Get Filled in on Your Child’s Choices for Fillings in Pediatric Dentistry

Today, kids have many choices of fillings for cavities. As a result, selecting the right treatment can be very overwhelming. While you should always follow the advice of your family dentistry clinic, it helps to know about each option before making the choice for your child.

PREVENTIVE RESINS -The First Choice for the First Sign of a Cavity

Pediatric dentistry experts love the protection that these resins provide. Once the decay is removed, the preventive resin is applied to the tooth to serve as a dental sealant against future decay. Consider the following to see if this treatment suits your child:

• Practically invisible
• Provides ongoing decay protection
• Only recommended to treat tiny cavities

AMALGAM FILLINGS - Silver Fillings that Remain the Gold Standard

Amalgam fillings are simply another name for the silver fillings that you probably had growing up. Even though they’ve been used in family dentistry for more than 100 years, silver continues to be one of the most popular types of dental filling materials. Before choosing amalgam fillings for your child, you need to know the following about them:

• Very durable
• Easy to place
• Lower cost than other treatment options
• Usually only used on back teeth due to noticeable silver material
• Only for smaller- to medium-sized sized cavities
• Not used to treat primary molars or cases of severe decay

TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS - Big Aesthetic Appeal for Small Cavities

This filling is made out of tooth-colored composite resin, which makes it one of the most attractive and least noticeable types of dental filling materials. Yet you need to understand the strengths and weaknesses:

• Best for smaller cavities
• Should only be used in low-stress areas of the mouth
• Takes longer to apply
• Less durable than silver fillings
• May be more expensive than the amalgam alternative

PRE-FORMED (STAINLESS STEEL) CROWNS - Low-Cost Choice for High Degree of Decay or Damage

According to family dentistry experts, this treatment is ideal for severe decay or dental damage. These crowns are usually used when decay has advanced to the point that it’s destroyed much of the tooth, which makes it impossible to place a filling. Crowns are able to restore the tooth and provide future decay protection. Consider the pros and cons of this option:

• Recommended for teeth with extensive decay, a great deal of damage, severe developmental defects, and after root canal treatment
• May last longer than other restorations
• An affordable alternative for extensive dental decay or damage
• More noticeable than tooth-colored crowns

TOOTH-COLORED CROWNS - Naturally Strong Treatment with a Natural Look

These have become one of the most popular options at pediatric dentistry clinics. They are used in the same cases as stainless crowns, but their tooth-colored material makes them more aesthetically pleasing. But be aware of these considerations before choosing these crowns:

• Best for cases of severe decay, serious dental damage, developmental dental defects, or after a root canal
• Less durable than stainless-steel crowns
• More expensive than the stainless steel alternative
• Requires more treatment time

Now that you know your child’s options, ask your pediatric dentist which treatment is right for your child.