If your child needs restorative treatment in the form of a filling or crown, Dr. Rick Alvarez will create a custom treatment plan for your child and review all options with you before treatment begins. At Simply Smiles Family Dental in Republic, MO, we believe a conservative approach to children’s dentistry is usually the best course of action.

Fillings are placed in the tooth following decay removal to preserve natural tooth structure. Nowadays most fillings are made of a composite resin that is matched to your child’s natural tooth color. In some rare instances amalgam (silver) fillings may be used.

Crowns can be made of many different materials depending on where in your child’s mouth they are to be used. Stainless steel, resin, and zirconia are all durable choices and require very similar preparations.

Why Does My Child Need a Crown?

Sometimes an area of decay is too large for a filling or the decay has compromised the whole side of a tooth, so there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling. If your child has an accident that results in a heavily damaged tooth or if your child is at high risk for developing cavities, Dr. Rick Alvarez may decide it’s best to preserve the entire remaining structure.

If you are concerned that your child needs a crown, Dr. Rick Alvarez would be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.