What Does a Crown Do for Your Child's Tooth?

At Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, your Garden City pediatric dentist understand that a healthy smile is crucial for your child's confidence and overall well-being. One dental procedure that parents often have questions about is dental crowns. What do they do for a tooth, and why might your child need one? Let's explore this topic together.

Understanding Pediatric Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are protective caps that we place over a tooth. For children, they serve two main purposes:

Restorative Functions

• Crowns restore the shape, size, and strength of a damaged tooth.
• They protect a weak tooth from breaking or hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
• Crowns cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't much tooth left.

Aesthetic Improvements

• They can cover severely discolored or poorly shaped teeth.
• Crowns can help boost your child's confidence by improving their smile.

Why Your Child Might Need a Dental Crown

There are several reasons why we might recommend a crown for your child:

• Decay: When tooth decay in a baby tooth has progressed beyond a simple filling.
• Damage: If a tooth is cracked, broken, or worn down due to grinding or injury.
• After Pulp Therapy: Crowns are often needed to protect the tooth after a pulpotomy (a root canal-like procedure for children).
• Developmental Defects: Some children have teeth that didn't form correctly and need extra protection.

The Pediatric Dental Crown Procedure

At Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we strive to make the crown procedure as comfortable as possible for your child. Here's what to expect:

• We'll examine the tooth and may take X-rays.
• We'll prepare the tooth by removing decay and shaping it to fit the crown.
• We'll choose the right type of crown and fit it onto your child's tooth.
• In most cases, we can complete the entire procedure in a single visit.

Types of Pediatric Dental Crowns

At our practice, we primarily use two types of crowns for children:

• Stainless Steel Crowns: These are durable and long-lasting, making them ideal for back teeth. They're silver in color and are often the most cost-effective option.
• Zirconia Crowns: These provide a more natural tooth color, making them a great choice for front teeth. They're extremely strong and resistant to chipping or breaking.

Your Child's Smile Matters at Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

At Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, our team is dedicated to giving your child a healthy smile they can be proud of. Whether your child needs a crown to restore a damaged tooth or to protect a weak one, we're here to guide you through the process.

Don't let a damaged or decayed tooth impact your child's oral health or confidence. Reach out to us to schedule an appointment for a pediatric dental crown in Garden City. Our friendly staff is always ready to answer any questions you might have about dental crowns or any other pediatric dental procedures – we're here to keep those small smiles bright and healthy!