiles Kids.