A kid-friendly dentist often treats dental issues like cavities. Tooth decay is the top reason children need dental care, and it is caused by the acids excreted by oral bacteria damaging teeth structures. These microorganisms consume sugars in the mouth and convert them into acids that eat away at teeth. Children love sweet things, which increases their risk of decay.
Factors like the severity of the decay, the parents' budget, and the position of a tooth often dictate how a pediatric dentist approaches treating cavities. Some of the more popular treatments used to treat tooth decay include:
Fillings are the first line of defense against cavities. The process involves using a putty-like material to fill up holes created by tooth decay. Fillings can also be used to restore teeth structures damaged by decay.
Getting fillings usually involves a shot of an anesthetic to numb the area being worked on as the dentist removes decayed material from the tooth. The filling material is then added to close up the cavity. The entire procedure takes about 45 minutes for each tooth being treated. Composite fillings are the most popular type of fillings nowadays.
Onlays and inlays are also used to treat cavities. They are made from porcelain or composite resin material and are used to cover a tooth's cusp (onlays) or fill up the indents on teeth surfaces (inlays).
The procedure is comparable to getting a filling. The dentist will numb the area being worked on and then remove decay from the tooth. An impression of the tooth is then taken and forwarded to a laboratory, where they will create an onlay or inlay that matches the size and shape of your child's tooth.
A temporary filling is put on the tooth while waiting for the onlay or inlay to be ready. Once it is back from the lab, the onlay or inlay is cemented onto the tooth.
Dental crowns are also used to treat cavities. A dental crown is a porcelain cap that is placed over a tooth to protect it from further decay. The procedure involves numbing the area being worked on and removing decay from the tooth. An impression of the tooth is then captured and sent to a laboratory, where they will create a dental crown that fits the size and shape of your child's tooth.
A temporary crown is placed on the tooth while waiting for the dental crown to be ready. Once it is back from the lab, the custom dental crown is cemented onto the tooth.
A root canal is a procedure used to save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. The procedure involves numbing the area being worked on and removing the soft tissues in the pulp chamber. The dentist drills a hole into the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber is where the nerves and blood vessels are located.
The dentist will then extract the pulp from the tooth and clean out the pulp chamber. Gutta-percha is used to seal the tooth, and it is typically covered with a crown afterward.
Our pediatric dentist can help prevent your child's cavities from expanding further. Call or visit our Richmond clinic to set up an appointment with our 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 dental services on Yelp: Kid Friendly Dentist in Richmond, TX.
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