Conservative Dentistry

White restorations (fillings): If the cavity is bigger and has entered the second layer of the tooth (dentin) the cavity will need to be removed so it does not spread to the rest of the tooth.  A white material will be put in its place to look like the natural tooth.

Crowns: If the cavity is very large and is on several parts of the tooth, a stainless steel crown may be recommended. This is a simple process. After the cavity is removed, a crown fit to your child’s tooth will be placed with a special dental cement.

Pulptomy or baby root canal: If the cavity becomes so large that it enters the pulp (nerve) a pulpotomy (baby root canal) will be necessary. In this procedure only the infected portion of the nerve is removed and a medicine is put in its place. In order to ensure that the tooth remains strong and protected a crown will be placed on top of the tooth.

Space maintainers:  Baby teeth can be lost prematurely from trauma, cavities, or from misplaced permanent teeth. If this is the case a space maintainer may be necessary. This appliance will help to ensure that the teeth do not move. Without placing a space maintainer the tipping teeth could block the permanent tooth from coming in, and can cause a shift in the child’s bite.