“Why would a child need a crown?” is a typical question parents ask.
Children do not particularly like going to the dentist and, if not reminded often enough, may neglect oral hygiene. This can lead to the development of dental health problems which, in turn, can result in tooth removal.
Unfortunately, early tooth extractions due to injury or decay might leave voids in developing jaws that can later cause serious dental problems. The teeth will inevitably shift as the jawbone develops without the baby teeth serving as a spacer for the permanent teeth. This movement may result in crowding, mismatched teeth, and the need for orthodontic therapy in the years to come, potentially leading to a variety of other dental procedures.
Getting a silver crown for your child’s tooth can help with such problems. Consider it an investment in your child’s long-term dental health.
What Are Silver Tooth Crowns?
Crowns are placed over weakened or damaged teeth. They are highly recommended for severely injured baby molar teeth where complete coverage is required for function, protection, and preservation of a tooth’s structure. They seal the entire tooth, safeguarding it from risks such as acids and bacteria that cause infections and tooth decay.
Silver tooth crowns, specifically, are usually made with amalgam, which is composed o mercury, tin, silver, and copper. They are set following your child’s pulpotomy
White Crown vs. Silver Crown
They are prefabricated with dimensions and shapes that are appropriate for baby teeth. Commonly, parents or guardians are given the option of choosing between white molar crowns and silver molar crowns. How do these crowns differ from each other?
- Appearance
Without question, when it comes to appearance, white crowns are more appealing than silver stainless steel crowns.
- Procedure
Depending on the circumstances of each patient and the practitioner providing the treatment, the time required to finish a crown can vary. Generally, white crown treatment takes longer to finish than silver crown treatment.
- Crown Fit
Silver crowns have the flexibility to engage tiny undercuts for close adaptation and a tight fit. The crown can be adjusted (i.e. trimmed or crimped) at the margin to improve the fit.
White crowns, in comparison, cannot be altered to enhance fit and adaptation. They must be passively fitted since they are more stiff and unable to engage undercuts. The margins of white crowns must be positioned far below the gum line. To ensure that the white crown fits perfectly, accurate tooth reduction and preparation are required.
- Durability
White crowns are typically weaker and less long-lasting than silver crowns. The long-term survival rate of white crowns on an child’s tooth is unknown as there is only minimal research available, but silver crowns on baby teeth have a known survival rate of 95%.
- Risks
When subjected to severe stresses, silver crowns can deteriorate over time. The crown will then need repairs using adhesive filling materials, or it will need to be replaced with a new silver crown.
White crowns, on the other hand, when exposed to repeated stresses from chewing, grinding, or clenching while eating, are more likely to shatter than become worn. Unfortunately, a broken white crown cannot be fixed and needs replacing.
- Cost
White crowns are about 40 to 60% more expensive than silver crowns.
Are Silver Tooth Crowns Safe for Children?
The short answer is yes. When children get a cavity, dentists can perform a few procedures — fill it, place a crown on it, or extract it. Since dentists always prefer to keep baby teeth in place as long as possible, they will likely choose to fill a cavity or add a crown to a baby tooth rather than remove it. Baby teeth are crucial for a child’s growth and development. As a result, keeping baby teeth until the adult teeth erupt is of utmost importance, and that is exactly what silver teeth are for.
Benefits of Silver Dental Crowns for Kids
Why do kids get silver teeth? Here are a few of the main reasons:
- To ensure the longevity of the teeth
Many individuals might believe that since children’s teeth would eventually fall out on their own, there is no need to make the effort to have them repaired. This is a risky way of thinking because your children’s primary teeth will enable them to eat, speak, and smile to the fullest extent possible.
- To prevent early decay
Particularly in children, tooth decay can be quite painful and uncomfortable.
If you notice signs of tooth decay, see your child’s dentist right away. Once the damaged area has been cleaned, get your child a dental crown that is the right size.
- Prevents cavities
Silver crowns are an excellent solution for the health of your child’s primary and secondary teeth. Silver caps on the front teeth or the molars will help prevent cavities.
- Prevents dental injuries
Although this is not particularly common in children, it is still advised to place a steel crown to stop any more damage if your child has trouble speaking or chewing due to the chipped tooth.
- To lower the need for general anesthesia
The procedure is simple and does not cause any pain; and the dentist can install the dental crown without using any strong anesthetics.
Each child is unique, so each patient requires a different treatment plan for cavities. Consult with your dentist if you notice cavities on your child’s baby teeth or believe they may have some decay. The dentist will identify the type of decay and the appropriate measures to take.
If you are looking for a children’s dentist in Brampton, Springdale Dental Centre is the one for you. Call now at (905) 458-1212.
