Studies have shown that 4 out of 10 children experience dental fear. Some of the biggest worries children experience leading up to the procedure include fear of the dentist's drill, fear of injections, and fear of choking on one of the instruments.
Kids are significantly less anxious about dental treatment after their first visit. But what can you do if this is your child’s first visit? We at Greenpoint Pediatric Dentistry believe that the best way to prepare yourself for a procedure is to educate yourself as much as possible.
If your child needs dental fillings, here’s what you need to know about the procedure.
Types of Dental Fillings for Children
A child’s smile is important to everyone: to them, to their parents, and us. Dr. Hansford often use tooth-colored filling materials to restore the child's smile. The material is known as composite resin and it makes any work they've done, basically unnoticeable.
If the fillings are invisible, the child won't have to worry about being teased in school or being commented on by strangers. This material works on everything from baby teeth to permanent, adult teeth. Composite resin is used by our dentists for several reasons, including:
In comparison to other dental filling materials, it is more durable.
Requires less work on the tooth than standard metal fillings.
Teeth sparkle and look healthier thanks to composite resin's translucent appearance.
It can also be used as a fissure sealant for children's permanent molar teeth.
The material isn't necessarily great for every child. Our doctor will examine your child first to see whether the composite resin is good for them. If that’s the case, we'll look at some alternatives before coming up with the best solution.
How are Fillings Placed Inside the Child’s Teeth
Before filling any cavities, kids are allowed to get acclimated to our office. Our doctor will let them look around and sit in the chair for a couple of minutes before doing any work. If this doesn't have a calming effect on the child, our dentists have other methods.
Oral sedation or laughing gas will remedy the child's anxiety and calm them down. The area around the tooth will be numbed with an anesthetic. After that, tooth decay can be removed easily, and the filling can be put in place.
As soon as the shape of the tooth is formed, a special blue light is placed on top of it, making it harder in mere seconds. Finally, additional adjustments can be made if the child feels like the tooth isn’t shaped right or has trouble biting.
How to Prepare Your Child for Dental Fillings
Children are usually numbed before the procedure starts. As such, they can feel less pain when receiving a filling and also during preparation for the fillings. Of course, they still may feel a strange sensation when water is sprayed inside their mouth and all over their teeth.
The overall process is quick and mostly painless. It usually takes about two weeks for sensitivity to taper off, but it will gradually decrease over time. You need to discuss everything we mentioned in this post with your child to prepare them for the procedure.
Improve Your Child’s Smile at Greenpoint Pediatric Dentistry
Greenpoint Pediatric Dentistry provides great dental care for children of all ages. No matter how severe the case is, Dr. John Hansford will ensure that your child goes to the procedure without feeling any pain or anxiety. If the child feels a sense of nervousness during the treatment, our doctors are ready to talk and even sing to them to calm them. If you want to get in touch with one of our doctors, contact us online or call us at (929) 324-1140.