When it comes to your body, you only receive one set of parts. You only ever have one set of arms, legs, eyes, and ears. But of course, you have two sets of teeth. The natural loss of baby teeth and their subsequent replacement with adult teeth is one of the milestones in a person's physical developments. When an adult tooth becomes damaged or lost, there are many things that a dentist can do to rectify the situation, from the simple filling of a cavity, to encasing the tooth in a protective crown, or even replacing the tooth with a dental implant.

But what about when a baby tooth becomes damaged? It's not as though the importance of a baby tooth can be dismissed, even though it will eventually be replaced with something more permanent. What can be done if your child's baby teeth become affected by tooth decay?

Common Causes

Baby teeth are susceptible to decay in the same manner as adult teeth, whether it's through the accumulation of plaque and oral bacteria, or excessive sugar. The buildup of plaque and potentially harmful oral bacteria can be kept at bay with proper oral hygiene, and it might be that your younger children require supervision when they brush their teeth to ensure that they are giving their teeth the cleaning that is required. The teeth of toddlers can experience degradation from sugar if they are given a drink just before they sleep. Juice and even milk can cause issues simply because the remnants are held in the mouth overnight. If your child requires a sippy cup to help them sleep, opt for water.

Treatment Options

Naturally, if you notice the formation of cavities or anything out of the ordinary between scheduled checkups, make an appointment with your local family dentists. Just as with adult teeth, your dentist will want to repair and save the baby tooth. But how can they do this?

Cavities can be filled, just as with an adult tooth. So contact a local family dentist to learn if your baby's teeth require fillings. In cases of extreme degradation, the tooth can be saved with a dental crown. This will be different to a permanent dental crown and can often be made of stainless steel due to its cost and durability. This saves the tooth until it's ready to come out of its own accord.

Full extraction of a damaged baby tooth is generally seen as a last resort. Your child still needs their baby teeth to eat, and they also act as space maintainers, essentially a guide for where the adult tooth will form.

Ideally, your child's baby teeth will be without cavities for the duration of their existence, but it's important to have any decay examined and treated, even given the non-permanent nature of baby teeth.

Share