Helping your children understand the importance of taking care of their smile begins with teaching daily oral hygiene practices. When your little one masters brushing and flossing each day, they prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar that can cause tooth decay and other oral problems. By complementing this behavior with regular dental checkups, we can help monitor the success of their habits. When taking X-rays at your child’s appointment, we can detect if any cavities are present and provide guidance on preserving their smile. Because a child’s jaw is still growing, protecting a baby tooth is vital to allow their permanent teeth to come in complete. This is why we recommend placing dental fillings for cavities in baby teeth instead of extracting the tooth. This preserves their smile while teaching your young one about the importance of fighting tooth decay!
At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we understand that children are still mastering the skills necessary to prevent tooth decay. That is why we provide additional services such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments at their pediatric appointments. However, when such efforts fail to prevent cavities from taking hold, restoring your child’s tooth is necessary to preserve the healthy growth of their smile. When your little one attends cleanings and checkups twice per year, we can detect any active threats before they can grow out of hand.
How Cavities Develop In Children’s Teeth
A child’s tooth is composed of the same materials as yours! That means that the enamel layer that protects a baby’s tooth is at risk of decay from bacterial plaque and tartar deposits. Consider that little ones may have a harder time resisting the temptations of sugary sweets and drinks, and you can see how a cavity can develop in their smile. Because children may lack the dexterity to fully clean molars at the back of their jaw, we provide dental sealants that create a physical barrier between debris deposits and the sensitive tooth. If we discover a cavity during a checkup, we will suggest removing the damage and restoring the tooth in that same visit.
Placing Your Child’s Composite Filling
We use a local anesthetic to numb the affected tooth before removing decaying material. This provides comfort for your little one, particularly when they have not gone through a more advanced dental procedure yet. By placing a composite resin filling, the material instantly bonds with the tooth to protect against future infection. We will shade your child’s filling to match the natural color of surrounding healthy teeth.
Talk To Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist About Removing Your Child’s Cavity
To find out more about how we remove cavities and restore your child’s smile, contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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