Has your pediatric dentist suggested a Dental Crown? Then read on to know more about Dental crowns and if your Child needs it or not.
Why does your child need a dental crown?
Every parent desires that their children should be free of any decay in their teeth which will help them in being healthy. Yet it doesn’t stop the initial thought by parents when they hear the word Dental crown. Thoughts keep coming to mind, is there really a need for a crown? They are just baby teeth which are eventually going to be replaced by permanent teeth. But the facts are different. Pediatric Dentistry says that baby teeth can help your child to speak properly, eat comfortably and serve as a space maintainer for their permanent teeth
If decayed teeth are not treated, it compromises other surrounding teeth too. Dental decay in children’s teeth is a significant health problem and affects 60% to 90% of school children. When teeth have decay, the dentist does a filling if the cavity is small. But if the cavity is large and involves multiple surfaces of the tooth, then doing just a filling does not suffice because the filling will lack support of the tooth structure. In such cases the dentist will recommend that tooth should be reinforced with a crown. Also, after doing a root canal treatment the placement of crowns is recommended to prevent fracture of the tooth and to avoid further ingress of bacteria
Types of Pediatric Crowns
Crowns used for children for repair and restoration of primary teeth differ slightly in terms of material used, but function in a similar manner to the adult crowns. These crowns are usually pre formed in the form of tooth shaped caps which cover vulnerable teeth , and thus store their strength
The selection of which type of crown to be placed is mainly dependent on the location where it is required in the oral cavity. Like if it’s a back tooth where esthetics is not very important metal crowns are preferred, whereas for front teeth, esthetic crowns are suggested as it will give more of a natural look.
These crowns are ready crowns and hence the treatment can be completed in a single visit itself, unlike adults where they have to visit 2 or 3 times for crown placement. If these decayed teeth or root canal completed teeth are not covered by a crown, there are high chances of breakage with the tooth, which will further complicate the case. The layers of baby teeth are very thin compared to the adult teeth and this makes them vulnerable to easy breakage. On other hand if a tooth is lost prematurely, neighboring teeth will want to fill in the space and thus create crowning of all teeth. This might be a clear indication of orthodontic treatment in future.
Stainless Steel crowns
One type of pediatric crowns is the stainless steel crowns which have been used for more than 80 years now. They are known as the gold standard in pediatric dentistry, the crown is a preformed metal shell that can be easily placed and customized to fit on any tooth. The durability, strength and resistance to moisture is 1000% compared to other crowns.
They require minimal preparation, are cost effective and the most affordable option to go for. The only concern with these crowns is of esthetics and they are metal crowns and hence cannot be given in front teeth. But when you want high strength durable crowns for back teeth, stainless steel crowns are the best.
Zirconia crowns
Today due to various technological advancements, many esthetic crowns are available in the market. Unlike stainless steel crowns, they are made up of tooth coloured material and have the same strength as stainless steel crowns. These crowns are more durable than natural tooth layers and are resistant to plaque accumulation or any decay. Also these crowns are not capable of producing an allergic response when placed in the mouth.
These crowns are known as zirconia crowns. They are the same color as that of milk teeth. Zirconia means basically it’s made up of ceramic and is the same material which is used in adult teeth. So if your child has decay in front teeth or is being treated with root canal treatment, pediatric zirconia crown can provide excellent esthetics.
Resin crowns
These are also esthetic crowns which are prepared by your dentist. These crowns demand high skills and require more time to perform. They are highly esthetic but cannot be used for uncooperative children because of the sensitive skills required. They are a good way to be used in treatment for general anesthesia and are much more affordable than zirconia crowns. But the choice of crown to be used is mainly decided by your pediatric dentist. Dental crowns seem unnecessary for baby teeth but they help restore strength and functionality.
Visit Credence Dental today to get more information on types of dental crowns and what’s best for your child.
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