Crowns Protect Little Teeth, Too
Most people are
surprised to learn that young children can have dental problems that may be
treated with crowns—even on baby teeth. A crown is a cover placed over the
entire tooth. It is fabricated to look like a tooth and is usually used on
teeth that are badly damaged or so decayed that there is not enough tooth
structure left to support a large filling.
Although baby teeth
eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, it is important to try
to save them until they fall out on their own. Primary teeth enable the child
to chew food and develop normal speech patterns, and help to guide emerging
permanent teeth into place.
If your child has
broken, decayed or severely discolored baby teeth or discolored permanent
teeth, we may recommend treating the problem with a crown. There are several
kinds of crown treatments, and we will take into consideration the type and
extent of your child’s dental problem, as well as his or her biting patterns,
when recommending treatment.
Crowns protect the
problem tooth, but their placement requires that the tooth be ground down to
accommodate the adhesive needed to attach the crown firmly. Conventional crowns are usually made of
stainless steel, which is very durable and works very well on the back teeth. For a more esthetically pleasing result, White
crowns can be made from plastic or porcelain for the front teeth. Sometimes stainless steel crowns can have a
resin plastic bonded to them as well to improve the esthetic appearance. In addition, injury to the tooth can break,
loosen or dislodge a crown. Their durability may depend on how much tooth
structure was left in the treated tooth and how prone the child is to cavities.
If your child needs a
crown, we will recommend the option that is best suited to your child’s oral
health and overall well-being.
Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_15071437_young-asian-boy-showing-his-healthy-teeth-through-hand-magnifier.html'>ximagination / 123RF Stock Photo</a>
