Restorative Dentistry for Kids – Lockport, IL

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Cavities are caused by bacteria secreting acids that gradually eat away at the enamel. The damage cannot be healed naturally and only becomes more severe if ignored. The process of placing a filling involves removing harmful bacteria in order to stop the decay before it reaches the pulp at the very center of the tooth (which would likely result in a lot of pain). After the decay is removed, the lost dental structure can be replaced with a filling. We highly recommend that you choose composite resin as the material for your child’s filling. Its color closely resembles natural tooth enamel so that it blends right in, and it joins directly with the tooth so that no changes have to be made to hold it in place.

Pulp Therapy

Having a tooth removed can have devastating consequences for your child’s oral health in the long term. Baby tooth that come out before they’re supposed to, for example, might prevent the adult teeth from emerging correctly. Also, if a tooth becomes infected, then your child will suffer from chronic oral pain. It’s best to remove infected pulp from the tooth before irreversible damage is done to the smile. Pulp therapy is the process of removing part or all of the pulp from the tooth. Afterwards, a crown is attached in order to protect it.

Dental Crowns

Not all teeth can be repaired by fillings. Sometimes they’ll require a dental crown. This restoration covers the entire tooth to both protect and strengthen it. Your child can once again eat all of their favorite foods without having to worry that their smile will be compromised in the process. This also creates a barrier against harmful bacteria that might attack the pulp and nerve. The process of placing a crown will also help stop your child’s pain.

Following the advice of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend stainless-steel crowns for baby teeth due to its high rate of success compared to other materials. Stainless steel crowns are very durable and can easily withstand the pressures that your child will expose them to regularly. They also don’t cause as much tooth sensitivity when placed, and they’re highly affordable.