Restorative Dentistry
Puyallup, WA
Restorative Dentistry provided by Dr. Hersey
in Puyallup, WA at Puyallup Pediatric Dentistry
 If you have heard the term restorative dentistry, you probably relate it to adults who have tooth issues. However, there are pediatric restorative services, and it is important to understand exactly what kind of pediatric dental procedures involve tooth restoration. Here is information from Puyallup Pediatric Dentistry about restorative dentistry for kids.
Why Children Need Restorative Dentistry
Many people believe that restorative dentistry should be reserved for adults because their teeth are permanent, while children will lose their baby teeth before their permanent teeth grow in. However, there are occasions when tooth restoration for children is necessary.
For example, dental care for kids may be necessary if your child has suffered trauma to their mouth as a result of an injury or because of an accident. Your child may need pediatric dental crowns to be able to continue chewing food until the permanent tooth takes over.
Dentists know that children who lose teeth due to trauma may have other, more permanent issues. The other teeth may try to shift to fill the place of the missing teeth, which can cause unevenly spaced teeth, crooked teeth, and issues with the jaw joint.
Also, if your child has issues with severe tooth decay, the cavities in their teeth need to be filled using pediatric dental fillings. It is important for their oral health to keep cavities away from their teeth. Children with poor dental hygiene may have permanent teeth that do not erupt at all, or they erupt misshapen or discolored.
Pediatric dental treatments are a vital part of dental care for children. Here are some of the most common child restorative dental services we offer.
Baby Root Canals
Pediatric root canals are not as common as adult root canal procedures, but they do occur in nearly 20 percent of children with severe tooth decay. An untreated large cavity in a tooth can infect the tooth root, as well as the gum tissue and the jawbone.
Root canals for baby teeth are done in much the same way as adult root canals. First, Dr. Hersey will ensure that the area around the decayed tooth is completely numb. Then he will make an incision either in the gum tissue or in the top of the tooth, depending on where the infection is located.
Dr. Hersey then removes the infection from inside the tooth pulp and fills the center of the tooth with a composite mix. Our dentist will then place a crown over the tooth so it can function normally.
Pediatric Tooth Fillings
One of the most common restorative tooth procedures done in children is pediatric tooth filling. In fact, over 60 percent of children will have at least one cavity by the time they are 16.
Cavities are most common in the molars. Molars represent the largest teeth humans have. They have two tooth roots rather than one, and they have the largest biting surfaces as well. Because molars are located at the back of the jaw and because they have deep pits or grooves, they are the most common place to get a cavity.
If Dr. Hersey catches tooth decay early, the filling of dental caries will not take long at all because the decay is only in the first layer of the tooth tissue, called the enamel. Once the tooth decay progresses into the second layer of the tooth, or the dentin, it is called a cavity. No matter where the tooth decay is or how deep it is, the procedure for filling a cavity is the same. Our dentist simply drills out the infection and fills the hole in the tooth with either a metal, ceramic, or composite filling material to prevent the cavity from returning.
Pediatric Dental Crown
Dental crowns have been used for decades to help people keep their teeth or to protect a tooth from further damage. You can think of a dental crown as a protective hat or cap for a tooth that covers a tooth. Crowns can be metal, ceramic over a metal cap, or composite.
The primary reason children may need a crown is to protect a tooth from any further damage due to trauma or tooth decay. However, there are times when dental crowns are used for other reasons.
If your child has a permanent tooth with a cavity or damage, you may notice the tooth is discolored. To keep the tooth the same color as the other teeth, our dentist may recommend a pediatric dental crown. Crowns can cover cracks, chips, or broken teeth as well.
Laser Dentistry for Kids
You may think of lasers as props in a movie, but they have many applications. For example, lasers are used quite often in pediatric dental practice. There are many reasons lasers are ideal for pediatric patients.
First, lasers make far less noise than dental drills do, so if your child does not like loud noises, laser treatment may be ideal. Also, lasers do not require our dentist to numb the mouth with shots ahead of time because lasers do not cause pain. Lasers can treat many issues in the mouth without the risk of infection and blood loss, both due to the heat of the laser.
Our dentist can use lasers to treat soft tissues and bone. For example, lasers can be used to cut the soft tissue under the tongue that is preventing proper tongue movement; this condition is known as a tongue tie. Lasers can also remove excessive tissue from around a tooth that cannot erupt properly.
Lasers can remove a cavity or infected tissue from the center of a tooth, and they can even be used to whiten teeth or harden a dental sealant. In other words, because our dentist uses a laser to treat pediatric dental issues, your child can experience less pain and bleeding and a shorter recovery time.
Schedule a Restorative Procedure in Puyallup Today!
If you think your child has pediatric dental issues, maybe it is time to reach out to our office. We specialize in the dental needs of children, so you can be sure your child is in the best hands. Why not give Puyallup Pediatric Dentistry a call at (253) 864-9889? Get in touch with us today. |
