Why Would A Child Need A Crown?

Why would a child need a crown?

Fillings are frequently used on kids. They look great, they cost less and they are placed in one visit.  So why is my dentist recommending a dental crown on a baby tooth?

The question comes up frequently in a pediatric dental office.  Parents are often surprised that a dentist would suggest a crown for a baby tooth.  They are reminded of horror stories about the cost, frequent visits and a painful recovery period but there is a big difference between the adult and the baby version.  Other than the fact that both cover the entire tooth, they have little else in common.

Let’s discuss each concern a parent may have about crowns on their child’s teeth:

“They are expensive“

Crowns on baby teeth cost about 75% less than adult crowns.  Crowns for baby teeth are pre-made and they take a lot less time to put on; that is why they cost similar to a filling than an adult crown.

“They take a long time“

Since crowns on baby teeth are pre-made, they are started and finished in the same visit.  As a matter of fact, they usually take less time than fillings to complete.  

“I don’t like the silver color“

We don’t either, especially on the front teeth!  The gold standard has been the stainless steel crown for many years but there are now white crowns that look as good as natural teeth. Nobody has to know your child ever had a cavity any more🤩

“But I still want a filling, why get a crown when a filling sounds good enough?“ 

The main reason is durability.  Especially when the cavity is between the teeth or if it has damaged large parts of the tooth.  In these cases fillings often fall out and leave a bigger hole than the original cavity.  The fastest way to traumatize a kid is to make them think every time they go to the dentist they will have to get another tooth fixed.  

“How can baby teeth be different? They are all teeth!“

Fillings just don’t bond to baby teeth as well as they do to adult teeth. They are chemically and morphologically very different.  You may read further by clicking on the following three scientific articles.  They explain the poor bond strength of white fillings to baby teeth:

1. White fillings bond better to permanent than to primary teeth
2. The differences between primary & permanent teeth causes poor bond strength of white fillings
3.  The primary enamel is thinner and has less Calcium and Phosphorus 

So if more than one dentist is recommending crowns for your child, then fillings may cause more trouble for you in the long-run.  Your child will certainly not appreciate the repeat visits when the fillings start to fall out.

But don’t worry; silver dental crowns are not the only option for your child’s smile! Using beautiful white zirconia crowns we can make sure nobody can tell your child ever had a cavity, even if your child has cavities on all 20 teeth.  Call us today at (972)764-9965 for a free consultation with Dr. Baghai.