shirley dental fillings

When children complain about a toothache, this could mean the presence of a dental cavity. We want to help kids avoid discomfort, and to receive treatment so the teeth don’t become infected. In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist talks about placing fillings that look natural and that are safe for kids of all ages.

When Kids Have Cavities

If your kids attend a checkup and cleaning visit every six months, then we will likely identify the presence of decay in the earliest stages. Otherwise, you may not know they need dental care until your little one reports sensitivity when he or she eats, or when a toothache develops that doesn’t pass after a day or two. When this happens, treatment is crucial, even in baby teeth. Lack of treatment enables the decay to reach a more advanced stage, one that causes dental infection and even the premature loss of baby tooth, a complication linked to misalignment. When they have an aching tooth, let us know right away!

Dental Filling Placement  

Our team will carefully examine the smile with unadvanced digital x-rays, so we can assess the presence and extent of your child’s cavity. We will then decide if a filling is the best solution, and if so, we will numb the tooth to keep your child comfortable as we treat it. Our team also has sedation for kids with anxiety or special needs! We will then remove decay from the tooth and thoroughly clean it. We may also etch portions of the outer structure. The filling material is added, a blend of acrylic-like and quartz-like materials that are metal-free and safe for all ages. The material can actually be shaded to blend with your tooth! We then shape the composite resin as we cure it underneath a light. The last step is to polish it for a straighter appearance.

Treatment to Prevent Cavities

Our team could also discuss care to avoid cavities. At home, limit your child’s consumption of sugar and make sure they brush and floss properly. Our team can administer a fluoride treatment to help keep the enamel strong and resistant to tooth decay. We can also place dental sealants, which coat the rear teeth and lower the risk of cavities forming there. These can often stay in place for up to ten years! If you have any questions about how to prevent or treat tooth decay in little smiles, then contact your team today.

Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist Offers Lifelike Dental Restorations   

We would like to help your kids avoid the pain of decay or the risk of an infection. To learn more about treating a tooth with a dental cavity, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.