Are Fillings In Baby Teeth Necessary?

Taking care of a child’s oral health is no simple task. If you notice your little one is developing a cavity, you might wonder what to do next. 

Dr. Jonathon Konz can take a look and recommend the best treatment to protect your child’s oral health, and yes, that could include a filling.

Keep reading to understand why fillings are important.

When Are Fillings Necessary?

Fillings are used to treat a cavity. This is a permanent hole created by harmful bacteria, usually due to poor oral hygiene.

Bacteria love to eat the sugars in our food, and doing it releases acids that break down tooth enamel. Once the hole is created, bacteria travel inside the tooth, and its tissue starts decaying.

A pediatric dentist in Ashburn will remove all the decayed tissue and use a filling to both reconstruct the tooth and prevent further damage.

Do You Always Need a Filling for Baby Teeth?

Not always. If the cavity is caught in its early stage (called demineralization), it can be treated either with fluoride treatments or dental sealants.

Fluoride treatments involve applying a special gel to the tooth, which will help remineralize it and reverse the early stages of the cavity. 

Dental sealants are protective layers added to the surface of a child’s back molars to prevent cavities.

Both of these treatments can help treat the child’s cavity. But if the condition is advanced, a filling may be the only solution.

Won’t Baby Teeth Fall Out Anyway? 

It’s understandable if you want to spare your child the experience of a dental drill, but unfortunately, even baby teeth need these treatments sometimes.

Though they’re temporary, it’s crucial to make sure baby teeth don’t fall out until they are naturally ready to do so.

Your child needs their primary teeth to learn how to chew their food properly and even speak, and premature loss could affect their development.

Moreover, baby teeth keep the space on the arch open for the permanent teeth. Premature primary tooth loss can cause the other baby teeth to migrate, and then the adult tooth may grow in improper positions. This leads to alignment or bite issues that need correction through braces later on.

How to Prevent Cavities in Children

Both primary and adult teeth need the same care to reduce cavities and other dental issues.

• Daily brushing and flossing
• Using fluoride toothpaste
• Drinking tap water and rinsing the mouth with it after meals
• Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables
• Cutting down on sweets and fruit juices
• Seeing the dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups

Schedule an Appointment at Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

If your child might have a cavity, bring them in for a short consultation with Dr. Jonathon Konz to get them the right treatment.

Request a visit to Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry online or call us at (703) 687-1581 today!