Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry repairs damaged and decaying teeth to preserve your child’s smile and oral health. At Pinellas Pediatric Dentistry in Largo and Seminole, Florida, board-certified pediatric dentist Nancy Montgomery-Easley, DMD, and her team offer various restorative dentistry services, including pulpotomy, fillings, and dental crowns. Call the nearest Pinellas Pediatric Dentistry office to schedule your child’s restorative dentistry, or book an appointment online today.

Can children benefit from restorative dentistry?

Yes. Children are like adults in that they experience oral health problems, including cavities and tooth damage. Dental restorations, like crowns and fillings, stop these problems from worsening and ensure your child’s smile stays healthy.

The Pinellas Pediatric Dentistry team has years of experience providing restorative procedures. They use nonmetal, holistic restorations, reducing your child’s exposure to mercury and other toxins.

Which services does restorative dentistry include?

The Pinellas Pediatric Dentistry team offers several types of restorative dentistry to children and teens, including:

Nonmetal fillings

Your child’s dentist recommends a filling if they have a small cavity caused by tooth decay. Before applying the filling, your child’s provider removes the decayed tooth enamel and “fills” it with a tough, tooth-colored material like porcelain or ceramic.

Nonmetal fillings are as tough as metal amalgam fillings. But they don’t contain mercury and blend in with your child’s surrounding teeth.

Nonmetal crowns

Your child’s dentist recommends a dental crown if they have a damaged or severely decayed tooth that can’t be fixed with a filling. A crown is a cap made of porcelain or ceramic. Your child’s dentist bonds the cap over the affected tooth, restoring its size, shape, and appearance.

Nonmetal crowns are made of tooth-colored materials that don’t contain mercury or other toxins.

Pulpotomy

Your child’s dentist recommends a pulpotomy if they have infected or inflamed tooth pulp inside a baby tooth.

Pulp is a soft substance containing nerves and blood vessels. It allows your child to feel temperature sensations, like hot and cold, but it isn’t necessary for the tooth’s long-term survival.

During a pulpotomy, your child’s dentist removes the infected pulp through the tooth’s crown (or top). They then cover your child’s tooth with a nonmetal crown, restoring its shape and size.

Bridges

Your child’s dentist recommends a bridge if they need a permanent tooth extracted because of injury, decay, or gum disease. A bridge replaces their permanent tooth with an artificial one. It restores your child’s smile and prevents their surrounding teeth from changing position.

How long will it take for my child to recover from restorative dentistry?

Your child can return to school, sports, and other routine activities after their restorative dentistry appointment. They might need to avoid specific foods or chew on the other side of their mouth for a day or two. But any discomfort or sensitivity should subside quickly.

Call the nearest Pinellas Pediatric Dentistry office to schedule your child’s restorative dentistry, or book an appointment online today.