The health of our children and more importantly, their oral health should be a priority to us as parents or guardians. As a result of their cravings and the things they consume, they are more prone to developing cavities; therefore, it is not out of place to find out the exact treatment that can prevent them or treat those cavities when they occur. One of such treatments is restorative dentistry.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Just as the name implies, restorative dentistry is a dental treatment usually carried out by a dental specialist to restore or renew a missing tooth or teeth that are decayed or infected. The goal of this treatment at the end of the day is to fix dull or decayed tooth or teeth.
When restorative dentistry is carried out on a patient, for replacing missing tooth or teeth, the replaced teeth are expected to act and take the resemblance of natural teeth, while for renewal, the damaged teeth that are being restored to their original form will begin to look like entirely new teeth performing optimally.
On the appearance of cavities, your teeth would be needing a restorative dentistry treatment. For better understanding, cavities are identified as those areas on the teeth that have holes in them. These holes are a clear indication that the teeth are damaged; it has been exposed to bacteria, as a result of poor oral hygiene, excessive intake of sugar supplements and snacks. Few things that all toddlers are prone to do.
How Is Restorative Dentistry Good For Children?
Parents and guardians are responsible for making quality decisions for their children; this is because children cannot make certain important decisions of their lives on their own. They are not mature enough, neither are they well experienced to decide on what is best for them.
Children do not bother themselves about having a dentist or visiting one even when they face an oral issue, probably a toothache, bad breath, broken or missing teeth, etc. It is the parents or guardian of the child that needs to be observant and proactive to know that it is time the child visits a dentist or dental specialist.
You need to be aware that children are more prone to having damaged tooth or teeth, and this is because their interest in consuming sugar contents in both solid and liquid forms is high. Because of the stage they are in, their craving for chocolates or simply put snacks in general at that stage of their lives are very high. They are mostly found suffering from toothaches, cavities, and missing teeth. Now, this is where restorative dentistry comes in handy because it can be carried out on children in the occurrence of decayed or missing teeth.
As a parent or guardian to the child, you have to take the child to meet with a toddler dentist. Toddler dentists are specially trained and equipped to handle their young patients. They also have clinics that are more child-friendly with an assortment of toys, colors, and decore, which helps put your toddler at ease.
Once the dentist examined your toddler’s teeth, the restorative treatment can be carried out for your child. The dentist will have to examine your child’s teeth to ascertain the kind of dental restoration that will be needed for their teeth.
Restorative dentistry is recommended, when the dentist is trying to prevent further damage from affecting the teeth. Be it missing, weak tooth or colored teeth, they all can be fixed through restorative dentistry. There are various aspects or types of restorative dentistry; you need to be well informed of these variations and the measures you need to put in place before you take your child for restorative treatment.
Things To Know While Taking Your Child For Restorative Dentistry
There are different types of restorative dentistry; the type that will be carried out on the child is dependent on the state of the affected teeth. These types of restorative dentistry are
1. Fillings:
This type of treatment is carried out when there is a hole in the affected tooth. The dentist will take clean the decayed tooth then fill it with a filling. These fillings come in different types, and some are metallic fillings. These fillings can last for a period of five to twelve years as long as the treated tooth is well cared for.
Although fillings are not only applied on decayed teeth, they are also done when the tooth is fractured, or you want the teeth to be well evened to aid your bite. After the fillings are done on the teeth, it is ideal that you help the child keep healthy oral hygiene to prevent having a reoccurring problem.
2. Crowns:
This type of treatment is usually done when the tooth is badly decayed. Dental crowns help to fix the shape, sometimes the size and strength of the affected tooth. Here, the dentist shapes the crown into what looks like the tooth has been replaced. This crown is placed on the toddlers’ teeth to help protect the primary teeth until it is time for the secondary teeth to erupt.
3. Dental Implants:
Dental implants usually have roots that come with crowns. Due to the nature of the implant, the surgeon will need to inject the child with dental implant sedation to keep him calm all through the section. This is required in case of missing primary teeth or tooth loss due to any number of reasons.
You may believe that your toddler is too young to have dental implants, but teeth implants are necessary for preserving both the proper function of the teeth and also to preserve normal alveolar development.
After your dentist has decided on the type of restorative dentistry for your child, you must have the child’s teeth thoroughly washed before the treatment. On getting to the hospital, the dentist will have your child’s sedated so that the child will not feel the pain while the treatment is going on. In some cases, a sleeping doze or injection will be given to the child so that they will not be aware of what is going on at the moment. This is perfectly safe for children.
Conclusion
Information is key, and it is a stepping-stone to having what you seek. Asides from helping your child meet with a dentist, it is expedient that you follow through on the treatment, and also learn about it so that you can prepare your child adequately for the treatment. You also have to put strict measures in place that will aid the child to observe a healthy oral routine.