Have you ever wondered about the reasons to choose dental crowns for kids? After all, most of those teeth will fall out eventually…right? Would it just be easier to place a large filling or pull the tooth entirely?
Not exactly.
When Should I Choose Crowns for My Child?
Dental crowns (sometimes referred to as “caps”) are protective covers that go over the entire tooth, up to the gums. They’re used in situations where a fracture or cavity is too large to fill, or after a pulpotomy (pediatric root canal.)
A crown will essentially allow that tooth to continue functioning normally instead of breaking apart any further. Without a cap, your child’s tooth would eventually need to be extracted. Losing their tooth prematurely could lead to a laundry list of unwanted side effects, such as:
- Impacted teeth
- Orthodontic problems
- Speech delays
- Difficulty eating or malabsorption
- Changes in jaw growth or facial profile
- TMJ problems
- Increased risk of dental emergencies
- Tooth wear
Benefits of Children’s Dental Crowns
By preserving your child’s natural biting patterns with a dental crown, your family can enjoy a significantly lower risk of dental complications.
Crowning a weak baby tooth allows your child to keep their tooth for as long as possible, even if it’s just shy of the normal time for it to exfoliate (fall out) on its own. Without the crown, the tooth would be too brittle and gradually break apart or need to be extracted. And in that case, the extra space that’s created allows other teeth to drift out of alignment, potentially impacting the underlying adult tooth. With a crown, the tooth acts as a natural space maintainer and eruption guide until it’s closer to the time for the next tooth to come in.
Maintaining natural biting patterns isn’t just essential for managing crowding or impacted teeth. Tooth preservation also affects how your child’s jaw develops and the overall symmetry of their facial profile. Preserving a tooth with a crown could potentially eliminate the need for corrective surgeries when your child is a teen or adult.
Since crowns allow your child to bite, chew, and speak normally. You won’t have to worry about additional speech delays or problems with eating because a crown will fill in the gap.
But most importantly, a pediatric dental crown helps your child’s self-esteem during these important, formative years. Feeling embarrassed about a broken or missing tooth is more than enough reason for your child to avoid laughing or smiling around new friends, impacting peer relationships and social development. When your child doesn’t have to worry about an embarrassing dental issue, they’ll be free to be themselves.
…But Won’t the Tooth Fall Out Eventually?
Ultimately, yes. Once your child’s tooth is closer to the natural exfoliation cycle, the entire baby tooth should fall out like its neighboring teeth. If it doesn’t, we can help wiggle it a little bit for some extra encouragement. But if it’s a permanent tooth that needs a crown, the temporary version that we put on while your child is young will eventually need to be updated with a more long-term restoration after your child’s mouth is fully developed.
Children’s Dental Crowns in Brighton
If your child has a cavity or broken tooth, our children’s dentist in Brighton will do everything possible to help save their smile. By addressing infection or dental emergencies early, we can provide your child with fast pain relief and prevent common conditions from becoming major issues that alter their permanent adult teeth.
At Kids City Dental, we tailor our care to pediatric patients. So, whether your little one is due for a checkup or crown, we’ll provide them with a positive experience that your family can feel great about.
Contact us today to schedule!
