When it comes to pediatric dentistry procedures, your child has many options available. For example, if your child’s baby teeth have been injured, they do not need to be extracted. A dentist can save the teeth until they are ready to naturally come out. This can help the permanent teeth come in straighter and reduce damage to other teeth. Read on to learn more about these and other pediatric dentistry procedures.
Pulp therapy procedure
Sometimes, the blood vessels and nerves inside a baby tooth become infected. This can happen because of decay or an injury to the tooth. Infection, pain, tooth loss or swelling can happen if a dentist does not perform pulp therapy. If the cavity is deep enough to extend to the nerve of the tooth, it can be very uncomfortable for the patient.
The nerve of the tooth must be removed when this happens. If there is any part of the nerve left after the procedure, a dentist will place an antibiotic in the area. A pulp therapy procedure can help to extend the life of the tooth until the permanent tooth will grow in. This will allow the right space between the other teeth to be maintained so they will not shift.
Partial braces
Advances in pediatric dentistry have allowed dentists to intervene with orthodontics earlier than ever now. One example of this is partial braces. If the teeth are misaligned, rotated sideways, or improperly spaced, a pediatric dentist may recommend partial braces. In this type of orthodontic treatment, the child will only have about four to six brackets in total. The goal of this treatment is to reduce treatment time later.
Stainless steel crown
Sometimes, a child’s baby tooth has too much decay to have a normal filling. In other cases, a crown might be needed to provide support after a filling. Sometimes, crowns are just used to protect teeth that are at high risk of decay. Excessive decay usually happens in the back teeth, which are more difficult to clean. If the decay has not been caught early enough, then the child can benefit from a crown.
After the dentist removes all the decay, there might not be enough of the tooth left to support a filling. A stainless steel filling is usually prefabricated. This means the child can go to the dentist’s office and get a filling on the same day. Because the crown does not need to last as long as one for an adult tooth, the crown does not need to be custom-made. The crown will still be attached to the baby tooth when it naturally falls out.
Visit a pediatric dentistry practice near you today
There are many types of dental procedures your child might have. This can include stainless steel crowns and early orthodontic procedures. Knowing more about them can help you prepare your child. The good news is that your child can avoid having these procedures done by regularly visiting a pediatric dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://novapedsdentistry.com or call Nova Pediatric Dentistry at (201) 812-2952 for an appointment in our Dumont office.
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