Dental fillings for children and when does your child need them?

Children’s tooth fillings, Tooth fillings are one of the best ways to help treat decay and get rid of damaged parts of the teeth. Children are susceptible to decay at a young age due to the nature of their food intake and high sugar intake. In this article, we will get to know together how children’s teeth are filled and the types of fillings used. Follow us for all the latest updates.

Children’s tooth fillings

Children’s tooth fillings

Filling children’s teeth is a procedure performed by doctors to treat decay in children’s teeth. Therefore, relying on installing children’s fillings may not achieve any benefit, but may expose them to the discomfort of injections and fear of the doctor’s tools. The doctor may opt to seal the tooth using a filling material suitable for the child, such as glass ionomer cement, or may prefer to cover the tooth with a permanent metal crown if it is a posterior molar.

Recent studies suggest that tooth fillings may be ineffective in treating decay in children’s anterior teeth. Researchers found no evidence that the use of traditional fillings improves treatment, reduces pain or infection. In addition, dentists may choose to seal affected teeth in other ways, such as using special glass ionomer cements or placing a fixed metal crown.

If the affected molar is posterior, placing a fixed crown may be the preferred option. It should be noted that these trials found that all treatment methods contribute to the same level of success. However, tooth decay should be avoided at an early age as it can cause pain and inflammation in children regardless of the treatment method followed.

Your child’s smile is our priority: Safe and comfortable tooth fillings for children at our dental care center.

What causes tooth decay in children?

Tooth decay is a common problem among children. The causes of decay result from several factors, including: the natural accumulation of bacteria in a child’s mouth and plaque formation, which is a sticky substance that adheres to the tooth surface. This material can also coat the teeth and cause erosion, partially due to the weaker enamel in children’s primary teeth compared to permanent teeth in adults, making them more prone to decay.

In addition, other contributing factors to tooth decay include:

• Not drinking enough water after eating.
• Consuming a diet high in sugars and starches.
• Fluoride deficiency in drinking water.
• Insufficient oral hygiene care.

Parents should pay attention to oral health from early stages of a child’s life by implementing a dental hygiene routine and regularly caring for oral cleanliness.

What causes tooth decay in children?

When does your child need pulp filling?

When a child experiences clear pain when consuming hot or cold drinks, they may need pulp filling. Pulp filling is a procedure performed on teeth damaged by pulp decay or injury that severely damages the pulp. It aims to keep the tooth intact and maintain its vital functions. There are several factors that affect a child’s need for pulp filling, such as the dentist’s skill performing the procedure, the clinic’s location, the number of sessions required for treatment, and the tools or technology used for the filling. Therefore, a dentist should be consulted to determine if the child needs pulp filling and outline the steps required for treatment based on their individual case.

Say goodbye to toothache: Gentle and effective tooth filling services for your children with the Dental Care Center.

When should children’s teeth be filled?

When children’s teeth are severely decayed or the nerves are damaged, fillings are used to rebuild and repair these teeth. Dentists prefer to use pulp fillings instead of extracting teeth in the first age group, as tooth extraction can cause health problems affecting speech, jaw function, and food utilization. By performing pulp filling, the infected tissue in the crown and pulp canals is removed and filled with special material to maintain children’s health and avoid potential problems in the future.

Types of tooth fillings for children

The types of tooth fillings for children vary to meet their individual needs. Among these types commonly used to treat tooth decay in children are amalgam, composite resin, gold fillings, porcelain, and pulp fillings. Tooth fillings are generally used in young children to treat decay affecting primary teeth, as well as temporary fillings for teeth and cavities under the gum line and as a base for other dental fillings in cases of deep decay.

Notable features of tooth fillings for children include their reasonable color match to natural teeth, and they help protect teeth from decay by releasing fluoride. The appropriate type of filling is determined based on several factors such as the child’s age, health condition, location of the tooth to be treated, extent of decay, and cost. Therefore, there is no single type that is considered best in general, and the appropriate type is determined for each individual case.

Filling anterior teeth in children

A recent study suggests that traditional fillings may be useless in treating anterior tooth decay in children. No evidence was found that the use of traditional fillings improves treatment, reduces pain, or prevents infection. In addition, doctors may choose to seal affected teeth in other ways, such as using special glass fillings or placing a fixed metal crown.

If the affected molar is posterior, placing a fixed crown may be the preferred option. It should be noted that these trials found that all treatment methods contribute to the same level of success. However, dental caries should be avoided at an early age as it can cause pain and inflammation in children regardless of the treatment method followed.

Your child’s smile is our priority: Safe and comfortable tooth fillings for children at our dental care center.

