If a cavity destroys too much of a tooth, you or your child may need a crown to prevent further damage or painful infections.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
If a cavity is not caught early, the decay can destroy so much of the tooth that there is not enough left to support a filling. This can also be the case with a broken tooth or with a root canal.
A dental crown keeps the tooth and root intact and reduces the risk of pain and infection. Dental crowns for kids are the recommended way to either keep a baby tooth in place or save a permanent tooth.
The Super Dentists will advise you about using either a stainless steel or composite dental crown.
Options include both stainless steel (silver) or composite (tooth-colored) crowns. Different materials are recommended based on the location in the mouth of where the crown needs to be placed.
Types of Dental Crowns for Kids
Composite Dental Crowns
A composite (white) crown may be used in some cases, however; because the crown has microscopic pores, it has a tendency to darken slightly over time, fracture, break at any time or even lead to infection. Patients should not bite into anything with their front teeth; they should use their back teeth to cut food into small pieces. Front teeth will receive resin (white) crowns, the doctor will explain other options should they be necessary. Composite white crowns are not recommended for posterior or back teeth. Crowns completely cover a tooth that has very little tooth structure left or one that has had pulp treatment, has been weakened by decay, has been cracked, discolored or damaged. In some cases, crowns will not stay attached due to a lack of tooth structure (in that case, other treatment options, including extraction, may be considered). Crowns will improve the strength and appearance of teeth.
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Composite dental crowns are metal free and look more natural. There are a limited number of shades (colors) to choose from so a perfect match to your teeth may not be possible.
A composite dental crown isn’t as strong as natural teeth, so care needs to be taken not to bite down on hard objects that put pressure on a composite dental crown. Keep in mind that it is possible for composite dental crowns to darken slightly after time.
Stainless Steel Dental crowns
Stainless steel crowns are stronger, therefore they are typically used if a crown is needed for back teeth.
Stainless steel dental crowns are long-lasting and protect the tooth and root of a baby tooth until tooth loss occurs naturally. Usually a stainless steel dental crown can be placed during one appointment. The dentist shapes your child’s tooth to the necessary form and then trims a crown to fit over the tooth. The dental crown is cemented into place where it remains until the permanent tooth is ready to come in and the baby tooth falls out. The procedure to place stainless steel dental crowns on a permanent tooth is the same; however, it is designed to remain in place for many years.
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Patients should brush and clean their crown just like any other tooth.
Brush close to the gums and floss to prevent gum inflammation.
If this should occur, you also need to bring your child in to have the crown re-cemented. The glue we use to cement a grown is made up of mostly water-soluble substances and is safe, but over time, the glue may become loose.
Avoid sticky foods such as caramels, taffy, chewing gum, or even biting into an apple, which can pull the crown out or break the crown off.
Do not attempt to use super glue or to fix this issue on your own at home.
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