Fillings and crowns for baby and adult teeth
Repairs for a tooth with decay or damage, with the choices and the cost explained before anything starts.
Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth and help with chewing and speaking, so Dr. Yates repairs one when she can and watches one when she can't. She tells you which she recommends, and why.
Fillings that match the tooth
Crowns for a tooth too damaged for a filling
Nitrous oxide or sedation only if you and Dr. Yates decide it is needed
What happens
One to two visits, depending on the tooth.
- 01
Step 1: The look and the plan
An exam, an X-ray only if it is needed, and the options and the estimate in writing.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing
Gel first, then the numbing medicine. Dr. Yates tells your child what it will feel like, and most children feel pressure and some tenderness.
- 03
Step 3: The repair
Short steps, with a break whenever your child raises a hand.
- 04
Step 4: Going home
Lips and cheeks stay numb for a couple of hours. Watch your child so they do not bite them.
Comfort, waiting and after-care
Comfort
Numbing medicine for the tooth, a parent beside the chair, and, if you and Dr. Yates decide, nitrous oxide or sedation.
About sedationAlternatives, and waiting
Some decay can be watched, and Dr. Yates says which. If a cavity waits it can grow and cause pain or an infection, and she tells you what she expects without promising.
Risks and after-care
A filling can chip or wear, and a crown can come loose; numbing wears off in a couple of hours. We explain each risk before the visit and call you the evening after.
How it is billed
You get a written estimate before treatment, with each step and its fee. Plans cover repairs differently.
How fees work
Questions about fillings and crowns for baby and adult teeth
Do baby teeth need fillings?
Often yes, because a decayed baby tooth can hurt or infect the gum. Dr. Yates tells you when she would wait instead.
How long does the numbness last?
Usually a couple of hours. Keep your child from chewing until it has worn off.
What if my child cannot sit through it?
We stop, talk and try again with breaks. If that is not enough, she will talk with you about nitrous oxide or sedation.
How many visits will it take?
Usually one visit per side of the mouth, and a crown may take one or two.
Provided by a pediatric dentist
Dr. Linda Yates, DDS, pediatric dentist, licensed in Alaska. Her training and board are on her profile.