Dental Restorations Based off the Recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
When cavities are diagnosed early in development and are small, treatment may differ from a cavity that is more advanced and larger in size. It can mean the difference between a filling, crowns, or even an extraction of the tooth.
| Treatment Type | Description | Best Uses | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
 Composite Resin Crowns | * Plastic and glass mixture bonded to the tooth * Matches the tooth’s color | * Restores a tooth with limited decay, usually a small or medium-sized cavity * Tooth must be strong enough to hold it in place under the stress of chewing * Used on both front and back teeth * It can be affected by saliva when restoring and the tooth must be isolated properly | * Small and medium-sized composite fillings on both baby and adult teeth show an excellent overall success rate *The main reason fillings break and need replacement is recurring tooth decay and material breakdown |
 Stainless Steel Crowns | * Metal alloy tooth-shaped crown that is cemented or bonded to the tooth and covers the entire tooth * Prefabricated | * Restores a tooth with extensive decay or not strong enough to hold a filling * Protects a tooth with severe loss of tooth surface due to decay, fracture, or developmental defects | * Of all restorations for baby and adult teeth, stainless steel crowns last the longest (More durable than filings and used to help keep baby teeth healthy until t he tooth is ready to fall out naturally between 10 and 12 years old) |
 Pre-veneered Crowns | * Metal alloy crown with a white colored facing that is tooth-shaped and cemented or bonded to the tooth, covering the entire tooth | * Similar uses as stainless steel crowns *Used for front teeth due to their natural appearance | * Able to crimp the tongue for a secure fit * Crown of choice when gingiva is bleeding |
 Composite Strip Crown | * Plastic or composite composite crown that is bonded to the tooth and covers the entire tooth * Matches the tooth’s color | * Similar to uses as stainless steel crowns * Used for front teeth due to their natural appearance | * Plastic, tooth colored crowns are not as resistant to biting forces as stainless steel crowns * Success rates of tooth colored and stainless steel crowns are fairly comparable for baby and adult front teeth |
 Zirconia Crowns | * Made from durable metal zirconium dioxide nd are cemented or bonded to the tooth and cover the entire tooth * Matches the tooth’s color | * Similar uses as stainless steel crowns * Used for front teeth due to their natural appearance | * May resist staining better than composite crowns * Requires impeccable hygiene prior to procedure to minimize bleeding |
If decay is so severe that it causes infection, the tooth may need to be extracted or removed. This ensures the health and preservation of the permanent tooth that is developing adjacent to the infected baby tooth.