Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a conservative approach to active dental decay and can be used to help prevent dental cavities from forming or spreading to other teeth. Its goal is to remineralize small areas of decay in the enamel or to stop the growth of larger areas of decay. This treatment does not necessarily prevent the need for the placement of a filling, but it may able to delay or eliminate further treatment. As a liquid that is brushed on to the tooth, the application of SDF is quick, pain free and easy for young children to tolerate.
Tooth-colored fillings are the most lifelike material used to fill cavities. Composite fillings can be done in one visit. Once the decay is removed, the tooth is filled with this composite material that hardens immediately after placement.
Cosmetic bonding is the process of filling or restoring teeth with a tooth-colored material in order to maintain a natural appearance.
Many children have white spots on their front teeth. The cause can be multifactorial. Whatever the cause, these spots are harmless, but they can be quite noticeable. Resin infiltration is a minimally-invasive state-of-the-art treatment that can remove these white spots quickly and easily.
Crowns are used to restore damaged or decayed teeth in children. If a cavity is fairly large, on multiple surfaces, or if the tooth requires root canal treatment, it will most likely need to be restored/treated with a crown. Crowns completely cover the remaining tooth structure after it has been treated. We offer stainless steel crowns as temporary restorations on permanent molars that are either severely broken down or that have had root canal treatment.
NuSmile® zirconia crowns are both natural looking and also exceptionally strong to ensure that they last until your child’s permanent teeth come in. Most importantly, they almost never chip or crack and will not discolor or wear.
Stainless steel crowns with white facings are resin veneered crowns that combine the durability of a stainless steel crown with the aesthetics of a resin facing. They are typically durable, aesthetic, and insensitive to hemorrhage or moisture.
If the inner chamber of the tooth, known as the dental pulp, is invaded by the cavity, it will gradually deteriorate and become infected. The root canal process involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning out the chamber and roots (if needed), and filling the chamber and/or canals with a material that will help restore the tooth until it is time for it to normally exfoliate (fall out on its own).
A tooth that cannot be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. Before removing the tooth, the area will be numbed with local anesthesia. The tooth is then loosened using a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After the tooth is loosened from the socket, it is removed.