Fillings
At Santa Barbara Children’s Dentistry, we use composite resin fillings for children to restore the lost tooth structure caused by dental decay. These tooth-colored fillings are strong and resistant to the daily wear-and-tear our teeth face with the added benefit of appearing natural as they match the color and texture of the tooth.
Why Does My Child Need A Filling?
During the dental exam, Dr. Hayley may find decay present in your child’s tooth or teeth. The filling eliminates the active bacteria that is destroying the tooth and replaces it with tooth like structure to prevent further breakdown. As long as there isn’t a significant amount of missing tooth structure and in the absence of signs of infection, the tooth can be restored with a simple composite filling.
What to Expect
Before placing any fillings, children are made to feel comfortable in the dental setting. Sometimes this is achieved by using nitrous oxide, often referred to as “happy air.”? We recommend the use of nitrous oxide on a case by case basis and will speak with you further if we feel your child will benefit from its use during their appointment.
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- The tooth is anesthetized or “numbed” using a local anesthetic and the decay is removed.
- A mildly acidic etchant or “tooth shampoo” is placed in the preparation and rinsed away, and a resin bonding material is placed before the composite filling material is placed to restore the missing tooth structure. These two steps enhance the ability of the composite resin to chemically bond to the tooth structure.
- Once the filling is in place, we then “cure” the filling by placing a blue light on it, to chemically cure or “harden” the composite filling.
- Finally, adjustments to the filling are made so the child leaves with a comfortable bite.
*It is common during the adjustments of the fillings that children have a hard time telling if their bite is normal until the numbing effects of the local anesthetic wear off. If your child is complaining of pain when biting or sensitivity after a filling, please contact our office immediately and we will schedule an appointment to have it adjusted further. *
My Child Has a Cavity in a Baby Tooth - Do They Need a Filling?
Yes! Although we want to remain conservative in the amount of treatment your child receive and never want to do more than is needed, it is recommended that your child receive a filling on a tooth that has decay, even if it’s a baby tooth! It is a common misconception that baby teeth with cavities are nothing to worry about because they will just “fall out.” Bacteria spreads much more rapidly in thinner and more porous baby teeth than adult teeth. Once the decay becomes extensive, the bacteria in a cavity can cause pain and infection that can spread to and affect the developing adult tooth beneath the gum line. If you suspect your child may have a cavity on one of their baby teeth, please contact our office to schedule an exam with Dr. Hayley.
