If your child has been complaining lately about dental sensitivity, or you have noticed a small hole or dark spot on one of their teeth, they may have a cavity. At first, you might be tempted to dismiss it as a minor issue. After all, baby teeth are going to fall out anyway, so you could reason that they do not need fillings. However, that type of thinking is dangerous. All cavities, including those in baby teeth, should be evaluated by a qualified dentist. This blog post explains why. It also touches on possible treatment options.
The Importance of Treating Decay in Baby Teeth
Even though baby teeth are designed to fall out eventually, they do serve an important purpose. Failure to treat decay in one of these teeth could lead to some serious consequences for your child:
- Pain and dental sensitivity. These issues may affect your child’s behavior and performance in school.
- Difficulty eating. Your child might become reluctant to eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Dental infections. Severe decay can open the way for serious infections, which have the potential to spread into nearby tissues and cause systemic illness. In very rare cases, people have died from untreated dental infections.
- Premature loss of baby teeth. Decay can sometimes lead to the need for an extraction. The premature loss of a baby tooth can adversely affect the development of future permanent teeth.
Treatment Options for Cavities in Baby Teeth
Depending on the severity of the cavity and the state of your child’s mouth, there are a few possible ways to treat decay in baby teeth:
- Changes in oral hygiene. If a cavity is in its early stages, and the tooth is likely to fall out within the next 6 – 12 months, it may be best simply to refine your child’s oral hygiene routine. That should be able to manage the decay and keep it from worsening while also sparing your child from the need to get a filling.
- A filling. Modern dentistry offers tooth-colored fillings that blend in seamlessly with the surrounding dentition and are completely free of mercury and other metals. This is the most common way to address cavities in both baby teeth and permanent teeth.
- A crown. Advanced decay may need to be treated with a crown, which is a custom tooth-shaped cap that covers the entirety of the tooth that is visible above the gumline. It can protect the tooth from additional damage and restore its function.
When you bring your child in for their exam, their dental team will examine the tooth, take some X-rays and recommend a personalized treatment plan.
Cavities in baby teeth should be taken seriously! Fillings and other treatments can get your child’s oral health back on track.
Meet the Practice
Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is home to four talented dentists, including a board-certified pediatric dentist. Our team is passionate about helping young smiles to thrive. If you suspect that your child has a cavity or other oral health problems, we are ready to evaluate the situation and make a treatment recommendation. Contact our Pelham, NJ, office at 603-635-1166.