A “Crowning” Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry

A “Crowning” Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry

Crowns? On a baby tooth? Crowns are for adults—right? Actually, crowns, sometimes called caps, are used by people of all ages to prevent further decay or protect an already damaged tooth. These appliances can be instrumental in getting your child’s dental health back on track if he or she experiences premature tooth decay or an unforeseen dental injury.

In children, crowns are used to protect the primary teeth. Primary teeth—also known as baby teeth—are immensely important to a child’s oral development. Besides their obvious use for chewing, these teeth assist in developing normal speech patterns, maintaining space for the permanent teeth and acting as a “guide” for the time when permanent teeth grow in. Because the primary teeth are inherently smaller than the future permanent teeth, any evidence of decay or damage means considering the use of a crown; otherwise the tooth may become brittle and crack. This is especially important if a great deal of tooth structure has been destroyed or the enamel around the decayed area has been weakened.

To act as a barrier, a prefabricated covering—a crown—is placed over the tooth. The most common type of crown used on primary teeth is a stainless steel shell that comes in various sizes and can be fitted to any tooth. The simple procedure used to install a crown should not worry you as a parent. After applying a local topical anesthetic to the gum and cheek, we will remove any decay on the tooth as well as diminish its surface area so that the crown can fit snugly over it. Once we contour the crown to fit, we apply cement and push the crown onto the tooth. As a final step, we polish the crown. All this usually can be done in one office visit at KiDDS Dental.

Once the crown is in place, there will be no restrictions on your child’s daily activities. Encourage your child to keep his or her mouth clean by brushing so that the area will heal more quickly. And avoid hard and sticky foods—they can cause the crown to fracture or come off.

With a crown, your child has a new layer of protection against further decay or breakage. When that primary tooth makes way for its permanent replacement, the crown—still cemented to the tooth—will fall out with it.

The strength, durability and longevity of a crown depend on many factors. By following home care instructions and maintaining regular six-month checkups, you can ensure an attractive restoration that lasts as long as it’s needed.

Dr. Jared would love to answer any questions regarding pediatric crowns. Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule an appointment today.