Restorative Dentistry

Children's Dentistry

Children’s dentistry covers the treatments baby (primary) teeth need — fillings, protective crowns, nerve treatment for deeper decay, and extractions when a tooth can’t be saved — alongside preventive steps like fluoride and sealants.

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At a glance

One visit or several

A single filling may need just one appointment; a pulpotomy with a crown, or treatment across several teeth, is usually spread over more than one visit.

Baby teeth matter

They hold space for adult teeth, support chewing and speech, and an infected baby tooth can affect the permanent tooth developing underneath it.

X-rays only when needed

Digital X-rays use a low radiation dose, with a lead apron or thyroid shield as standard practice, and are taken selectively rather than at every visit.

Prevention comes first

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants are common preventive steps, applied quickly during a checkup to help protect teeth at higher risk of decay.

What children's dental treatments cover

Children’s dentistry covers the treatments baby (primary) teeth need — fillings for decay, protective crowns, treatment for a tooth’s nerve when decay goes deep, space maintainers when a tooth is lost early, and extractions when a tooth can’t be saved. It’s relevant for parents whose child has a cavity, a damaged tooth, or a tooth lost earlier than expected, as well as for preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants, commonly recommended once a child’s molars have erupted.

Treatments this covers

Primary Tooth Fillings

Decay in a baby tooth is removed and the tooth's shape and function restored with filling material, much like on an adult tooth. Treating it early can stop the decay reaching the tooth's nerve.

Pulpotomy and Pulpectomy

When decay reaches a baby tooth's nerve, a pulpotomy removes only the affected portion and keeps the healthy root pulp; a pulpectomy removes the pulp entirely when the whole tooth is affected.

Stainless Steel Crowns

A pre-formed metal cap covers a baby tooth with extensive decay, previous nerve treatment, or a high risk of breaking — situations a filling alone wouldn't hold up under until the tooth is naturally lost.

Space Maintainers

When a baby tooth is lost earlier than it naturally would be, a small fixed or removable appliance holds the gap open so neighboring teeth don't drift and block the permanent tooth coming in.

How a visit goes

Assessment

The dentist examines the tooth and, if needed, takes an X-ray to check for decay between teeth or below the gumline.

Treatment

The specific procedure — filling, pulpotomy, crown, or extraction — is carried out based on what the tooth needs and how much can be comfortably managed in one visit.

Preparing your child

Explaining what will happen in simple terms ahead of time, and scheduling for a time your child is rested and not overly hungry, tends to help a visit go smoothly.

Follow-up, if needed

Treatment across several teeth, or a pulpotomy with a crown, is usually spread over more than one visit rather than completed in a single sitting.

Before you decide

Not sure whether this applies to your teeth?

The only way to know is an examination. Ask a question first if you would rather understand the options before booking anything.

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When a referral makes sense

Not every case is straightforward. A child who is very young, highly anxious, or needs extensive treatment across many teeth may be better served by a setting with specific pediatric behavioral-management training or sedation options. Medical conditions that affect bleeding, healing, or anaesthesia should always be discussed with the dentist before any treatment is planned.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

At what age should a child first see a dentist?

General guidance in pediatric dentistry commonly points to around the time the first tooth appears or by a child’s first birthday, whichever comes first, so that any risk factors can be spotted early.

Is it worth treating cavities in baby teeth if they're going to fall out anyway?

Yes, generally — an untreated cavity can cause pain, spread infection to the tooth’s nerve, and in some cases affect the permanent tooth developing underneath. Baby teeth also hold space for adult teeth and support normal chewing and speech until they’re naturally lost.

What happens if a baby tooth needs to be extracted?

An extraction is considered when a tooth is too damaged by decay or infection to be restored with a filling, pulpotomy, or crown, or when it needs to come out for orthodontic reasons. Where a tooth comes out well before it would naturally fall out, a space maintainer is often discussed at the same time.

Are fluoride and sealants worth it for baby teeth?

Fluoride varnish strengthens enamel and makes it more resistant to decay; it’s a quick step during a checkup, not a separate appointment. Sealants coat the deep grooves of the back molars, where a toothbrush often can’t reach and where most childhood cavities start.

Are dental X-rays safe for children?

Digital X-rays use a low radiation dose, and protective measures such as a lead apron are standard practice. As with any imaging, X-rays for children are taken selectively — only when the dentist needs specific information a visual exam can’t provide — rather than routinely at every visit.

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