Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems among kids. The good news is that tooth decay is more preventable and treatable today than it’s ever been thanks to advancements in dental hygiene and health care. If your child’s tooth is infected due to tooth decay, then it can be easily treated with an invasive dental treatment such as a pediatric dental filling. However, if your child is complaining about severe tooth decay or any signs of any cavities, then more comprehensive treatment may be required by an experienced pediatric dentist.
What severe decay means for your child’s tooth?
Tooth decay has nothing to do with the age. It is a dental disorder that equally damages the tooth of the kids as well as the adults.
Accumulation of bacteria in the mouth is the main cause behind the tooth decay. When your kid eats an excess of sugary and starchy food, the bacteria inside their mouth convert those accumulated food particles into acids. The combination of bacteria, food, acid, and saliva form a substance called plaque that sticks to the teeth. As time passes the acids made by the bacteria eat away at the tooth enamel which cause cavities. In severe cases, the infection can erode significant amounts of tooth structure and reach the nerves and tissues that are housed in the tooth’s pulp chamber.
- Treatment for Early Stages of Tooth Decay:
In the early stage, a pediatric dentist may perform a fluoride treatment to strengthen or remineralize the tooth, which may reverse a cavity. This treatment is effective only in the case of smaller cavities, and it is ineffective if the tooth shows other signs of decaying, such as dark or white spots on the tooth and bad breath.
- Treatment for Advanced Stages of Tooth Decay:
If the tooth decay has advanced to the next level, and when fluoride treatment is not an option, a pediatric dentist in Falls Church will consider a more effective treatment option such as a dental filling or dental crowns. In a pediatric dental filling treatment, a kid’s dentist will clean the decayed portion and fill it with a tooth-colored composite resin or an amalgam filling such as silver, mercury, or other types of material. The filling will be covered with the help of a dental crown to restore the functionality of a tooth.
- Treatment for Extremely Advanced Stages of Tooth Decay:
In an extreme case of tooth decay, the infection spreads to the center of the tooth and leads to inflammation, swelling, and pain. In such an advanced case of tooth decay, a root canal is the only and the most reliable dental treatment available. A dentist removes the infected nerve and pulp, and then fills and seals the space. However, if the tooth is extremely damaged and not in the condition to be saved, your dentist may extract the tooth and replace it with a denture, bridge, or implant.
Learn If Your Child’s Tooth Needs a Pulpotomy:
If you notice any symptoms of tooth decay in your child’s mouth, then you must take your child to a pediatric dentist in Falls Church for a dental check-up. There are many treatment options available such as pediatric dental filling that can save your kid’s tooth and overall oral health. Traditional root canal treatment may not be appropriate for children’s teeth, but kid’s dentists at Kakar Dental Group can perform a minimized version, specifically for children who experience severe tooth decay.
To learn more about tooth decay in kids and treatments available, schedule an appointment with Dr. Sonu Kakar, a lead pediatric dentist in Falls Church. To request an appointment, you can call Kakar Dental Group at 703-534-1611 or visit https://kakardentalgroup.com. Dr. Kakar proudly serves his little patients who live in Falls Church and all surrounding communities.
