If your child has a large cavity or a missing tooth, a dental crown may be a great option for you. Tooth crowns are widely used in dentistry, and can be used when fillings aren’t large enough to sufficiently fill in the gap. Crowns help renew your tooth to its normal shape and function.
Here are a few facts so you can know if a tooth crown is a good option for your child.
Does My Child Need a Crown?
While fillings may be used for smaller cavities, crowns can be used when cavities have grown too large or when a tooth is missing entirely. They can also be used to cover cracks or dental implants so your tooth looks more natural.
What Are Metal Crowns?
Tooth crowns can be made out of a few different materials. Metal crowns are a great option for a child who still has their baby teeth, because metal crowns can be used as a temporary solution. Once adult teeth come in, other materials can be used instead of metal, so your child’s teeth look more natural.
What Are Ceramic and Resin Crowns?
Rather than using metal, ceramic and resin crowns are a great option for your child if their adult teeth have started coming in. Ceramic and resin crowns can be colored to look more like your child’s natural teeth. While all crowns help your child use their teeth more naturally, ceramic and resin crowns help make damaged teeth blend in with surrounding teeth.
These are used for adult teeth because they’re meant to be a more long-lasting solution to cavities and damaged teeth.
How Are Crowns Placed?
This is usually done in two visits.
During the first visit, our staff will prepare the damaged tooth for the crown. This is done by cleaning out the tooth of any decayed materials and shaping it so the crown can fit properly. During this first visit, a mold is made for the exact impression of the crown. Your child is then given a temporary crown in preparation for the finished product.
During your second visit, the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is placed. Our staff will make sure your crown feels natural to your child before they cement it in place, so there isn’t any undue stress on surrounding teeth.
How Do I Take Care of Crowned Teeth?
First, remember to stick to the basics. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss once a day. This not only keeps your natural teeth looking nice, but keeps any crowned teeth from collecting bacteria and plaque. You should also make sure your child avoids chewing on hard foods, such as ice cubes and popcorn kernels. These can loosen crowns and make them fall out. Your child should also avoid chewing the ends of pencils, as this may cause discoloration of crowns.
Talk to Dr. Miller and his staff about getting a crown placed for your child today!