How your child feels about their smile can impact self-esteem and self-confidence. If your child is feeling self-conscious about their smile due to decayed, stained, or damaged teeth, we can help. At Midlothian Children’s Dentistry, we offer restorative dentistry services to help children regain the normal form and function of their teeth, so their smile can look and feel natural, healthy, and beautiful.

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Composite fillings

We use white or tooth-colored fillings that are made of composite resin. This protects the tooth from infection and further decay, when combined with carefully maintained oral hygiene habits and regular check-ups.

The process for placing a composite resin dental filling is as follows:

  • The tooth is isolated from saliva to keep it dry.
  • An air abrasion is used to remove the infected part of the tooth.
  • The composite resin is placed in layers over the opening.
  • A special light is used to harden each layer of composite resin material.
  • After the tooth is filled, the composite resin is shaped to resemble a real tooth.

We can help you decide whether composite resin fillings are right for your child. Composite resin does not only restores your child’s teeth but also provides a natural healthy appearance.

Stainless Steel Crowns

Stainless steel crowns may be used when a cavity has affected too much of the tooth structure to be repaired by a composite filling. The crown covers the tooth and returns the tooth to its original size and shape. This serves to help preserve the remaining tooth structure. Stainless steel crowns are generally used on back teeth and occasionally on baby canine teeth.

Pulpal Therapy

When a cavity has affected a tooth nerve, pulpal therapy may be recommended. Depending on the extent of the damage, your child may receive either a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy.

A pulpotomy includes cleaning out part of the nerve, putting antibacterial medicine on the nerve structure, adding a protective filling, then crowning the tooth to protect the remaining healthy tooth structure.

A pulpectomy is used when the nerve is infected for a longer time and has died. In this treatment, the nerve tissue is removed and the opening is filled with resorbable cement, then crowned to protect the remaining tooth structure.

Space Maintainers

If your child loses a baby tooth too soon, whether through injury, tooth decay, or other reason, our dentist may recommend a space maintainer be inserted into the opening until the permanent tooth begins to erupt. This can prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting into the opening, which can cause significant crowding, misalignment, and other issues for both baby and permanent teeth.

Pediatric Cosmetic Dentistry

We offer tooth bonding and whitening services for children needing cosmetic dental care. Tooth bonding repairs teeth with tooth-colored composite material for a more aesthetic look. Tooth whitening services include take-home bleaching kits, which are sometimes recommended for teenagers who have completed orthodontic treatments and want to brighten their smile.