Services

Pediatric Crowns

Stainless Steel - Composite - Porcelain

A crown, also referred to as a cap, is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth.

Pediatric crowns may be used on your infant, children or teen to:

• Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment (pulpotomy/pulpectomy)

There are few options when it comes to crowns for baby teeth. For back baby teeth there really is nothing better than stainless steel crowns. They are relatively easy to do and will stay in place until the tooth normally falls out. The baby tooth will fall out at the scheduled time with the cap on top of it. Since they are in the back, cosmetics is not as much of a concern. However, for children and teens we have some aesthetic alternatives, the stainless steel crowns covered with porcelain (NuSmile Crown). They are not as easy to place, and are not as resistant, having the porcelain chip off with time, but in some particular cases they may work just as well. As well, we also offer the Zirconia crown, which offer a more biocompatible option for our patients. As mentioned before, they can be selected on a case by case basis.

A primary tooth can be restored with a stainless steel crown during one appointment. The decay is removed, the tooth is shaped for a crown then the crown is cemented. A crowned tooth must be brushed and flossed just like other teeth.

For the front teeth, we absolutely go with the cosmetic option regardless if an infant, children or teen. This crown is basically a clear form that is filled with white filling material and placed over the tooth of your child. After light curing, the outer clear shell is removed leaving basically a white filling all around the tooth. This option looks the most natural, but is also the most fragile. It can only be used if there is a good bit of tooth structure remaining after decay removal and crown preparation.

Are you interested in pediatric crowns for your child? Please call us or schedule an appointment online here with your Pediatric Dentist of choice at Petit Smiles. We serve two convenient locations, one in Doral, FL and another one in Coral Gables, Fl.