Are Crowns Painful For Kids?
Dental crowns repair and restore severely decayed or damaged teeth. They improve their functionality and appearance. Dental crowns in Taylor or West Bloomfield, MI, are ideal for enhancing kids’ and adults’ teeth. Read on to learn when crowns are necessary for kids and whether they are painful.
What Are Crowns, and When Are They Necessary for Kids?
Dental crowns are caps that help restore the function and aesthetics of flawed teeth. They are customized to fit over the damaged tooth while maintaining its color, shape, and size. The tooth-like caps restore decayed, worn out, fractured, chipped, or cracked teeth.
Crowns usually restore permanent teeth but can also be used on baby teeth. Most parents are surprised when a pediatric dentist recommends a crown on baby teeth. They argue that the teeth will fall out and get replaced by permanent ones.
However, a crown will prevent the tooth from falling out prematurely. The child will have a gap when a baby tooth comes out before the permanent one is ready to erupt. The adjacent teeth will shift into the hole resulting in teeth misalignment or crowding. Crowns also help alleviate symptoms of dental decay, like sensitivity and pain.
Pediatric dental crowns for kids are necessary if their teeth are too decayed to be restored with a filling. In such cases, a significant portion of the decayed tooth is removed. Sometimes, a root canal treatment is performed. The dentist will treat the tooth and restore it with a customized cap. This crown will also protect the tooth from further damage or infection.
Your child may need a dental crown after an accident that cracks or chips their tooth. The cap will cover up the affected tooth preventing it from further damage. It will also strengthen the tooth helping the child resume regular eating habits.
Which Crowns Are Ideal for Kids?
Every parent wants the best of everything for their kids. So, when getting dental crowns, they ensure their kids get the most suitable types of crowns. Pediatric dental crowns in Taylor or West Bloomfield, MI, come in different types. They include:
- Stainless Steel
Stainless steel crowns are a common type of crown for children. They are strong and able to withstand chewing and biting forces. This makes them suitable for restoring damaged molars and premolars. Stainless steel crowns do not require multiple dental visits and are cost-effective. In addition, they preserve the natural tooth structure.
- All Ceramic Or All Porcelain
These types of crowns can be customized to match the exact color of your kid’s teeth. Therefore, they appear natural and are not easily noticed. As a result, they restore the child’s confidence and self-esteem and keep bullies away. However, they take longer to place, making them unsuitable for uncooperative or small children.
- Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal
Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal crowns are a combination of metal and porcelain materials. The visible part of the tooth is made from tooth-colored porcelain improving aesthetics. On the other hand, the stainless steel is placed next to the damaged part of the tooth, providing strength and stability. These crowns are durable and cost-effective.
- Zirconia Crowns (EZ Crowns)
These are white prefabricated ceramic crowns ideal for repairing kids’ teeth. They are strong, aesthetically pleasing, and resistant to staining. Zirconia crowns blend seamlessly with adjacent teeth. Therefore, they are suitable for restoring permanent teeth.
Are Pediatric Crowns Painful?
When considering treatment for kids, parents are concerned about any pain involved. Fortunately, getting pediatric dental crowns for kids is a pain-free procedure. The dentist will administer anesthesia and sedation before beginning the treatment. These ensure your child is comfortable and does not experience pain during the process.
However, they will experience mild discomfort once the anesthetics wear off. The tissues around the treated tooth get irritated during crown placement. Fortunately, over-the-counter medicines such as children’s ibuprofen help relieve the pain. However, you should contact the dentist if the pain persists for longer than 24 hours.
Does your child have severely decayed, chipped, or cracked teeth? Restore their smile, dental function, and oral health using dental crowns. Contact us at Golnick Pediatric Dental Associates to book an appointment today. Our pediatric team is patient, empathetic, and highly trained to treat kids of all ages and needs.