Dr. Kim may recommend the pediatric crown procedure to restore a weakened tooth. For example, a dental crown can strengthen a tooth after removing a large cavity. As a parent, it helps to know what your child will experience ahead of time so you can ensure they receive the care and attention they need—both before and after the procedure.
Here’s what you need to know.
First, we’ll make sure that your child is comfortable during the . To ensure your child’s comfort, Dr. Kim will inject a local anesthetic into the soft tissue by your child’s tooth. He may also provide laughing gas, which will help your child remain relaxed and calm during their appointment.
Once your child is numb and comfortable, Dr. Kim will remove any decayed tooth structure. That way, your child will leave our pediatric dental office cavity-free!
Related: Why Does My Child Keep Getting Cavities? →
A dental crown covers the entire visible portion of your child’s tooth above the gum line. As such, Dr. Kim will need to prepare your child’s tooth to receive the dental crown. This involves filing down and shaping the enamel so the crown can fit.
Next, Dr. Kim will place a pre-sized stainless steel crown over your child’s tooth. He’ll ensure that your child’s pediatric crown is the proper size and shape so it matches the rest of your child’s teeth. Dr. Kim will also check your child’s bite to ensure the crown won’t cause any pain or discomfort with chewing.
A will restore your child’s tooth to its full strength. If we’re restoring a baby tooth, this will help keep the tooth strong until it’s ready to fall out naturally. In the meantime, the baby tooth will hold space in the jaw until your child’s adult tooth is ready to erupt and replace it.
As always, your child will need to continue practicing good oral hygiene. This means brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. They’ll also need to floss once daily to remove any plaque or food particles caught between teeth.
Continue taking your child to see our pediatric dentist so they can receive the preventive care they need to maintain a healthy smile. In general, we recommend that children see our pediatric dentist at least every 6 months.
It’s important to remember that each child’s dental hygiene needs are different. Dr. Kim will be able to explain your child’s aftercare instructions in more detail during their appointment.
Dr. Wanki William Kim is an experienced pediatric dentist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s also accepting new patients and would be more than happy to welcome your child to our practice.
To request an appointment, please call the Pediatric Dentistry of Michigan at (616) 447-7900. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our dental office will reach out to you soon. We’d be more than happy to help!
