The great thing about baby teeth: they fall out. This fact has caused many parents and caregivers to relax a little when it comes to the tooth and gum care of their child. Often a cavity in a baby tooth is not seen as the end of the world…. and it isn’t. Not exactly, anyway. A cavity in a child’s tooth is certainly not ideal, however, it can be filled. Since baby teeth will fall out by the time they reach the age of twelve, there shouldn’t be any permanent damage. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that cavities in baby teeth do not need to be taken care of. They’ll just fall out, right?
While it is true that baby teeth will eventually fall out, there is no telling how long they will be around for. Most children lose their baby teeth by the time they celebrate their twelfth birthday. The age that the cavity occurs could make that several year in the future. Do you really want to leave it there? I didn’t think so. That is why it is especially important for any cavity or other dental issues to be taken care of as quickly as possible.
Anytime a cavity or abscess occurs, you need to contact your family dentist immediately. Even putting it off for a week or two is a bad idea. Leaving a dental problem for too long can be dangerous to the overall health and well being of your child. Infected teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and cavities can cause them a lot of pain. It can also lead to further infections and more severe tooth decay. If that wasn’t enough, certain dental problems can also affect the self-esteem of your child.
What can you expect from the dental appointment? The dentist will take a look at your child’s teeth and locate the problem. From there, they will remove the decayed area and fill the hole with a quick-drying material. The reality is that your child won’t enjoy this process. Even though they may be unhappy or afraid, though, it is a necessity. When a cavity is present, the filling will remove decay and prevent the cavity from getting deeper. It is the only solution…. even with a baby tooth.
If a cavity is not filled, there can be serious repercussions. It isn’t just tooth pain your child will be dealing with. Eventually, the tooth will need to be pulled. From there, they may even need a “space maintainer.” This would be used to keep the teeth on either side of the removed tooth from moving in. If that happened, it could cause problems when the adult teeth begin to grow.
Still, wondering if you should have cavities in baby teeth filled? The answer is always yes. Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, they are still an important part of the health and overall care of your child. To avoid any problems moving forward, your dentist will need to fill a cavity as soon as it is found.
Are you concerned about cavities in baby teeth? V Smile Dental has all of the information you need. We are the best source for pediatric dentistry.