From birth to the moment your child leaves the house for independence, you have to provide so much for them, and they go through many sets of clothes, shoes, toys, and even teeth. As they grow, you both will experience bumps along the way, and despite doing your best, your child may need a dental crown to compensate for a cavity or oral injury. Although this prosthetic is a great solution that enables them to carry on with confidence for quite a while, you need to be aware that their crown may require replacement at some point. What signs point to needing a new crown? Keep reading to find out!
Your Child Experiences Tooth Pain in or around the Tooth.
Serving as the tooth’s shield and barrier, the crown is meant to keep bacteria out. However, if your child doesn’t clean their teeth thoroughly enough, bacteria can find their way underneath the crown and create a cavity. Once decay starts in the natural tooth, it will continue to penetrate deeper until it reaches the pulp and root system of the tooth. If your child hasn’t already had a root canal, they’ll need one to take away the pain as well as a new crown. Otherwise, from there, the infection can spread to other teeth and lead to other health issues that could even be life threatening!
Take your child’s comments seriously if they have tooth pain. It could mean that the crown wasn’t effective in protecting the tooth properly.
You See Significant Gum Recession around the Crown.
Take a look at your child’s gums every once in a while. Pink, firm gums indicate healthy tissue, but puffy, red gums demonstrate the first stage of gum disease, which ultimately results in recession. Although gum disease is rather rare for children, it does occur, and it puts your child’s smile at risk of serious, long-term damage.
Sometimes, gums can pull back if brushing is performed too forcefully, but if you notice this symptom, it is worth talking about it with your pediatric dentist because any type of recession allows bacteria to access your child’s natural tooth under the crown.
Your Child’s Crown Is 10 Years or Older.
As durable as crown materials are, they won’t last forever. After about 10 years or so, a crown eventually shows signs of the years of wear and tear, even if you take excellent care of it. If substantial time has passed since your child received their crown, your pediatric dentist may recommend replacing it to offer the best protection for the tooth moving forward.
The Crown Has Cracks or Other Damage.
Other than the normal signs of wear and tear with age, your child’s crown may sustain damage at any time as a result of misuse. For example, if your child chews on ice, has a sports injury, or bites on a pencil, the force of these hard objects could chip, crack, or damage the crown. Unfortunately, this means replacement because the crown won’t provide adequate protection and strength for the tooth.
Just as your child will need replacement shoes and other things as they get older, keep in mind that they may need a new dental crown sometime. As a concerned parent, you can pay attention and see the warning signs, helping you stay on top of their dental health and wellness.
About the Practice
For Denver kids, Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry offers support, treatment, and education that is geared specifically for infants through teenagers. Dr. Patrick Bowman and Dr. Kathleen Waguespack are board-certified pediatric dentists, which means they have years of additional training for particular conditions and issues these age groups face with their dental health. If your child needs a dental crown or a replacement, contact our office online or call us at 720-647-6310.