Fillings and crowns for baby and adult teeth
A filling or a crown repairs a tooth that has a cavity or a break, so your child can keep chewing on it.
Baby teeth hold space for the adult teeth and help with chewing and speech, so Dr. Chandran repairs most decayed ones. She tells you when a tooth close to falling out can be left.
At this visit
A look, and an X-ray if she needs one
Numbing, then the repair
One or two visits, depending on the teeth
What happens
- 01
Step 1: We look and talk
Dr. Chandran shows you the tooth, explains the options and answers your questions before anything starts.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing
A numbing gel goes on the gum first, then numbing medicine. Your child can hold your hand.
- 03
Step 3: The repair
She removes the decay and fills the tooth, or fits a crown when a larger part of the tooth is missing.
- 04
Step 4: After the visit
We check how the bite feels and give you written after-care.
Comfort, waiting and after-care
Comfort
Each tool is shown first. A raised hand means stop, and we stop. Your child’s lip and cheek feel numb or tingly for a few hours, so we ask you to watch that they do not chew on them.
Alternatives, and if you wait
Some small cavities can be watched or treated with fluoride, and Dr. Chandran tells you which. A cavity that grows can reach the nerve, hurt and need a bigger repair.
Risks and after-care
A filling can chip or wear, and a crown can come loose. She explains your child’s crown choices and their trade-offs, and tells you what to eat and what to call us about.
How it is billed
Fillings and crowns are billed to your plan if you have one. You get a written estimate before treatment, and nothing starts until you say yes.
How fees work
Questions about fillings and crowns
Do baby teeth really need fillings?
A decayed baby tooth can hurt and can affect the tooth coming in behind it. Dr. Chandran usually repairs it, and tells you when a loose tooth can wait.
Will my child feel it?
Your child may feel pressure and a pinch when the area is numbed. We show each step first and stop when your child asks.
Can I stay with my child?
Yes. You can sit beside the chair or hold a hand.
How many visits will it take?
Often one or two, depending on how many teeth need repair. She tells you before you start.
Provided by a pediatric dentist
Dr. Padma Chandran, DDS, pediatric dentist, licensed in Wisconsin. Her training and board are on her profile.