Our
pediatric dentist might recommend a stainless steel crown for your child’s baby tooth if it has been severely damaged by decay. A baby tooth that is lost prematurely can lead to a range of issues, like the child’s permanent teeth being poorly aligned when they erupt. A stainless steel crown allows a
pediatric dentist to save a tooth when it would have otherwise been lost.
Tooth decay is one of the most common reasons parents take their children to a dental clinic. Children are more susceptible to the condition since baby teeth have thinner enamel protecting them. Tooth decay is caused by acids made by bacteria in the mouth. These acids eat away at teeth structures, creating tiny holes caused by cavities. A cavity will continuously expand until it is treated or completely destroys a tooth.
Fluoride treatments can be used to reverse the first stage of tooth decay, and fillings can be used to close up cavities as they form. However, when left untreated for long enough, these treatments are no longer viable options.
A stainless steel crown is typically recommended for severe cases of tooth decay that involve a significant risk of the tooth breaking apart. The pediatric dentist might have to perform a root canal before covering up the tooth in such cases.
Root canals are performed to remove the contents of the pulp chamber if decay leaves the area compromised. The procedure involves drilling a hole into the tooth and extracting its nerve and blood vessels. The dentist administers local anesthesia for the procedure, so the child does not feel pain as they work. The tooth can then be capped with a crown to prevent it from breaking apart further.
In some cases, a pediatric dentist might have to build a child’s tooth up with filling before covering it up with a crown. It ultimately comes down to how badly damaged the tooth is.