What Happens During a Cavity Treatment For Kids?

Scheduling a cavity treatment for kids is something that is necessary to if a child complains of a toothache. If, after brushing and flossing, their tooth still hurts, there is a good chance that they are suffering from tooth decay. Unfortunately, tooth decay can spread and become worse quickly, so it is critical to making that appointment without delay.

The worst-case scenario

Some parents ask us if they can just leave the cavity alone. The answer is no. The worst-case scenario is that decay continues to spread and an infection reaches the interior of the tooth, dental pulp, nerves and potentially the jawbone. It is fully possible for a small cavity to turn into a dental infection or large abscess if it remains untreated long enough.

Since we have no way of guaranteeing how quick tooth decay will spread, the only solution we can offer is to prevent this worst-case scenario by removing the tooth decay as quickly as possible. Otherwise, that small cavity could result in a child needing a root canal or even losing their tooth.

What is involved in a cavity treatment for kids

When a child visits us with tooth decay, we will begin by examining the tooth and assessing the extent of the decay. This will help us to determine the best way to proceed in removing the decayed portion of the tooth. If it is small, we can numb the area and handle it right then and there. If the decay spreads to the interior of the tooth and a root canal is necessary, we may have to schedule a follow-up appointment or even put the patient to sleep, depending on how little they are.

Typically, to remove tooth decay, we simply need to numb the area and then use a dental drill to remove the decayed portion of the tooth. This happens relatively quickly. Once the decay is gone there will be a cavity that needs to be cleaned and then filled. The dental filling can be tooth-colored ceramic, which is sometimes the preferred method over a more traditional silver filling.

Providing children with tooth-colored fillings helps to restore their tooth and provide a far more natural appearance. In fact, once the filling hardens, it will be impossible for anyone to tell the child ever had a cavity. That is one of our primary goals. We want to restore the health of the tooth, its function and its appearance.

Preventing cavities in the future

An important part of a cavity treatment for kids is preventing cavities from occurring in the future. One way that we do so is by cleaning our patient's teeth bi-annually and then applying fluoride. Fluoride can harden and strengthen the enamel so that the teeth are less likely teeth to suffer from decay or an infection later.

Schedule an appointment

If you believe that your child has a cavity, or they have been complaining of a toothache, schedule an appointment with our office. If a cavity treatment for kids is necessary, we can explain the steps in further detail at that time.

Request an appointment in our New York dentist office here: https://www.pediatricdentistryonpark.com.