Baby teeth are not practice teeth, and cavities should be taken seriously. If they are not treated right away, they can cause a variety of problems. Cavities in baby teeth can spread quickly to other teeth, creating more damage. They can be painful, which affects your child’s ability to chew and their mood. They can even cause premature tooth loss, which may cause problems with speech and tooth alignment.
Why You Need to Treat Cavities Quickly
If left untreated, tooth decay can negatively impact children in several ways.
- Cavities can spread to other teeth, and even other family members!
- Decay can lead to infections that can spread through the body. Sickness can mean days off from school, trips to the doctor, and changes in your child’s mood.
- Decay causes pain. Mouth pain may affect what your child eats, impacting their nutrition, overall health, and mood.
- Cavities can cause premature tooth loss. This can lead to speech problems, which will impact their social skills and their ability to communicate. It can also make chewing difficult, or make the permanent teeth come in crooked.
Signs of Cavities in Children
- Sensitivity to cold or hot foods
- Discoloration on the teeth (white spots can mean a loss of tooth enamel, while darker spots can be a cavity forming)
- Complaints of oral pain or jaw pain
Cavities can often be prevented with twice-yearly dental checkups and proper oral care at home. You’ll want to start a basic routine as soon as your child’s first few teeth appear. Dental sealants are a great option for children who are predisposed to cavities or have deep grooves in their molars. They seal the tooth enamel and make a smoother surface for chewing, so less food gets trapped and the teeth are easier to clean.
Types of Treatments for Children
The treatments for cavities in children are often the same as those for cavities in older kids and adults. They may need a filling, a crown, or even a tooth extraction, depending on the level of decay.
Although the treatments are the same, we take extra care when treating children. If your child is not old enough to sit still during the procedure, we may recommend sedation to prevent complications.
Fillings
This is the most common type of treatment for a cavity that is detected in its early stages. First we remove the decayed portion of the tooth and clean it well. Then we fill the cavity with a special composite material that hardens under a UV light.
Crowns
Large cavities that affect the majority of the tooth might need a crown. Once all the decay is removed, there may be a significant amount of the tooth structure missing. Your child’s dentist will create a crown that protects the tooth and allows it to function normally.
Root Canal or Tooth Extractions
For severe tooth decay, one of these more extreme options might be necessary. For root canals, the dentist must drill into the root of the tooth to remove the infected pulp, and then a crown is placed to protect the tooth root.
If the decay has progressed to the point where the tooth cannot be saved, it might need to be removed. Typically, this is done with a local anesthetic to avoid pain. A dental spacer (like a little rubber donut) may be placed in the gap to keep the other teeth from shifting.
Pediatric Dentistry in Flagstaff, Arizona
Here at Country Club Dental, we provide excellent dental care for the whole family, children included. Our goal is to ensure your whole family gets the dental care they need at an affordable rate. If you have any concerns about your child’s oral health, or are looking for a new family dentist, contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Paul Whitney.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/29/25). Photo by Jørgen Larsen on Unsplash
