When a child’s primary teeth become severely decayed or suffer too much damage for a filling, a pediatric dentist may recommend a stainless-steel dental crown.
In Attleboro, MA, pediatric stainless-steel dental crowns typically cost $400 to $700 per tooth.
Why Children Need Stainless-Steel Dental Crowns
When young children experience severe decay or other issues that compromise tooth structure, pediatric dentists use stainless-steel crowns. A dental crown protects a natural tooth and restores its chewing and speaking functions.
A dental crown also prevents the tooth from needing extraction. If a baby tooth falls out too soon, it could cause severe alignment issues when the permanent teeth erupt later in childhood.
How Pediatric Dentists Place Crowns
Your child’s dentist may recommend using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help your child feel calm during the procedure. The doctor will also inject novocaine or another local anesthetic to prevent any discomfort.
The dentist places a soft sheet called a rubber dam over the child’s mouth to help keep the treated tooth dry and separated from other teeth.
The doctor removes decayed areas of the tooth using a drill. They remove a small amount of the tooth’s chewing surface to accommodate the crown.
After selecting the correct size crown, the dentist adjusts it to fit the child’s mouth. Finally, the dentist cements the crown into place.
Recovery from Stainless-Steel Crown Placement
While your child’s mouth is numb from the local anesthetic, please do not allow them to eat. This precaution will keep the child from accidentally biting their lips, cheeks, or tongue.
After the anesthetic has worn off, your child will be able to eat and drink normally. They may have a little discomfort for the first one to two days, for which dentists often recommend over-the-counter pain medication.
Conditions Requiring Pediatric Crowns
- Tooth decay is unable to be repaired with a filling
- Root canal or pulpectomy
- Chipped tooth
- Cracked tooth
- Sensitive tooth
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Stainless-Steel Crowns
Why can’t we have our child’s tooth extracted instead of paying for a crown?
An extraction could damage the permanent tooth beneath the gum and cause problems with tooth alignment. A crown is the preferred treatment for a compromised tooth.
Will my child’s crown fall out when the permanent tooth comes in?
The crown will not affect the tooth’s shedding. The healthy permanent tooth should come in normally and complete your child’s smile.
Call Attleboro Pediatric Dentistry
A stainless-steel dental crown has excellent value to your child’s oral health. It will keep their chewing function intact while preserving their tooth alignment. If you have questions about pediatric stainless-steel dental crowns, please call our Attleboro, MA, office at 508-409-6160. We would be happy to help.