Dental Caries in Children ("baby bottle tooth decay")
In most cases, dental caries is associated with permanent teeth, and parents tend to downplay the disastrous effects that caries on a baby tooth can cause.
Temporary teeth are much more sensitive and much more prone to developing dental caries than permanent teeth, and once it appears, it can progress rapidly and give rise to complications.
Why do cavities, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, occur on baby teeth?
Cavities can occur on baby teeth primarily due to sugar consumption. Additionally, the habit of allowing a child to sleep with a bottle in their mouth (containing milk, tea, fruit juice) can lead to the development of baby bottle tooth decay, as the saliva flow decreases during sleep, and sugar directly attacks the tooth surface. Lastly, poor oral hygiene can also contribute to the development of cavities on baby teeth.
Unfortunately, baby bottle tooth decay is much more painful and problematic than cavities that develop on permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is affected by a deep cavity, there is a risk that the bud/crown of the permanent tooth may be affected even before it has started its actual growth process. To avoid such situations, bi-annual visits to the pediatric dentist and proper oral hygiene are recommended.
How are cavities treated in children?
There are two methods of treating cavities in children.
- Aesthetic fillings (dental fillings), made of a rasin that perfectly molds to the tooth’s surface and has a 100% natural appearance. These are used when the child has a simple cavity, and they are minimally invasive.
- Zirconium dental crowns, which are much more durable on baby teeth than simple fillings and can be effective when the tooth is severely affected by the respective cavity.