When teeth suffer damage from cavities, injury, or developmental issues, pediatric restorative dentistry provides solutions to rebuild function and appearance. These specialized dental procedures aim to repair decayed, chipped, or broken teeth while preserving the child’s oral health and preventing future complications. For children, restorative treatments are tailored to their unique dental needs, focusing on both primary (baby) teeth and newly emerging permanent teeth.
At ABC Children’s Dentistry, we provide comprehensive restorative dental care in a fun, comfortable environment designed specifically for children. Our team understands the unique challenges of pediatric dental work and approaches each case with both expertise and compassion. Dr. Singer has been voted a Top Dentist for Pediatric Dentistry by the Consumers Research Council of America and brings decades of experience to treating children with dental needs of all kinds.
Understanding Pediatric Restorative Procedures
Restorative dental care for children focuses on repairing damaged teeth while maintaining their overall dental health. These treatments are often necessary when decay or injury has affected a tooth’s structure or function. The goal is always to restore the tooth to its normal shape, appearance, and function while preventing further damage.
Common pediatric restorative procedures include:
- Fillings to repair cavities in both primary and permanent teeth
- Dental crowns to protect and strengthen damaged teeth
- Pulp therapy (pulpotomy or pulpectomy) for teeth with infected pulp
- Space maintainers when primary teeth are lost prematurely
- Dental bonding for chipped or fractured teeth
Every treatment is tailored to the child’s specific needs, taking into account their age, dental development stage, and comfort level. We carefully explain each procedure in child-friendly terms, helping young patients understand what to expect during their treatment.
Dental Fillings for Children
When cavities develop in a child’s tooth, fillings are often the first line of defense. These restorations replace the decayed portion of the tooth with a durable material to prevent further damage. For pediatric patients, we carefully consider the best filling material based on the location of the cavity and the expected lifespan of the tooth.
Our office uses composite (tooth-colored) fillings whenever possible. These fillings match the natural color of teeth, making them virtually invisible when the child smiles or speaks. Composite fillings also bond directly to the tooth structure, providing excellent support and requiring less removal of healthy tooth material compared to traditional silver amalgam fillings.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
When a child’s tooth has extensive decay or damage too severe for a simple filling, dental crowns may be necessary. These “caps” cover the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength while protecting it from further decay.
For primary teeth, we often use stainless steel or zirconia crowns. Stainless steel crowns are extremely durable and cost-effective for back teeth, while zirconia crowns offer better aesthetics for front teeth. For permanent teeth, we may recommend stainless steel, composite, or ceramic crowns depending on the specific situation and location of the tooth.
Pulp Therapy
When decay or injury reaches the innermost part of a tooth containing the pulp (nerves and blood vessels), pulp therapy may be necessary to save the tooth. For children, preserving primary teeth until they’re ready to fall out naturally is important for proper development and alignment of permanent teeth.
Pulpotomy, often called a “baby root canal,” involves removing the infected portion of the pulp while leaving the healthy pulp intact. This procedure is common for primary teeth with deep cavities but without signs of root infection. After removing the infected pulp, we place a medicated filling and typically cover the tooth with a crown for protection.
The Importance of Restoring Primary Teeth
Many parents wonder why the restoration of baby teeth matters when these teeth will eventually fall out. Primary teeth play crucial roles in a child’s development beyond just chewing food. Maintaining these teeth until they’re ready to be naturally replaced offers several benefits:
Primary teeth hold space for permanent teeth developing beneath them. When baby teeth are lost prematurely due to decay or injury, adjacent teeth may drift into the empty space, potentially causing alignment problems for emerging permanent teeth.
Baby teeth are essential for proper speech development. Missing or damaged front teeth can affect a child’s ability to form certain sounds and speak clearly.
Healthy teeth contribute to a child’s self-confidence and social development. Visible decay or missing teeth may lead to self-consciousness or teasing from peers.
By restoring damaged primary teeth rather than extracting them, we help ensure proper development of your child’s permanent teeth and overall oral health. Our approach always prioritizes preservation when possible, with extraction reserved only for cases where restoration isn’t viable.
Our Approach to Pediatric Restorative Care
At ABC Children’s Dentistry, we understand dental work can be intimidating for children. Our approach to restorative care focuses not just on fixing teeth, but on making the experience positive and stress-free. We take several measures to ensure children feel comfortable throughout their treatment:
We create a fun, non-threatening environment with themed treatment rooms, ceiling-mounted TVs, and colorful, engaging décor throughout our office. These distractions help children stay relaxed during procedures.
Dr. Singer uses a personalized approach with each child, assessing their comfort level and tailoring communication accordingly. He’s known for his ability to connect with children through humor and age-appropriate explanations that help them understand their treatment without feeling overwhelmed. For more complex procedures or extremely anxious patients, treatment under general anesthesia in a hospital setting with board-certified anesthesiologists is available.
We involve parents throughout the process, discussing treatment options, answering questions, and providing detailed care instructions. This team approach ensures children receive consistent support both in our office and at home.
