Crowns for Baby Teeth

February is the official National Children's Dental Health Month, as recognized by the ADA. Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry will be rolling out weekly topics relating to pediatric dentistry all month long. Make sure to check back regularly to catch all the great information. 

In some ways, baby teeth aren't that different from their permanent counterparts. When a cavity gets big enough and weakens the overall tooth structure, a crown is often the recommended treatment. However, there are some fundamental differences between the crowns placed on the primary and adult teeth. Read on to catch the full story!

For starters, baby tooth crowns are not made by a dental lab. They usually come from a set of prefabricated stainless steel or polycarbonate crowns that can be adjusted and cut to fit the prepared tooth. For young children, a precise fit between tooth and crown isn't as important as getting something to cover/protect the tooth and minimizing time in the dental chair. In areas where cosmetics may be a concern, "strip" crowns can be used. Here, a clear shell is placed over the tooth and filled with tooth colored filling material. After the material is set, the shell is "stripped" away, leaving behind a natural appearing restoration. 

Many times, a crown on a baby tooth is provided in conjunction with a procedure called a pulpotomy. This is done when a cavity reaches the nerve of a tooth and causes irreversible inflammation. The dentist will remove the inflamed nerve tissue and place a medicated filling before cementing the crown. Many times it is difficult to judge wether a tooth will need a filling, crown and/or pulpotomy before beginning treatment. Don't be surprised if the plan has to change on the fly. 

We typically refer our young patients to pediatric dentists to have crowns placed. The training and expertise of these specialists make the appointments easier and less traumatic for little ones. If you would like to know more about baby tooth crowns, fillings for kids, or any other oral health topics, please give our office a call!

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Bed time is certainly one of the most difficult daily struggles with infants. Fussy youngsters will pull out all the stops to avoid getting a good night's rest. Many parents resort to a warm bottle of milk to help ease them to sleep. However, we must warn that this seemingly innocent technique has some serious dental consequences. 

Breast milk, formula and cow's milk all contain carbohydrates like lactose and sucrose. While these aren't necessarily "sweet" like orange juice or soda, they contain enough sugars to fuel the decay causing bacteria in your child's mouth. When infants are allowed to fall asleep with a bottle, the teeth are essentially bathed in acid all night. This creates a typical pattern of decay called baby bottle mouth. Here, the cavities develop very quickly and can affect every single tooth. This is a particular problem with teeth such as the incisors, which erupt at 6-12 months and need to last until 6-7 years of age. 

Our recommendation is to avoid the temptation of sleeping with a bottle all together. Even a rare occasion could turn into a difficult habit to break. If you have any more questions about childhood tooth decay and how to keep your children's teeth healthy, please give us a call!

Dental Questions: Are my child's front teeth coming in normally?

Here, you can see the child's permanent teeth erupting behind the similar baby tooth. 

We often get calls to our office from parents concerned that their child's adult teeth are coming in behind or in front of the corresponding primary tooth. This can create a "shark tooth" appearance that looks to be preventing the permanent tooth from coming in straight. On the contrary, a retained primary tooth is usually not a problem and will come out on it's own. The permanent tooth should "push" the baby tooth out enough that it becomes loose. If the permanent tooth is fully erupted and the baby tooth still isn't loose, a dentist will usually extract the primary tooth before a problem arises. 

Dr. Kari's son Duke with his two mandibular primary central incisors erupting. These are usually the first teeth to appear.

Likewise, the mandibular primary central incisors are the first baby teeth to be lost (notice the permanent tooth erupting it its place). 

Retained teeth are usually a problem localized to the mandibular and maxillary incisors (four front teeth). The two mandibular primary central incisors are the first teeth to erupt at about six months. Subsequently, they are the first baby teeth lost at five to six years. They make way for the mandibular permanent central incisors, which typically erupt at ages six to seven. You can definitely see how a small overlap in timing can create the "double tooth" problem. 

Overall, any concerns with your child's dentition should be brought up at their yearly checkup. We pride ourselves in being an educational and informative office and want you to leave with peace-of-mind.  If you have any concerns with your family's oral health, please call our office!