Pediatric Dental Crowns In Manhattan Beach
What are Pediatric Dental Crowns?
Pediatric dental crowns are protective caps placed over a child’s tooth to restore its shape, strength, and function after significant decay, trauma, or developmental issues. At Toothlings Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Melissa Grant offers both stainless steel and zirconia crown options to repair and protect your child’s smile. Whether a tooth needs extra support after a pulpotomy (baby tooth root canal) or has been weakened by cavities, dental crowns help preserve the natural tooth and promote healthy development until it’s ready to naturally fall out.
The Benefits of Pediatric Dental Crowns
Protects Natural Teeth and Maintains Space
Crowns protect baby teeth from further decay and damage, helping to maintain proper spacing for adult teeth to come in correctly. Saving a baby tooth until it naturally falls out is crucial for speech development, preserving space for adult teeth, and facial growth.
Durable and Long-Lasting Solutions
Both stainless steel and zirconia crowns are highly durable, designed to withstand the pressures of chewing and everyday use. Stainless steel crowns are silver in color, and in some cases are better suited for back teeth. Zirconia crowns are white/tooth-colored, and offer a strong natural-looking solution for certain candidates. Dr. Grant can discuss the pros and cons of each option based on the needs of your child.
Restores Comfort and Confidence
When a tooth is damaged, it can cause pain or make eating difficult. Crowns restore the function and appearance of the tooth, helping your child eat, speak, and smile comfortably and confidently.
Protects Natural Teeth and Maintains Space
Crowns protect baby teeth from further decay and damage, helping to maintain proper spacing for adult teeth to come in correctly. Saving a baby tooth until it naturally falls out is crucial for speech development, preserving space for adult teeth, and facial growth.
Durable and Long-Lasting Solutions
Both stainless steel and zirconia crowns are highly durable, designed to withstand the pressures of chewing and everyday use. Stainless steel crowns are silver in color, and in some cases are better suited for back teeth. Zirconia crowns are white/tooth-colored, and offer a strong natural-looking solution for certain candidates. Dr. Grant can discuss the pros and cons of each option based on the needs of your child.
Restores Comfort and Confidence
When a tooth is damaged, it can cause pain or make eating difficult. Crowns restore the function and appearance of the tooth, helping your child eat, speak, and smile comfortably and confidently.
Dental Crown Options: How We Can Help
Stainless steel crowns are a trusted, time-tested option commonly used for back molars. They are incredibly strong, cost-effective, and ideal for teeth that endure heavy chewing forces. Their silver color makes them best suited for molars, where durability matters most.
Zirconia crowns are tooth-colored, metal-free crowns made from durable ceramic material. They blend beautifully with your child’s natural smile and are perfect for restoring front teeth or back molars when aesthetics are a priority. Zirconia crowns are biocompatible, smooth, and resistant to plaque buildup.
Comprehensive Exam
Dr. Grant will conduct a thorough examination of your child’s teeth to identify areas of decay and determine if SDF is the appropriate treatment. Not every cavity can be effectively treated this way, however this assessment ensures that we choose the best approach for your child’s specific needs.
Prepare the Tooth
The decayed teeth are gently cleaned and dried to prepare them for the SDF application. This step ensures that the solution adheres properly and can effectively address the decay.
Application of SDF
Using a small brush, Dr. Grant will carefully apply the SDF solution to the affected areas. The process is quick and painless, allowing your child to remain comfortable throughout the treatment. Depending on your child’s needs, additional applications may be required at future appointments to ensure the lasting success of the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pediatric crowns are designed to last until the baby tooth naturally falls out, typically staying securely in place for several years with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
Yes! Zirconia crowns are safe, strong, and biocompatible. They’re an excellent choice for families who prefer a metal-free and highly aesthetic option for their child’s smile.
If a tooth has extensive decay or structural damage that a filling alone can’t fix, a crown is used to restore strength and prevent the need for early extraction.