The goal of cavity treatment is to make sure any damage to the baby teeth or permanent teeth doesn’t get any worse. Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, general health, and the extent of the tooth decay.
Treatment options include:
- Fluoride varnish: If the cavity has just started to form, your dentist may be able to help prevent any further damage by using professional fluoride treatments. A solution with a high concentration of fluoride will be applied to the child’s teeth to help repair the enamel and reduce any decay that has already begun.
- Dental filling: To treat a typical cavity, the tooth decay is removed with a small drill and filled with a composite or resin material to protect the tooth.
- Dental crown: In cases of more severe tooth decay, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed and replaced with a crown, which is a covering that fits on top.
- Root canal: When a cavity is closer to the nerve, a root canal may be recommended. This involves removing the infection deep inside the tooth, cleaning it out, and then placing a filling or a crown for protection.
- Tooth extraction: When there’s a severe infection under the tooth, or the cavity is too big for a filling or crown, the dentist may recommend pulling (extracting) the tooth. A dental bridge or dental implant will be recommended to fill the space that the tooth has left, so that your other teeth don’t move into the space.
Many people of all ages have anxiety or fear about going to the dentist. Rest assured, dentists use local anesthesia to numb the area before performing common cavity treatments, and general anesthesia for procedures like tooth extraction, so your child should not feel any pain.
If you think your child may need additional support to ease their mind or pain level while undergoing cavity treatment options, check with your dentist’s office about options to help them relax. Pediatric dentists are used to working in a completely kid-focused and friendly environment, and they may be able to help deal with dental anxiety.13
Dental Insurance
If your child is in need of dental care and dental insurance is either not accessible to you or is not sufficient to cover the procedure costs, know that you’re not alone. In many communities, there are places where you can obtain free or low-cost dental services. You can also check out InsureKidsNow.gov for additional information.