Our pediatric dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, may recommend fillings if he detects cavities during your child’s next appointment. Unlike dental crowns, pediatric fillings are designed to restore teeth with small cavities. That way, we’re able to treat toothaches and decay without removing any healthy enamel. Only the decayed tooth structure will be removed during the procedure.
Here’s what else you need to know about pediatric fillings. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. We’d be more than happy to help!
Cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases affecting American children, according to the . For this reason, we recommend that you always take your child to our pediatric dentist for their routine checkups. During a pediatric teeth cleaning, Dr. Kim will be able to detect the early signs of tooth decay while they’re easiest to treat.
Learn More: Pediatric Crowns vs. Fillings →
The dental filling procedure takes one trip to our office. During your child’s appointment, Dr. Kim will remove the cavity and fill the tooth with composite resin. Our pediatric dentist will then use a special light to harden the composite resin so the filling is stable and secure.
For the , we’ll need to numb your child’s tooth. To do this, we’ll apply a topical numbing gel to your child’s gums before injecting a local anesthetic. This helps to reduce any temporary discomfort while we numb your child’s tooth for the procedure.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may also recommend laughing gas. This is a mild form of sedation that will allow your child to feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed during their appointment. Laughing gas sedation is fast to act and wear off, which means your child will be able to resume their normal schedule after their visit with us.
Learn More: Pediatric Laughing Gas FAQ →
The local anesthetic will make your child’s cheeks feel numb to the touch. For this reason, we recommend that they chew carefully for a few hours until the anesthetic has a chance to wear off completely.
To be safe, give your child soft foods that require little to no chewing. That way, they don’t accidentally bite the inside of their cheek. Also, avoid giving your child any hot beverages so they don’t unknowingly burn the inside of their mouth.
If your child is experiencing dental pain or discomfort, it’s important that you schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. Toothaches won’t go away on their own, which is why Dr. Kim will diagnose and treat the source of your child’s dental pain at the source.
Dr. Wanki William Kim is a pediatric dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, who’s accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment for your child and learn if they’re a candidate for cavity fillings, please call the Pediatric Dentistry of Michigan at (616) 447-7900. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
