A children's dentist might recommend a stainless steel crown for your child if they have a severely decayed or damaged tooth. A stainless steel crown is a "cap" that is placed over a tooth. It covers the tooth to restore its shape and size. The crown shields the tooth from further decay and makes it easier for your child to chew. Stainless steel crowns can be used on either baby teeth or adult teeth. However, they are most commonly used on baby teeth.
How a children's dentist uses stainless steel crowns
Let us take a look at some of the reasons why a pediatric dentist might recommend a stainless steel crown for your child:
1. Severe tooth decay
Tooth decay is the most prevalent reason children need dental care. It is caused by oral bacteria converting sugar in the mouth into acids that destroy teeth. Dental fillings are the typical treatment for tooth decay, but that only works when the damage is mild to moderate.
Severe tooth decay puts a tooth at risk of falling out prematurely. A dentist might opt to treat the tooth by removing decayed material from the tooth and covering it with a stainless steel crown. The crown keeps what is left of the tooth together until it is time for it to fall out.
2. Severe damage to a tooth
A severe injury to the mouth can damage a tooth beyond repair. The children's dentist will likely recommend extracting the tooth in this case. However, if the child is still too young for an adult tooth to come in, the dentist might place a stainless steel crown over the damaged tooth.
3. A baby tooth that will not fall out
Some children have baby teeth that do not fall out when they are supposed to. This can cause problems with the adult teeth coming in. The children's dentist might place a stainless steel crown over the baby tooth to solve this problem. This will help the adult tooth come in correctly.
4. After a baby root canal
A baby root canal is a treatment that is used to save a tooth that has been severely damaged by decay or trauma. It is also used to address tooth infections. A baby tooth root canal involves drilling a hole into the tooth and removing the soft tissues in the pulp chamber. After the procedure, the children's dentist will place a stainless steel crown over the tooth to protect it.
What are the advantages of stainless steel crowns?
There are many benefits of using stainless steel crowns, including:
- They are less pricey than other types of dental crowns
- They can be placed quickly and easily
- They require less preparation of the tooth than other types of crowns
- They are strong and durable
- They can be used on children of all ages
- They are available in a variety of sizes to fit any tooth
What are the disadvantages of stainless steel crowns?
There are a few disadvantages of using stainless steel crowns, including:
- They are not as aesthetically pleasing as other types of dental crowns
- They can discolor the tooth over time
- They might need to be replaced sooner than other types of crowns
Stainless steel crowns save baby teeth
Think your child might need a stainless steel crown? Give us a call or visit our Richmond clinic to set up an appointment with our pediatric dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Childrens Dentist in Richmond, TX.
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