Can Pediatric Crowns Be Used For Kids?

Our primary teeth may be temporary visitors during our developmental ages. Even so, they’re an integral part of growing up. Dentists take great pains to ensure they remain strong and healthy until they fall out independently. When necessary, they’ll even go so far as to use pediatric crowns to ensure they remain in place for the duration. Many parents are surprised that this degree of dental work will be invested in a temporary tooth. However, our jaws may not develop appropriately without preserving their position and health. This underdevelopment can result in inadequate space for the adult teeth or their coming in improperly aligned. These malocclusions can be the cause of expensive orthodontic treatments later in life.

Ensure Proper Development With Pediatric Crowns

If your child has tooth decay, your dentist may approach you about protecting your child’s teeth with pediatric crowns. A crown is a form of dental prosthetic used to restore form and function. This can be necessary if tooth decay has caused the tooth to begin to break down. Your dentist may also suggest them to help address injury to the tooth from trauma. The need for these restorations is rooted in the fundamental interconnectedness of our oral health. Each component contributes to every other component. Our primary teeth ensure that our jawbones develop with sufficient space for our adult teeth. Our gums ensure that the jawbone and teeth get sufficient nutrients and serve to protect the delicate roots. 

The process is straightforward when it comes time for your child to get dental crowns. The following steps are involved in the placement of dental crowns.

• Preparation – Before your child can receive a pediatric crown, the target tooth needs to be prepared to receive it. This means removing all the existing decay, cleaning the surface, and pitting it so it can easily accept the restoration. The dental laser remains the preferred tool for this stage of the process.
• Impressions – After removing all the decay and the site being sanitized, your dentist will take an impression of your child’s teeth. The most common method involves a special tray that is placed over the target area. It’s filled with a gel that will take the form of your child’s teeth and harden once removed. The result is a precise recreation of the treatment site.
• Temporary Crown – Many modern dental clinics have a milling machine they can use to produce permanent restoration. When this tool isn’t available, the impression will be sent to a dental lab. Until it is returned to the clinic, your dentist will fit a temporary crown in place to protect the tooth.
• Permanent Crown – When a temporary crown has been placed, it will need to be removed at this stage. The permanent crown is then placed, restoring your child’s smile.

Once this treatment process is completed, your dentist will have thoroughly restored your child’s tooth. This restoration ensures that your child’s oral cavity will continue to develop in a normal and healthy way.

Ask Your Dental Provider For More Guidance

Our dental providers make patient education a cornerstone of their practice. Speaking with them provides a significant opportunity for them to share helpful information about your oral health care. They’ll help you understand the potential long-term consequences of damage or decay to your child’s dental health. They’ll also help you take steps to preserve it.

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