Treatment for dental cavities

Although baby teeth, are eventually shed, they are important for many reasons:

• They help children speak clearly and chew naturally.
• They guide adult teeth, forming a path for them to follow when they are ready to erupt.
• They retain space for adult teeth, reducing the need for braces in the future.
• Infected baby teeth may affect the development and the appearance of the underlying adult teeth.
• When the adult teeth erupt among the decayed baby teeth, there will be a greater chance for them to become decayed as well.
• Healthy smile boosts your child’s self-esteem creating more confidence in school and in social situations.
• Decayed primary teeth may cause such a discomfort during tooth brushing that the child is prevented from learning good oral hygiene habits.
• With bad primary molars the child cannot chew properly, and may have to choose soft and often unhealthy food.
• The treatment of badly decayed teeth, including necessary extractions, may be difficult which may cause fear of dental treatment.

Therefore, your child’s baby teeth must be fixed to prevent pain and facial swelling or infection. Remember that baby teeth are much smaller than adult teeth, and cavities quickly get to the nerve and cause pain and infection. Delaying treatment for a cavity may result in the need for pulp therapy or an extraction.

Treatment options for dental cavities include: fluoride application, disking, fillings, pediatric crowns (stainless steel, ceramic, or strip crowns), pulp therapy or extraction.