Dental caries, otherwise known as tooth decay or cavities is one of the most severe childhood conditions in the US. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), they are the second most popular health condition in America. Cavities are holes in the tooth usually caused by factors related to poor dental care and hygiene.
Tooth decay worsens rapidly, especially in primary teeth. The cavities can reach down into the deep layers of the teeth without proper treatment. Then they can cause severe pain if they reach the nerves. The condition can soon turn into an abscess and create other health issues.
Cavities can be reversed through proper oral hygiene, but in severe cases, treatment will be necessary to stop the progress. Once the child complains of teeth pain, you need to book an appointment with the pediatric dentist immediately.
The severity of dental caries and the child’s specific condition and situation determine the treatment approach for cavities. Using different possible procedures, the pediatric dentist will clear out the decay and restore the tooth to its normal healthy state and function. The treatment type also depends on the type of tooth (primary or permanent) affected by the decay. Treatments for dental caries include:
It is best if the decay is detected early before it bores through the hard enamel layer of the teeth. Sometimes an expert fluoride varnish treatment or cleaning the teeth with special fluoride toothpaste can halt and reverse the cavity. This can strengthen the tooth enamel at points when the cavities have degraded.
Professional fluoride treatment has more fluoride than fluoridated water or toothpaste. The procedure takes a few minutes and may be applied in gel, varnish or liquid form by painting it onto the teeth or using a tray that covers the teeth.
A tooth-colored filling is the most common method of treating decays. This procedure is meant for situations where the decay is not too deep. The decay is first cleaned out, then the tooth colored filling is used to fill the space and restore the tooth’s appearance and functions.
Moderate to severe decay that almost reaches the pulp but does not expose the nerve requires pulp capping procedure before getting a filling.
In the case of severe dental decay where the pulp is exposed, a pulpotomy procedure is necessary. This entails the extraction of infected pulp and use of medications. When pulpotomy is performed, a crown, either tooth-colored or stainless steel, is required. After drilling out the decay and filling the tooth, the tooth will be covered with a crown to shield and aesthetically repair the tooth.
If the inner pulp of a permanent tooth has been affected by decay, or tooth abscess occurs, then a root canal procedure is vital before placing a metal or porcelain crown. In this situation, the decay has worsened to the point where the nerves have been affected, and a root canal is the only alternative to removing the tooth.
In the case of tooth decays or tooth abscess that cannot be repaired with root canal procedure, the tooth has to extracted and replaced with a prosthetic tooth.
Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
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