Children’s Dental Fillings in Columbia, SC

As a parent, you want to make sure your children have good nutrition, proper exercise, and excellent overall health. You may have heard that the mouth is a portal to the body, and this is true. What’s in the mouth will enter the body, so daily oral hygiene is important for removing bad bacteria and plaque. When a tooth develops a toothache or cavity, it’s important to bring your kiddo in so that the dentist can determine the cause of the issue. We provide gentle dentistry, so if your little one or teen needs dental fillings, rest assured that we’ll make the Kidsperience comfortable, rewarding, and positive.

About Tooth Decay in Kids

Tooth decay and dental caries are alternative names for what we commonly call cavities. Many factors can lead to tooth decay, but here are a few to watch for:

• Eating or drinking too much sugar
• Eating an excessive amount of starches
• Drinking acidic beverages like sports drinks, citrus juices, and colas
• Poor oral health habits at home
• Not flossing daily
• Choosing bottled over fluoridated tap water
• Acid reflux
• Chewing ice

Once your child develops a cavity, it will never heal on its own. In fact, the cavity will grow and can cause the tooth to die, spread to surrounding teeth, or cause an abscess. In a baby tooth, a big cavity can even damage permanent teeth within the jawbone. Professional dental care is the only way to repair the damage, restore good oral health, and eliminate pain.

The Dental Filling Procedure

In the treatment room, we’ll make you and your child feel comfortable, safe, and well cared for. To place a child’s dental filling, we first numb the area with an anesthetic and remove the decay.

Next, we’ll choose composite resin to match the tooth’s enamel. The dentist will layer the composite resin within the sanitized hole, building up the area to re-form the tooth’s structure. A cool, gentle curing light will then harden the composite filling. After checking your child’s bite and adjusting as necessary, we’ll be all done.

Expect the area to be numb for a few hours. Please remind your kiddo that chewing and biting the numbed cheek will leave sores that hurt later. For the first 24 hours after a filling, feed your child soft foods and remind him to chew on the side of his mouth opposite the filling. The numbness will subside within a few hours. Sensitivity may remain for a week or two, and you can administer an over-the-counter, age-appropriate pain reliever for comfort.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dental fillings became popular in the United States in the early 1800s. This was around the same time that the American Dental Association was formed.

Baby Teeth with Cavities

A common misconception is that since baby teeth fall out, filling cavities in them isn’t practical. However, parents should understand that tooth decay is progressive and will spread. To eliminate your child’s toothache and preserve good oral health, schedule an examination with our children’s dentist if you notice a brown or black spot on one of your child’s teeth or if the child complains of a toothache.

Cavity Prevention

You can help your child deter cavities and gum disease by following these tips:

• Purchase a soft-bristled, properly-sized toothbrush and replace it every three months.
• Brush with fluoride toothpaste (use non-fluoridated paste for kids under one year of age, a grain of rice sized amount for children over 1, and a green pea size amount for children ages 3 and up), and a soft-bristled, age-appropriate toothbrush for two minutes, twice a day.
• Children over three years should use fluoridated toothpaste.
• Monitor your child’s brushing, helping as needed.
• Brush for two minutes every day, once in the morning and once before bedtime.
• Floss once daily using traditional floss or a pre-threaded flosser.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Reduce sugary, starchy snacks and foods.
• Reduce or eliminate sugary and acidic beverages.
• Attend six-month checkups and cleanings at our office.
• Call us for an exam if your little one or teen experiences a toothache.

The Ultimate Dental Kidsperience

Tooth decay causes toothaches, and left untreated, cavities may spread to surrounding teeth. Cavities can lead to painful abscesses, as well as tooth death. Help your kiddos avoid serious dental problems by allowing us to treat cavities early. With regular six-month checkups and cleanings at our office in Columbia, we will identify tooth decay in its early stage, when treatment is least invasive.

To schedule a checkup and cleaning or examination, contact our office today. We look forward to providing an awesome Kidsperience for your kids!