Tips for oral care in children

Caring for children’s mouth and teeth is important to maintain healthy and clean mouth. Here are some useful tips for oral care in children:

1. Start early: Starting mouth and teeth care from an early age can help children develop good oral hygiene habits. Provide them with a soft toothbrush and teach proper tooth brushing technique early in childhood.
2. Supervision and support: Ensure parents or guardians supervise tooth brushing for children until a certain age as they may need assistance with proper cleaning and applying toothpaste correctly.
3. Regular cleaning: Children should learn to brush their teeth after every meal or at least twice a day. They should use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to improve their protection against decay.
4. Proper brushing technique: Children should learn the proper brushing technique to effectively clean all tooth surfaces. They should gently move the brush in a circular motion on each tooth surface and gum, as well as gently brush the tongue to remove bacteria.
5. Using suitable toothpaste: Choosing fluoride toothpaste can strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Ensure only a small amount is used, and after brushing, children should spit out the toothpaste and rinse their mouth.
6. Paying attention to nutrition: A healthy diet plays an important role in mouth and teeth health. Maintain a balanced diet with dairy, fruits, vegetables, and avoid excessive sugars and carbonated beverages.
7. Regular dental visits: Schedule regular appointments for check-ups and evaluation. The dentist can also provide additional advice, preventive procedures, and regular cleaning and polishing.

With these tips, children can develop healthy oral hygiene habits from an early age as they learn proper tooth brushing and mouth care, maintaining their dental health and overall wellbeing.

Tips for oral care in children

Is pulp extraction harmful for children?

There are many concerns and anxiety generated in parents about pulp extraction for children. In this official list, we will review the most important points related to pulp extraction for children and determine how harmful it is.

1. Benefits of pulp extraction for children: Pulp extraction is generally a painless procedure performed after administering local anesthesia to the child. The main benefits of pulp extraction for children are:

• It can save a tooth severely affected by deep decay or damage.
• It prevents the spread of infection and inflammation to other teeth and gums.
• It reduces the occurrence of severe pain and swelling in the affected tooth.

2. Temporary pain and swelling: Although pulp extraction is mostly a painless procedure, the child may experience some temporary pain and swelling after the procedure. The child can relieve pain by taking prescribed pain medication and applying ice to the affected tooth to reduce swelling.
3. Long term consequences: When performed correctly by a specialist dentist, the affected tooth can heal and recover completely without issues. However, there is a slight chance of rare complications like abscess formation or root canal dilatation. Parents should monitor the treated tooth and consult the dentist if any complications arise.
4. Importance of proper dental care after treatment: After pulp extraction, parents should ensure the child adheres to proper dental care to maintain overall mouth and teeth health. The child should brush regularly, floss, and visit the dentist for check-ups to maintain tooth health and avoid chronic issues.
5. When pulp extraction is necessary: Pulp extraction for children becomes necessary when there is deep decay causing pulp inflammation or trauma severely damaging the pulp. Failure to treat the infected pulp can result in severe pain and abscess in the affected tooth.

Is it necessary to install a temporary crown after pulp filling for children?

When filling a child’s pulp, installing a temporary crown is one of the necessary procedures to protect the tooth. After pulp filling, the tooth becomes more brittle and prone to fracture, so a temporary crown is recommended to protect the filled tooth from fracture. The appropriate timing for crown placement is determined, which can be placed under local anesthetic or using conscious sedation to calm the child before the procedure.

It is also advisable to avoid eating for an hour after placing the crown, and to eat soft foods on the first day while avoiding sticky foods like dairy until the temporary crown sheds and the permanent tooth erupts. Placing a temporary crown after pulp filling is an important procedure to preserve the tooth and its function until the permanent teeth erupt.

Your children’s mouth health starts today: Safe and reliable tooth fillings for little ones at our dental care center. And if you want to know the cost of installing temporary crowns for children’s teeth, you can read the next article.

How to relieve tooth decay pain in children?

There are several ways to help relieve toothache in children resulting from decay, including:

• Placing a cotton ball soaked in clove oil on the affected area and leaving it to fully absorb the oil, then placing it on the painful spot.
• Having the child chew a clove and place it on the decayed tooth for about half an hour.
• Aloe vera gel contains antibacterial properties that aid in treating tooth decay by applying a small amount of aloe vera gel to the affected area and massaging gently for 2 minutes.
• Warm salt water is an effective way to relieve tooth decay pain in children as the salt kills bacteria and the warm water soothes pain. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of water and use it as a mouth rinse.
• Garlic paste is one of the best remedies for relieving tooth decay pain in children as garlic has antibacterial properties against decay-causing bacteria. Alternatively, place a small piece of garlic on the affected tooth to effectively relieve pain.
• Mint pouches are among the best analgesics for relieving tooth decay pain in children as they numb pain and relax inflamed gums.
• You can also use a few drops of peppermint oil with clove oil for the same purpose. Frozen mint pouches placed between the cheek and gum can also relieve tooth pain.

How to relieve tooth decay pain in children?

Best dental care and cosmetic center in Cairo

It is certain that the Dental Care Center is among the best specialized centers for dental care and cosmetics in Cairo. This center provides a distinctive medical experience that ensures client comfort and confidence. The Dental Care Center has a good reputation in Cairo for providing high quality services and extensive expertise in dental care and cosmetics where clients can rely on this center to meet their needs and expectations.

The center cares about friendly patient handling and meeting all their needs as it relies on using the latest techniques and advanced methods in dental care and cosmetics. You can get a free consultation at our center located in Nasr City, Medical Center 3, Clinic 412.