Pediatric Crowns vs. Fillings

If Dr. Kim discovers a cavity, he may recommend either a dental crown or a filling to restore your child’s tooth. The treatment he recommends will depend on the amount of damage to the tooth.

Dr. Kim will recommend fillings to restore teeth with small cavities. But he may recommend dental crowns to restore teeth with significant trauma or decay.

Here’s what you should know about pediatric crowns and fillings before your child’s next appointment with us.

What are Pediatric Crowns?

Our pediatric dentist may recommend a crown to restore a tooth with deep or wide cavities. A crown sits on top of your child’s tooth like a cap, which protects it from further damage.

The dental crown procedure will take one visit to our pediatric dental office in Grand Rapids, MI.

First, Dr. Kim will numb your child’s tooth so they don’t feel any pain during the procedure. He may also provide laughing gas, which helps patients feel calm and relaxed in the dentist’s chair.

Laughing gas is safe and wears off as soon as we remove the small mask over your child’s nose.

Once your child is numb and comfortable, we’ll remove any decayed tooth structure. We’ll then file down your child’s tooth to make room for the dental crown to fit on top. From there, Dr. Kim will place a pre-sized stainless steel crown. He’ll make sure that your child’s pediatric crown is the perfect size and shape. That way, their pediatric dental crown feels natural.

What are Dental Fillings?

As the name suggests, Dr. Kim may use a filling to fill in the hole left in your child’s tooth after removing the cavity. Dr. Kim uses composite resin, which matches the natural color of your child’s enamel. That way, the filling blends in with the rest of your child’s smile.

Once Dr. Kim restores the tooth with composite resin, he’ll harden the resin in place. Unlike the dental crown procedure, a composite filling only takes one appointment.

What Treatment Does My Child Need?

Call our office as soon as possible if your child is complaining of a toothache. The sooner we can examine your child’s mouth, the sooner we’ll be able to diagnose and treat the source of their pain.

During your child’s emergency appointment, Dr. Kim will examine the inside of their mouth. We’ll also take X-rays to determine if there are any underlying oral health issues. If Dr. Kim detects a cavity, he’ll recommend the appropriate course of treatment to restore your child’s oral health.

Keep in mind that it’s important for your child to keep their baby teeth for as long as naturally possible. This is because the baby teeth hold space in their jaws until their permanent teeth are ready to erupt.

Baby teeth also help your child eat and speak, both of which are crucial to their dental development.

Request an Appointment With Dr. Kim

Dr. Kim is an experienced pediatric dentist in Grand Rapids, MI. He’s also a member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. As such, he’d be more than happy to help your child maintain a healthy smile. To schedule an appointment, call the Pediatric Dentistry of Michigan at (616) 447-7900.