Protecting your child’s smile
If your child is experiencing dental issues, Shawnee Pediatric Dentistry is here to assist with compassionate, restorative care. Cavities are a common childhood dental health issue, so we offer composite fillings and stainless steel crowns that'll treat and protect your child’s smile from further damage.
If your child’s teeth are sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, or your little one is complaining of a toothache, give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Dental Fillings
A dental filling is a restoration used to repair minor damage. We may recommend a filling if your child’s tooth has been damaged by decay (for example, if it has a cavity), or if a tooth suffers from minor fracturing or chipping. The dental filling is used to restore the tooth to its original structure and function, and to return your child’s smile to good health.
Our office uses tooth-colored composite fillings because they have a natural, tooth-like appearance, bond strongly to the tooth, and allow the least amount of tooth structure removal when treating the cavity. While fillings vary in size and composition, they're generally recommended for small-sized cavities.
Timely intervention with a composite filling is essential for maintaining your child’s oral health. If you leave a cavity untreated, it could become bigger and require more extensive treatment. When possible, composite fillings are our first choice in treating a tooth in the front or back of your child's mouth.
The process for placing a composite filling typically requires just one comfortable visit to our office. Dr. Sarah will gently remove any decayed or damaged material from your child’s tooth, then clean it to remove all traces of decay. Then, we occupy the area with filling material and shape it to match your child’s tooth’s shape. Finally, the filling is hardened for a lasting restoration.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown, or cap, is a restoration that can be used for a number of purposes. One of the most common uses of a dental crown is to restore a tooth that's significantly damaged or decayed. There are many reasons a tooth may need a crown including the size of the cavity, developmental issues, and many other parameters included in the American Academy of Pediatric Dental's guidelines.
We'll discuss these reasons and recommendations when we perform our individual exam. These are available in tooth-colored and silver. We typically recommend tooth-colored — white crowns on the front teeth and silver (stainless steel) in the back. We also offer white crowns for back teeth if the parent desires and the clinical exam allows this procedure to be successful.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal treatment is a type of endodontic therapy that's often recommended if the tooth pulp and nerves become infected or damaged. This may occur if injury or decay reaches deep into the tooth, past the outer enamel layer. When left untreated, this type of infection and disease may cause the tooth to die and necessitate tooth extraction.
To restore the health of the tooth and avoid the need for extraction, Dr. Sarah will remove the infected and injured tissues from within the tooth, clean the tooth, and fill it with a medicated material. Then, we'll cap the tooth with a restoration, such as a dental crown, to return the tooth to its original shape and structure.
Root canal treatment has a reputation for being a painful treatment. In reality, a root canal treatment can often be completed with minimal discomfort thanks to advanced techniques, tools, and anesthesia. Dr. Sarah and the entire team works hard to provide your child with a pleasant and comfortable experience each time they visit our office.
Extractions
While Dr. Sarah and the entire team at Shawnee Pediatric Dentistry make every effort to help keep your child’s teeth healthy, there may be some situations where removing the tooth is the best option.
We may recommend extracting your child’s tooth if:
There is too much tooth decay to restore the tooth
The baby tooth is preventing the permanent teeth from erupting properly
The tooth needs to be taken out in preparation for orthodontic treatment
The tooth has sustained damage from trauma or severe infection
Our team is as gentle as possible when removing your child’s tooth. We want your child to feel comfortable in our office, and make every effort to ensure that their tooth extraction is as painless as possible. We’ll numb the area with a local anesthetic and, if needed, gently loosen the tooth root from the surrounding gums and bone so it can be safely and painlessly extracted.
We'll provide you with instructions on the best way to care for your child after their tooth has been extracted. Our goal is to help them heal and recover as quickly as possible so that they can once again enjoy a healthy smile.