Often children complain for their aching teeth; it could be attributed to various reasons and could be a concern for parents. Children’s love for sweets coupled with lousy food and oral care habits could lead to tooth decay and toothache. Besides poor food habits and improper oral care, common causes toothache in children. Here the child may experience an eruption of new teeth, dental decay, food lodged in between the teeth and sinus problems.
Treatment that children’s dentist Brisbane will give for dental decay will depend on the extent of damage to the teeth. Some toothaches can be easily managed at home with a cold compress and anti-inflammatory medicines, while for severe cases, it is best to consult a paediatric dentist. This post will discuss the various treatments a dentist could recommend for tooth decay in children.
Tooth Decay Treatments
Treatment for dental decay depends on the extent of tooth damage and the overall dental condition of the child. When the child starts complaining about tooth sensitivity, it is best to consult the dentists to prevent the damage, avoid further discomfort, and prevent tooth loss and even misalignment.
Fluoride Treatment
Often, it might be enough to treat the aching tooth with a fluoride treatment in the initial stages of dental decay, where the outer enamel is still intact, and the infection has not reached the dentin.
Fillings
Dental fillings are usually used to fill the holes that appear on the teeth due to tooth decay. The fillings do not repair teeth damage but can restore the tooth structure. Composite resin is a tooth-coloured material used as dental fillings.
Pulp Capping
The teeth comprise three layers the outer enamel, dentin and the innermost pulp; it is a soft non-calcified tissue comprising of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. If the tooth decay has not reached the pulp, doctors will recommend pulp capping.
Pulpotomy and Porcelain
These treatments are given when the damage is severe, leading to nerve exposure, the pulp needs to be removed, and medication is applied before the teeth are covered with a crown.
Root canal
It is done in cases where there is extensive damage to the teeth; nerve tissue is exposed and has become infected. It involves drilling through the decay and applying medication before filling so that the child does not remain in pain due to infection.
Dental extraction
Dental extraction is done in extreme cases when the teeth have been decayed beyond repair, and removal of the tooth is the only option available. The dental extraction will be given under local or general anaesthesia, depending upon the condition
Conclusion
Tooth decay among children is quite common and often ignored as the children’s teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth. It is always better to take the dentist’s opinion to assess the extent of damage to the teeth and treat it, rather than waiting till irreversible damage happens. Dental procedures for children are safe and a better option than giving them painkillers.