Your Child Lost Filling or Crown? Visit an Emergency Pediatric Dentist

Go to the emergency pediatric dentist when your child loses a crown or filling. These restorations are designed to seal the tooth and protect it from food particles or infection. Replacing the filling or crown is the only solution to this problem. Here are the details on visiting your emergency pediatric dentist for your child’s lost filling or crown treatment.

The restorative dental treatment

The emergency pediatric dentist will inspect the child’s mouth to see how much damage the filling or crown has. For lost fillings, the dentist will find it ideal to replace the old filling. Doing so will reseal the tooth properly. It will also end any discomfort that the child is experiencing.

For lost dental crowns, the first thing a parent must do is find the dislodged crown. This specific crown is customized to fit the child’s tooth. If it does not have significant damage, the dentist will use the same crown to restore the child’s tooth. This will shorten the treatment time. If the crown is damaged or cannot be found, the emergency pediatric dentist will order a new custom-fit crown.

Some children experience severe dental damage to the treated tooth. The damage dislodges the filling or crown. Underneath the restoration, the natural tooth gets a significant chip or crack. Damage in the enamel alone will need some repairs first. If the dental damage reaches the pulp, the child will have an emergency root canal. Damage that reaches beyond the pulp will need an immediate dental extraction.

What dislodges fillings or crowns

Most children love to eat and drink sweets. Sticky and hard foods are among the favorites. These types of foods can pull out the filling or crown from the treated tooth. Dried fruit, caramels, taffy, and granola bars are some of the common culprits. These foods will hold on to the tooth and pull it. The enamel will stay where it is, while the filling or crown will separate from the natural tooth.

The emergency pediatric dentist will recommend refraining from eating chewy, sticky, or hard foods. Instead of these foods, the child should choose healthier snacks like nuts, pretzels, and fruit. Popsicles and ice cream are also better snack options. Preparing the child’s meals and snacks will prevent them from eating processed snacks like gummy candies.

There could also be a developing dental decay underneath the filling or dental crown. This condition can enlarge the cavity underneath the restoration. It can then weaken the bond between the tooth and the crown or filling. For this, the emergency pediatric dentist will replace the lost restoration.

Some children grind their teeth at night or during stressful times. This is called bruxism. The degree of teeth grinding can determine the level of damage to the fillings or crowns. After examining the affected teeth, the emergency pediatric dentist will decide what material to use for the new filling or crown.