Our Treatments
At Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos, we strive to help our young patients maintain healthy, beautiful smiles. We are pleased to offer a range of restorative dentistry solutions, including tooth-colored fillings, to repair decayed teeth, restoring their health and function with seamless results.
What Are the Causes of Cavities?
Tooth decay can develop due to several causes, including poor oral hygiene, sugary foods and drinks, starchy and sticky foods, and plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and gum line. If not treated, tooth decay can progress, leading to severe pain, difficulty eating, infection, and damage to the developing adult teeth.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings are aesthetic restorations made of a composite resin material that can be matched to your child's natural tooth enamel. These natural-looking fillings offer numerous benefits. They require less tooth structure removal than amalgam fillings, making them conservative restorations. They also bond to the natural tooth structure, strengthening it and sealing out harmful oral bacteria.
Repairing a cavity with a tooth-colored filling prevents the decay from reaching the tooth's inner pulp, which would require more involved treatments like baby root canals or dental crowns. An Infected tooth can lead to pain, an abscess, and swelling, leaving us with no option but to remove the tooth.
Do Baby Teeth Need Fillings?
Maintaining healthy baby teeth is critical to your child's health and development. These tiny pearly whites serve as placeholders, keeping the space the permanent teeth need and guiding them into the proper position when it's time to erupt. They also play a critical role in speech development and help with chewing, ensuring your little one gets the needed nutrients to stay healthy and strong and develop healthy teeth and gums.
If a baby tooth is lost prematurely due to an untreated cavity, the neighboring teeth often drift toward the gap, blocking the space the adult teeth need to come in the correct alignment, which can lead to impacted teeth. That usually translates to the need for future orthodontic treatments.
What Is the Cavity Filling Procedure?
Depending on the size and location of the decay, we may numb the tooth and the surrounding area with a local anesthetic for your child's comfort. If your little one is anxious, we are happy to administer nitrous oxide sedation, also known as laughing gas.
Once your child is ready, Dr. Nadia Bala or Dr. Greg Allen will remove the decayed portions of the tooth, disinfect the area, and place the tooth-colored filling material. Our team at Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos never spares any effort to ensure your child is comfortable and free of stress.
How Can You Prevent Cavities?
Establishing good oral hygiene habits is the best way to keep your child's teeth healthy. These include daily brushing and flossing and limiting sugary foods and drinks and carbohydrate snacks. Avoid putting your baby or toddler in bed with a bottle of juice or milk - only water!
It's important to see our pediatric dentists for your child's twice-yearly dental checkups and cleanings. Dr. Nadia Bala or Dr. Greg Allen will monitor your child's oral health and treat any oral health concerns as they develop, preventing them from advancing and requiring extensive treatments down the road.
Dental Fillings Near Me in San Marcos, California
Do you think your child may have a cavity? If so, contact Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos to schedule an appointment. Our experienced pediatric dentists, Dr. Nadia Bala or Dr. Greg Allen, may recommend a tooth-colored filling to restore your child's healthy smile. You can always count on our kind-friendly team for compassionate, gentle care.
Looking for exceptional care from the best pediatric dentists in San Marcos? We invite you to call 760-798-2825 to schedule your child's appointment or complete our online appointment request form today!
We're Ready For Your Ducklings!
We are excited to care for little ones and be part of their journey to bright and healthy smiles. Follow the link to request an appointment that best fits your busy schedule. We can’t wait to meet you!
