A dental is a tooth-shaped cap that covers the original tooth. Pediatric dentists might suggest a dental crown for your child for the following reasons: the tooth is weak, broken, or decayed. To ensure the crown will fit, our dentists will need to remove a small portion of enamel. From there, they can bond the crown to your child’s tooth. The most common materials used for dental crowns include metal, resin, and porcelain.

Why does my child need a dental crown?

One of the main reasons kids need a dental crown is from cavities. Instead of extracting a tooth from a child’s mouth, implementing a crown can be a better alternative. Depending on the scenario, tooth extractions can lead to further complications.

Types of dental crowns

Dentists can use a few main types of dental crowns. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages – it depends on why your child needs the crown. Some factors influence why a dentist would choose one type over another like durability, aesthetics, placement time, and cost.

Stainless steel crowns

Stainless steel crowns have been around since the 1940s. They are made up of a mix of metals: iron, chromium, carbon, and more. This combination ensures that your child’s saliva and other particles do not deteriorate the crown. This type of crown is very durable, however, they are not a natural tooth color and can be less popular due to aesthetics.

Resin veneer crowns

Resin veneer crowns are stainless steel crowns with a white resin face. Because of this combination, this type of crown has the durability of a stainless steel crown with the aesthetics of a white covering. Resin crowns can be less sensitive to hemorrhage when it is placed, however, they can have limited crimpability (the method of joining two materials or metals), which results in a bigger removal of the original tooth. Resin crowns are usually more expensive compared to other available types.

Composite crowns

Composite crowns are made up of a composite and clear plastic. This type of crown is used more for aesthetic purposes as it is less visible, but it can easily fracture compared to others. Their placement needs to be precise as they are more sensitive to hemorrhage and moisture, which can lead to other issues.

Polycarbonate crowns

This crown is made from acrylic or polycarbonate resin shells that are glued together with a self-adhesive resin. Polycarbonate crowns are more aesthetic and provide a tooth-colored look at a lower cost. Sometimes their durability varies as they can be used for temporary reasons. Polycarbonate crowns come in one main tooth color but can be modified upon request with liners or cement.

Ceramic crowns

Made from zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide, zirconia ceramic crowns are a good aesthetic option. Some zirconium crowns may have a porcelain layer inside the structure or on the outside surface. They are a very strong and durable alternative but can cost more compared to other types of dental crowns.

Which crown is best for children?

In general, stainless steel crowns are the most common crown used for pediatric dentistry. If you are not concerned about color and aesthetics, this is one of the more durable options. Because baby teeth are not permanent, the silver color is only temporary.

Pediatric dental crown procedure

Dental crowns usually only need two appointments. Our dental practice has dentists that have experience with children of all ages available to help your child.

First pediatric dentist visit:

When you visit our practice, work with our dentists. For the first visit, the dental steps include:

● Preparing your child’s tooth for their crown. One of our dentists will remove a small portion of the tooth’s enamel which will create a space for the crown.

● Next up, the dentist will take an impression of your child’s teeth. This can be done either digitally or with impressions (from a putty-like substance). From there, a technician will create the custom dental crown.

● It can take a couple of weeks for the lab to create the crown, so the dentist will place a temporary one over the space for the crown in the meantime

Second pediatric visit:

● Once the dental lab finishes the final product, they will send it back to our dental practice.

● Our dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the color and shape of the new one.

● Bond the new crown to your child’s tooth using dental cement.

In many cases, dentists can finish the procedure in one visit, depending on your child’s situation. If it can be done in one procedure, our dentist will numb the area around the tooth that needs restoring, insert a dental dam, remove any decay, and form the tooth to the crown.

Pediatric dental crown prevention tips

Thankfully, there are preventative measures you can take to decrease the chances of your child needing a crown.

• Make sure your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day. This starts once their first teeth start to show.
• Once your child’s baby teeth grow side-by-side, you can incorporate flossing into your child’s oral hygiene routine.
• Limit your child’s exposure to sugary foods and liquids as these can lead to cavities and tooth decay.
• Schedule routine dental checkups every six months with our dental practice

Pediatric dentistry focuses on the early prevention of cavities tooth decay and other common issues. It might seem like a challenge to fully prevent these types of tooth issues for your child, however, proper oral hygiene and dental crown care go a long way. Learn more about our dental services at Sparwood Dental Clinic in Sparwood, British Columbia and pediatric dental crowns and whether they are the right procedure for your child.