Pediatric Dental Crowns
Baby teeth may be small, but these temporary teeth play a big role in your child's development and should be saved whenever possible.
If a tiny molar or other tooth suffers a deep cavity or trauma, Children's Dental of Waltham may recommend a stainless steel dental crown.
Learn why the dentists at our Waltham, MA, practice make saving baby teeth with crowns a priority.
Baby Teeth Are Temporary ... Why Do They Need Dental Crowns?
Parents often ask why we bother saving a baby tooth damaged by cavities when it's going to replaced by a permanent tooth later on.
While baby teeth are temporary, they are an important "first act" for your child's permanent teeth.
When a damaged tooth is rescued with a pediatric dental crown, you are doing much more than restoring the tooth's shape, size, and function. You are setting the stage for your child's future development.
The crowned tooth:
- Acts as a placeholder for the permanent tooth, guiding it into position and reducing the chances of extensive orthodontic treatment later
- Aids in the normal development of the child's jawbone and muscles
- Allows for proper speech development
- Aids in chewing food for a healthier diet
Why a Stainless Steel Crown?
Stainless steel crowns completely cover a tooth and are the most commonly used crowns in pediatric dentistry, largely because they are so effective at protecting baby teeth. They are also simpler to apply than porcelain and other materials. While tiny, these are permanent crowns designed to stay in place until the tooth falls out naturally. Pediatric crowns:
- Are durable, but inexpensive
- Are easy to place and usually require just one visit
- Can save the tooth from extraction
- Can be used to cover a tooth that has not formed correctly
- Come as pre-made shells that can be easily customized to fit the tooth
If the damaged tooth is towards the front of the mouth and more visible, other tooth-colored materials such as porcelain can be considered so the result looks more like a natural tooth.
"Customer-centric, Professional, Compassionate"
Crystal Paolini
2019
Staff is awesome very friendly with my children and also caring. Kids and I feel safe with them and trust them very much. My daughter broker her tooth her half at dance and the Dr was able to fix it perfectly!!! She really is unbelievable at what she does. I highly recommend Children’s Dental Center of Waltham.
View More Google ReviewsYana Khalina-Stackpole
2017
At Dr. Gutnichenko's practice we found the most "customer-centric", professional, compassionate and technologically advanced care for our daughter, who presented with multiple challenges (we have been to quite a few offices before). Our whole family moved to them as a result ...
View More Google ReviewsI'm Worried My Child Will Be Scared
We understand that unfamiliar sights and sounds of a dental practice can be concerning for children. That's why the dentists and staff at Children's Dental of Waltham, MA, go out of their way to create a warm, reassuring environment. They are trained in gentle techniques that will help make your child feel safe, from our front lobby to the treatment rooms.
Gentle Dentistry with WaterLase Virtually Pain-Free Dentistry
This high-tech system uses water, air, and laser energy to quickly treat the area with virtually no pain, reducing the need for uncomfortable anesthetic injections.
We're Multilingual
What Happens during Treatment?
Our dentist will first x-ray the tooth to determine if a filling can protect it or if a pediatric dental crown is needed to add strength. We'll also look to see if the inside of the tooth, the pulp, is infected. In that case, it will be necessary to perform a "baby" root canal, a pulpectomy, before placing the crown.
We offer gentle sedation dentistry so children can be comfortable throughout treatment.
The stainless steel cap is a permanent crown that is designed to stay in place until the baby tooth falls out naturally.
Are Costs a Concern? We Can Help ...
Cavities spread quickly in baby teeth, which lack the thicker enamel of permanent teeth. That makes prompt dental care important. If you need help with out-of-pocket costs, we accept low- or no-interest CareCredit® financing so your child can receive care when they need it.
