A pediatric dental crown is a cap that covers a whole baby tooth damaged by decay or a break, protecting it until it falls out. Redondo Beach Dental Group may recommend one at our family office in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance and Manhattan Beach.
Parents often ask whether a crown is worth it for a tooth that will be replaced anyway. Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. Call (310) 542-6988 if your child has been told they need one.
When a Crown Is Chosen Over a Filling
Not every cavity needs a crown. A small cavity with plenty of healthy tooth around it is usually a job for one of the pediatric dental fillings instead. A crown is more likely when the tooth has lost too much structure to hold a filling. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) lists reasons such as:
- Decay that is large or reaches more than one surface of a baby molar
- A pulpotomy, a treatment that removes the infected upper part of the nerve tissue in a baby tooth
- A broken tooth that can still be saved
- Enamel that did not form properly, which leaves the tooth weak
- A child at high risk for new cavities, often after decay that began early with frequent sugary drinks or a bottle at night, known as baby bottle tooth decay
The AAPD says stainless steel crowns are indicated for high-risk children with large or multi-surface cavities in baby molars. It reports that five retrospective studies comparing the two found an average five-year failure rate of 26% for silver (amalgam) fillings that reach between baby molars, against 7% for stainless steel crowns. The AAPD notes that crowns tend to go on the more damaged teeth, so the comparison does not favor them, and the figures are for amalgam, not tooth-colored fillings.
Why Fix a Baby Tooth That Will Fall Out?
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), baby teeth are essential for chewing, help children speak clearly and hold the spacing that adult teeth need to come in correctly. The ADA also warns that baby teeth lost to cavities can threaten the health of the permanent teeth.
That is why dentists often try to save a damaged baby tooth rather than pull it. A crown is not always the answer, though. If a baby tooth is close to falling out on its own, or is too damaged to be restored predictably, watching it or removing it may make more sense. That call is made tooth by tooth at an exam.
Types of Crowns for Baby Teeth
Children’s crowns are usually preformed, which means they come in set sizes and are fitted to the tooth. The AAPD describes these main types:
- Stainless steel crowns are the long-standing choice for baby molars. The AAPD says they give full coverage against new decay, with long-term durability and minimal maintenance, which suits children at high risk for cavities. They are silver in color. We may recommend a stainless steel crown for a baby tooth with extensive decay.
- Zirconia crowns are preformed ceramic crowns that match the color of the tooth. The AAPD says evidence for them on baby back teeth is still limited, and that they may be considered in place of a stainless steel crown for appearance. More of the tooth must be removed to fit one, and the crown cannot be adjusted. In the AAPD’s comparison, stainless steel crowns stay on better and zirconia crowns are kinder to the gums.
- Strip crowns are a tooth-colored resin form bonded onto a front tooth. They look natural, but they need enough healthy tooth to bond to and a dry working area.
Which type suits a tooth depends on where it sits, how much of it is left, your child’s bite and how long it needs to last. Ask us which crown types we offer for your child’s tooth.
What Happens at a Crown Visit
In general, placing a stainless steel crown involves an exam and often an X-ray, numbing the tooth, removing decay and shaping the tooth slightly, then fitting a crown of the right size and cementing it in place. Children are often a little sore afterward, and a numb lip or cheek is easy to bite by accident until the numbing wears off. Ask us how your child’s visit will go and how long it will take.
Crowns on Young Permanent Teeth
The AAPD says a preformed metal crown can also serve as a semi-permanent restoration on a permanent molar that has a severe developmental defect, is badly decayed or has been injured, or when a final crown is not yet suitable. Once a tooth has finished growing, teens and adults have more choices, such as a same-day ceramic crown.
Caring for a Crowned Tooth
A crown covers the tooth but does not make it immune. The tooth can still decay where the crown meets the gum, and the AAPD notes that gums next to a stainless steel crown can become inflamed, which is why it recommends good home hygiene. Help your child brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste in the amount the dentist recommends for their age, and floss around the crowned tooth. Follow the eating instructions you are given after the visit.
A baby tooth with a crown is expected to stay until the permanent tooth underneath pushes it out. Call us if a crown feels loose or if your child has pain or swelling near it. A crown that comes off, or a tooth that has just broken, needs prompt attention, and emergency pediatric dental care explains what to do before you reach the office.
Many crowns can be avoided with prevention, so the checkups and fluoride that are part of dental care for children at the practice matter.
What a Child’s Crown Costs
The cost of a crown for a child depends on the type of crown, which tooth it is, whether the tooth needs pulp treatment first and whether an exam or X-rays are needed that day. Ask us for an estimate before the appointment.
We accept PPO plans. Coverage for children’s crowns varies by plan, so ask us how your plan applies to your child’s treatment. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
About the Practice
Redondo Beach Dental Group is a family practice that sees children and adults, so parents and children can be patients at the same office. Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads the practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a crown necessary for a 4-year-old child?
A crown is not always necessary for a 4-year-old, because a small cavity can often be filled or watched. For decay that covers several surfaces of a baby molar, the AAPD says a stainless steel crown may be considered in children younger than 4 to avoid having to treat the tooth again. Your dentist weighs the size of the cavity, your child’s cavity risk and how long the tooth needs to last.
Do pediatric dentists do crowns?
Pediatric dentists place crowns on baby teeth, and family dental offices place them too. Redondo Beach Dental Group sees children and adults, and we may recommend a stainless steel crown for a baby tooth with extensive decay. Ask us whether your child’s tooth can be treated at our office.
How much do pediatric dental crowns cost?
The cost of a pediatric dental crown depends on the crown type, which tooth it is and whether other treatment, such as a pulpotomy, comes first. Ask us for an estimate and how your plan applies to your child’s treatment.
What are the downsides of using zirconia crowns?
The downsides of zirconia crowns for baby teeth are that more tooth has to be removed to fit them, they cannot be adjusted once made, and the AAPD says the evidence for them on baby back teeth is limited. Their upside is a tooth-colored look and, in the AAPD’s comparison, healthier gums than with stainless steel. Ask us whether a zirconia crown is an option for your child’s tooth.
Does getting a crown hurt a child?
Getting a crown should not hurt during treatment, because dentists generally numb the tooth first, though children can feel pressure and are often a little sore afterward. Ask us how we help children feel comfortable at the visit.
What should I do if my child’s crown comes off?
If a crown comes off your child’s tooth, the tooth is exposed to decay and should be seen soon, even if it does not hurt. Keep the crown if you can and call (310) 542-6988 so we can tell you what to do next.
Ask About a Crown for Your Child in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online to talk about your child’s tooth.