Dental crowns are an important part of restorative dentistry. If a tooth is badly chipped, or cracked, or dealing with a large cavity, crowns can be used to restore it and prevent an extraction.

But that’s for adult teeth. Are stainless steel crowns really necessary for a child who still has their baby teeth? Keep reading to learn the answer!

Why Premature Baby Tooth Loss Is Bad News

Baby teeth fall out on their own, but they actually follow a specific schedule! Kids usually begin to lose their teeth when they’re around 5-6 years old.

Primary teeth start to loosen when the adult teeth are ready to pop out, and slowly dissolve the baby tooth root. For the most part, pediatric dentists want to make sure this happens naturally since your child needs their baby teeth for gum and bone development, as well as while learning to chew their food and speak.

If a child loses their baby teeth prematurely, it can mean some bad news for their oral health down the line. The other baby teeth can also migrate, leading to no available space for the primary tooth to erupt properly, which then creates alignment issues that need correcting through braces.

Why Stainless Steel Crowns Are Important in Pediatric Dentistry

Stainless steel crowns help prevent premature baby tooth loss and ensure the child’s smile develops properly. The crowns will go over a natural baby tooth and restore it, allowing the little one to eat, speak, and continue to grow.

Of course, stainless steel crowns aren’t always necessary, and pediatric dentists have several ways to protect a child’s smile. 

But they may be useful in the following cases:

• Large cavities or infection: In these cases, the baby tooth will likely lose a lot of natural tissue, which means a simple dental filling is insufficient to restore the tooth. The stainless steel crown is appropriate even if the child has a large cavity or badly infected tooth;
• Large chips or cracks: Some chips and cracks are easily fixed with dental bonding, but if the damage is severe, the tooth needs a lot more support, which only crowns can offer;
• Broken teeth: If a large part of the tooth breaks off because of an accident, then your child will most likely need a stainless steel crown. This protects the baby tooth underneath until it’s ready to naturally fall out.

Find Out If Stainless Steel Crowns Are Right for Your Child

Is your child dealing with a damaged tooth? Bring them to see Dr. Kemia Zeinali for a short consultation to find out which restorative measure can help restore their smile!

To get started, request an appointment at Dreamhouse Dental online.

Want to learn more about pediatric crowns or other services your child might need? Then feel free to call us at (323) 300-2660 for a short chat.