Why Cavities In Baby Teeth Need Dental Fillings

When a typical visit to the dental office results in your child having cavities in a baby tooth, you need to decide whether you should have the cavities filled. It's common for parents to assume that cavities in primary teeth don't need dental fillings because the teeth will eventually fall out. However, many dental offices fill cavities in primary teeth on a regular basis. In fact, there are several reasons that you should consider having your child's cavities filled.

Tooth Decay

If you leave the cavity in your child's tooth untreated, the situation will eventually become worse. The tooth won't stop decaying. As the hole in your child's tooth gets bigger, it gets harder and harder to keep food particles and bacteria out of it. If the cavity is in an area that touches another tooth, the same bacteria and food particles cling to the adjacent tooth, spreading the tooth decay. So getting your child's cavity filled will help stop the adjacent teeth from decaying as well.

Pain

Your child might not have any pain at all from a small cavity. However, as the tooth continues to decay, the cavity gets bigger. Eventually, the nerves of the tooth will become exposed, which could be painful for your child.

Other Problems

Teeth that are decaying aren't as strong as healthy teeth. It's easy to crack or chip them, which can be painful. Also, decaying teeth are more susceptible to infections, which can spread if not properly treated.

Other Considerations

Something that you really need to consider when deciding whether to have a cavity in your child's baby tooth filled is how long that tooth will actually be in your child's mouth. Children usually start losing their primary teeth around the age of six and continue losing them until they are approximately 13 years old. So if you don't have the cavity filled, the decaying tooth could be in your child's mouth for quite a long time. Additionally, if you wait to have the decaying tooth treated, your child may have to have a root canal instead of simply getting a dental filling.

Of course it's your decision whether or not to have cavities in your child's baby teeth filled. Before making your decision, talk to a dentist, like those at Treasured Smiles Dentistry, about the procedure. You'll probably discover that the procedure is actually pretty painless, and it's a procedure that's covered by most dental insurance policies.