As we get older suddenly we realised many things we didn't appreciate about being young - being fit, having smooth skin and having all your own teeth. As our loose teeth (and bridges) struggle to deal with chewier food we start eating bland mush and, there is no easy way to say this, OLD PEOPLE FOOD. I'm determined not to let that happen to me and I'm doing everything I can to keep my own teeth as long as possible, and when that's not possible to get the best possible teeth replacement. If you are like me and want to keep on eating whatever you want, I think you'll like my site. It's all about dental health and teeth replacement & maintenance.
Keeping your teeth young
Why Does Your Dentist Want to Crown Your Child's Baby Tooth?
Mabel Hicks
If your child's dental checkups haven't thrown up any problems in the past, then you may be surprised when your dentist recommends crowning one of their baby teeth. While you may think that only adults have crowns, this isn't the case. Some baby teeth problems are best fixed by a crown. Why does your dentist want to do this on your child's tooth?
Extensive Decay
Minor decay on baby teeth is often managed with a filling. However, if your child has a lot of decay in one of their baby teeth, then filling it may not be the best solution. There may not be enough tooth left after treatment to support a filling. Even if the tooth is filled, your child will need future treatment if the filling or tooth breaks down.
Plus, decay on one baby tooth can spread to other teeth, so your dentist will be keen to stop this happening. Decay also sometimes causes deep-seated problems with more complicated treatments, like root canal work. In all these situations, crowns can cap the tooth after treatment to strengthen it and guard against future decay.
Spacing
Baby teeth crowns are also sometimes used as spacers. If your child loses a tooth, then the surrounding teeth may change position due to the gap, preventing an adult tooth from coming through straight. This may increase the chances that your child will need braces later. Gaps in teeth may also affect your child's ability to eat comfortably.
Crowning a damaged or repaired tooth that might otherwise need extraction keeps the tooth in place. Once the adult tooth comes through, the crown is pushed out with the baby tooth, so it won't need to be specially removed.
Structural Issues
Baby teeth sometimes come through with structural issues that affect their health and lifespan. For example, if one of your child's teeth has weak enamel, then it's more likely to develop decay. A tooth that has a weak or crumbly texture may not be robust enough to survive for long—bits of it may break off. Crowning a naturally weakened tooth stops it from developing problems and gives your child a strong tooth replacement.
One of the main advantages of baby tooth crowns is long-term protection. A crown allows you to deal with current problems and to prevent them from happening again. This reduces the number of times your child may need treatment on the tooth.
To find out more about baby teeth crowns and what the treatment involves, talk to your dentist.
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