A dental crown is a restorative treatment that is most commonly associated with adult patients and root canals. Dental crowns, however, are also widely used in pediatric dentistry, as the treatment offers many benefits to young patients when a tooth becomes severely damaged, decayed, or otherwise compromised. Our pediatric dentists at Just for Kids are here to answer your questions and help you choose the best treatment options to support your child's current and future health.
What Are Pediatric Dental Crowns?
Like adult dental crowns, pediatric dental crowns are a restorative dental treatment. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped dental prosthetic that is designed to cap a tooth and completely cover the visible portion of the tooth.
Types of Pediatric Dental Crowns
There are several different types of dental crowns available for children and treating baby teeth.
- Stainless Steel Crowns
- Stainless steel crowns are the most common. They are silver/gray in color and made from surgical stainless steel.
- White Pediatric Dental Crowns
- White crowns are made from zirconia. They match the color of the tooth quite well.
- Clear Composite Crowns
- Made entirely from tooth-colored resin, these clear crowns are essentially a filling formed into a cap.
Which Crown Is Right for Your Child?
The type of dental crown that is best for your child depends on several factors such as the location of the tooth, history of bruxism, your child's treatment needs, age, cooperation level, and, of course, cost. Our dentists at Just For Kids Dental will talk with you about all of your child's treatment options and answer any questions you might have to help you determine the course of treatment that will be best for your child.
How Dental Crowns Are Used in Pediatric Dentistry?
Dental crowns restore the form, function, and health of a child's natural tooth while preserving it and preventing the need for extraction. A dental crown might be necessary in the event of an injury that significantly damages a tooth or extensive decay that has compromised a tooth's health. A dental crown is the recommended treatment when a traditional dental filling cannot sufficiently restore a compromised tooth.
Pediatric white crowns also offer the added benefit of restoring the aesthetic appearance of a child's smile to its original appearance by restoring the shape and size of a tooth while also blending in with neighboring teeth.
Crowns on Baby Teeth: Why We Recommend Dental Crowns for Children
One of the most common questions our parents and guardians ask our pediatric dentists when we recommend a dental crown for a primary tooth is, "Why do we need to restore a tooth that will eventually fall out and be replaced with a permanent tooth?"
And it's a good, valid question to ask.
First and foremost, not all baby teeth are created equal! Baby teeth in the front will naturally fall out around the ages of 6-8. Baby molars in the back of the mouth tend to stay in the mouth until the ages of 10-13 on average. Additionally, while baby teeth will be lost and replaced as a child grows and develops, it is important to keep the baby teeth until they are ready to be lost naturally. When a dental crown is a recommended treatment, a common alternative is usually extraction, and extracting baby teeth before they are ready to come out on their own can lead to complications.
Orthodontic Concerns
First, extracting a primary tooth will leave a gap between the teeth, making it possible for the neighboring teeth to shift out of place and block the permanent tooth that eventually tries to erupt where the lost baby tooth once was. Shifting teeth after an extraction can result in misalignment, tipped baby teeth, crowded permanent teeth, and blockages. This can result in the need for orthodontic treatment that could have otherwise been prevented.
Restoring and strengthening a damaged baby tooth with a dental crown allows the tooth to act as a placeholder for your child's permanent tooth.
Developmental Concerns
Beyond your child's oral health, teeth are also an essential component in the development of proper speech patterns, and they are necessary for chewing food. Missing a tooth can hamper your child's ability to speak and eat comfortably.
Confidence
If a child's tooth is extracted, the shifting could be prevented with a space maintainer (an orthodontic appliance). However, depending on the location, visibility, and impact of a missing tooth, a child can feel self-conscious about having a missing tooth, and this can impact their confidence.
What to Expect: The Dental Crown Treatment Process for Children
We do our very best to ensure that your child has a positive experience at our office every visit — whether they are here for a routine cleaning or a dental crown. Treatment with dental crowns is a simple and pain-free process for children.
Consultation and Exam
The treatment begins with an initial examination and consultation. At this appointment, we examine your child's teeth and take digital X-rays to thoroughly assess the extent of damage.
Tooth Preparation and Cementation
We then prepare the tooth for treatment with a dental crown. This process takes place with a topical jelly anesthetic and a local anesthetic that completely numbs the treatment area, ensuring a pain-free experience. With these types of dental appointments, we also offer sedation dentistry options. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is most commonly used for dental crown appointments. However, deeper sedation is available with a dedicated anesthesiologist when necessary.
The cavity or compromised tooth structure is removed with a drill and a crown is cemented during the same visit. No need to come back for another visit!
How Much Do White Pediatric Dental Crowns Cost?
Dental crowns are typically covered by most dental insurance policies. White pediatric dental crowns tend to be covered at a lower rate than stainless steel crowns because they are considered an upgraded service.
Our office team will be happy to provide you with estimated costs for your child's various treatment options and help you navigate your insurance policy to better anticipate out-of-pocket expenses.
Preserve Your Child's Smile With Pediatric Dental Crowns in Waxahachie, TX
At Just For Kids Dental, we're committed to helping parents support optimal oral health in their children. We work with you to make the treatment choices that will ensure positive dental experiences, healthy development, and a future filled with bright smiles for your children.
To learn more about pediatric dental crowns or to request an appointment for your child, we welcome you to contact our pediatric dental office in Waxahachie today.
