If your child has minor to moderate cavities, fillings can help keep them from growing into larger problems. If your child catches a cavity early enough and get a filling put in, they can prevent the cavity from growing any larger or spreading into the root canal, which can be very painful.
Here are some items of information so you can know if a filling is right for your child.
Does My Child Need a Filling?
Depending on the size of a cavity, a filling or crown can be used to fill in the gap. If the cavity is small enough, a filling can be used to keep the cavity from growing and helps your child’s tooth function normally again.
What Are Metal Fillings?
Gold fillings and amalgam (silver) fillings are two common types of metal fillings. Since these are much more noticeable than porcelain or composite fillings, these are used in teeth that aren’t usually seen.
These fillings are very sturdy. Gold fillings have been known to last up to 20 years! Amalgam is also a particularly inexpensive option for fillings.
What Are Composite and Porcelain Fillings?
Composite fillings and porcelain fillings are colored to match your child’s natural tooth color. This makes them less visible which makes them much more ideal for front teeth. Composite fillings can sometimes be applied to cavities in a single visit so you don’t have to schedule multiple visits for your child.
How Are Fillings Placed?
Depending on the type of filling, a mold may be made beforehand and then placed in a second visit. Other types of fillings can be placed in a single visit.
Our staff will clear away any decayed tooth material from the cavity so the filling doesn’t trap any of it in the cavity itself. The filling is then introduced and cemented in place so your child’s tooth functions just as it did before.
How Do I Take Care of Teeth with Fillings?
As always, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is key for dental health. However, some fillings are prone to stain, so coffee, tea, and tobacco should be avoided. Your child should also avoid chewing the ends of pencils, since this can also cause the filling to stain.
Talk to Dr. Miller and his staff about getting a filling today!