At the office of The Kids' Dentist Tucson, we provide precise and gentle care to treat cavities and place fillings to rebuild your child’s tooth and protect their oral health.
Although cavities can occur at any age, children are especially susceptible due to lifestyle and dietary habits. As a matter of fact, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. Over 50 percent of 5 to 9-year-old children have at least one cavity or filling, with that proportion increasing to 78 percent among 17-year-olds.
When decay, also known as dental caries, compromises a tooth’s structural integrity, a filling often gets placed to rebuild its natural form and restore its strength and function. As tooth decay remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children, removing tooth decay, and placing a filling are among the most common and routine procedures performed each day.
Although every child and smile are different, you can expect the visit to take about an hour. In most cases, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so your child doesn’t feel any discomfort. Once the tooth is numbed, our pediatric dentist will precisely and gently remove any decayed or damaged tooth structure. After excavating the decay to the point where healthy tooth structure remains, it’s time to place the filling. For mild to moderate tooth decay, we typically place a tooth-colored filling.
Fabricated of the latest and most advanced generations of dental composites, "tooth-colored or white fillings" are biocompatible, metal-free, strong, and durable. Composite fillings get adhered to natural tooth structure through a bonding process, which also serves to seal and strengthen the tooth. With shades the match natural tooth structure, white fillings invisibly restore the form and function of the involved tooth, while seamlessly blending in seamlessly with the rest of your child’s smile.
While treating cavities and placing fillings are among the most routine procedures in dentistry, feel free to contact us with questions and concerns. As your child’s dentist and trusted partner in care, we keep you well informed every step of the way.
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