What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns cover and protect the surface of a tooth that’s severely decayed or damaged. The Hardie Dentistry for Kids team uses different types of crowns depending on your child’s age and particular needs, such as:

Composite strip crowns

The team may recommend composite crowns to restore your child’s front baby teeth. The composite material costs less than porcelain but still provides tooth-colored aesthetic appeal.

Stainless steel crowns

Stainless steel is another inexpensive crown material that’s more durable and long-lasting than composite resin. Since this material isn’t tooth-colored, the team primarily uses it to restore primary molars — baby teeth — in the back of the mouth.

Why would my child need a crown?

Even though primary (baby) teeth are temporary, they play a critical role in the development of your child’s permanent teeth. Baby teeth help your child learn to speak and chew food properly.

Composite or stainless steel crowns restore baby teeth, allowing your child to maintain their teeth during development. Common dental problems that may require a crown include:

• Cracked or fractured teeth
• Severely decayed teeth
• Weakened or worn down teeth

What happens when my child gets a dental crown?

The process of installing a crown requires two to three visits. At your first visit, Dr. Hardie or a member of his expert pediatric dental team performs a comprehensive exam that may include X-rays.

When you return for a restoration treatment, your dentist may use a local anesthetic to reduce your child’s discomfort before reshaping the tooth and taking an impression, which they send to a laboratory to create the crown. They may place a temporary crown on the tooth at this time.

When your child’s crown is ready — about two to three weeks later — a team member places it on the tooth, using a local anesthetic to numb the area during this process as well.

Then, your child can enjoy their new tooth restoration to ensure optimal oral health while their teeth continue to develop.

To learn more about pediatric dental crowns, call Hardie Dentistry for Kids or book an appointment online.