Tooth decay is an extremely common issue for children ages 2-11. 42% of children in this age group suffer from cavities, with 23% of them going untreated. The objectives of restorative treatment are to repair baby bottle tooth decay, protect and preserve the tooth structure, reestablish adequate function, restore esthetics (where applicable), and provide ease in maintaining good oral hygiene.

Restorative treatment is based upon the results of an exam and is ideally part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Crowns, fillings and sealants are the most common kinds of dental restorations for children.

Fillings are needed when there is dental decay resulting in a hole in the tooth. The tooth is patched to prevent food, plaque and bacteria from entering and collecting in the space again, which can lead to deeper and more severe damage. The area is numbed with local anesthesia, the decay is taken out and a tooth-colored composite resin filling or a silver amalgam is used to fill the cavity. The tooth surface is smoothed and polished, which leaves a strong healthy tooth.

Crowns are needed when the dental filling may break or the tooth experiences more decay. Crowns are placed on the baby molars that have decay in between the teeth, or on teeth that have too much damage and cannot be repaired with fillings. Crowns can typically be completed in one visit and are durable, usually, lasting until the baby tooth falls out. Tooth colored crowns for front teeth are available to those concerned about aesthetics.