In our last blog, we discussed how fluoride and sealants can provide an extra boost against tooth decay. Your child’s first set of baby teeth is just as important to take care of as the permanent set. If your little one ends up with a cavity, a filling can be used to stop the growth of a cavity and restore their pearly white. Today, your Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatrics in New York is here to explain how this process works.
Preventing Cavities Starts At Home
While there is a way to treat decay, prevention is the best way to keep a healthy and happy smile. At home, your little one should be brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes, followed by flossing. If your child is younger, you should supervise their hygiene routine to ensure that they are brushing thoroughly. Make sure to encourage eating more fruits and vegetables as opposed to sugary snacks. Lastly, take them to the dentist every six months for a checkup.
Why Checkups Are Important
Even if you believe your child has near-perfect dental hygiene, they should still visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. During these appointments, the dentist will examine for early signs of problems like cavities. Tooth decay can often occur without showing symptoms. A checkup can find decay in the earliest stages, and a treatment plan can be created to reverse it. If a cavity cannot be reversed, a filling can be used to repair it.
Placing Dental Fillings
If a cavity is detected during a checkup, the dentist will recommend scheduling a filling. You may be wondering what the purpose of restoring a baby tooth is if it will fall out eventually anyway. First, cavities can continue to progress and may cause discomfort if ignored. It is also important to keep the natural teeth healthy to promote proper growth of their permanent teeth. Leaving cavities untreated can lead to severe decay and even infections, which may result in needing a pulpotomy or extraction.
Fillings are a straightforward treatment. Before it begins, the area will be numbed so that your child can be comfortable. Then, the decay will be gently removed with a drill. A hole is left from this process, which will be cleaned and prepped for the material to be added. The material used will depend on where the tooth is located. For molars, metal may be used. For the front teeth or more visible ones, composite resin will be used. The material will be added, polished, and sealed. Your child may need to wait to eat or drink anything for about thirty minutes after their appointment.
Don’t Ignore A Cavity
If your child has tooth decay, do not delay treatment. To schedule a filling or another appointment, call Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatrics in Shirley, NY, today at 631-399-1600.
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