I am proud to say that I have all my own teeth at the age of 65. While that may not sound unusual to some people, everyone in my family who is my age or older wears dentures. I always tell people that that flossing is the key to good dental health. I have arthritis in my hands, but I don't let it keep me from flossing every day. My trick is to use those little "flossers" you can buy at the drug store. They have plastic handles floss stretched out on top of the handle. These make flossing easier on days when my arthritis is acting up. I started this blog to let other people know that they can keep their teeth healthy into old age when they take care of them. If you have hand pain, find ways to make flossing easier, like I did.
Don't Let Hand Pain Keep You from Flossing
What's The Best Dental Crown For A Child's Tooth?
Francis Miles
Dental crowns aren't always an adult concern. Sometimes a primary, deciduous, baby tooth requires a restoration that fully encircles the tooth, protecting it from further deterioration. Of course, the materials and process tend to reflect the fact that the tooth in question will be lost and then replaced by a permanent adult tooth. What are your options when your child needs a dental crown?
Posterior Teeth
You have two dental arches (upper and lower), and there's a specific type of dental crown for children which is suitable for posterior teeth—those towards the rear of the dental arch, such as molars and premolars. In this instance, a dentist may recommend a stainless steel crown.
Stainless Steel
This material is excellent for dental restorations. It's inexpensive, easy for a dentist to work with, and offers tremendous strength while being remarkably thin. The fact that such a thin, comprehensive crown can be manufactured from stainless steel is ideal for younger patients. Many crowns require some of the tooth's surface area to be removed to actually fit the restoration. With stainless steel, any preparation is absolutely minimal, meaning your child has less time to spend in the dentist's chair (which they're likely to be happy about).
Esthetics
The downside to stainless steel is its esthetics. Since the tooth will be completely encircled by the restoration, it will look as though it's metal. This is why it's typically recommended for posterior teeth. Sure, the final result won't resemble a natural tooth, but given its position, this lack of naturalness won't necessarily be relevant. Anterior teeth (towards the front of the dental arch) can be a different story.
Anterior Teeth
The teeth towards the front of the dental arch are obviously those that are most visible. A dentist can certainly attach a stainless steel crown to an anterior tooth, but the esthetics of the restoration can make this a problematic choice. The functionality of the tooth will be restored, but its original look won't be, and it can be easy for a child to be self-conscious about this. Yes, the tooth (stainless steel crown and all) will eventually loosen and detach, but it may be months (or years) before this is scheduled to happen.
Pediatric Zirconia Ceramic Crowns
These types of crowns resemble the crowns an adult patient may need, but with one notable difference. Adult crowns are custom-made, whereas a pediatric zirconia ceramic crown is generally pre-made. Your child's dentist will determine the required shape and color for the crown before bonding it into place. This results in a long-lasting, natural-looking restoration, which won't be as costly as an adult crown while still being slightly more expensive than a stainless steel crown (due to the material and its realistic look).
It might be disappointing when a child's tooth needs a crown to restore it, but there are several options intended for these younger patients.
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