The Benefits of Kids Dental Crowns

Kids dental crowns reinforce a decayed or damaged tooth, restoring its function and beauty. These are just two of the many benefits of crowns. For instance, they also require minimal aftercare. Children of all ages can benefit in different ways from these versatile restorations.

5 benefits of kids dental crowns

1. Restore severely damaged or decayed teeth

Kids dental crowns can restore a variety of dental conditions. They are placed on the treated tooth after a root canal procedure that removes tooth decay. Other conditions that crowns may fix include:

• Fractured cusps (the pointed edges on the chewing surfaces of the teeth)
• Cracked teeth, including cracks that reach into the tooth’s center (pulp)
• Tooth stains or discoloration, such as from staining foods or beverages
• Worn-down teeth, such as from teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Weakened teeth, such as those due to enamel deterioration

2. A permanent dental restoration

Crowns are permanent restorations with an average lifespan of five to 15 years. Therefore, children who have or are beginning to get their permanent teeth can benefit. Like adult crowns, children’s crowns are highly durable and function like natural teeth when the patient drinks, chews, and talks. Thus, a dental crown is unlikely to fall out during daily activities.

One caveat is that children should avoid chewing hard, tough, or sticky foods with dental crowns. While they do not need to give up these foods completely, they should chew them with the other teeth or side of the mouth. Examples include toffee, tough meats, and popcorn kernels.

3. Custom-made for each patient

Kids dental crowns fit perfectly on each child’s problem tooth. This is achieved by taking impressions of the problem tooth and creating a customized crown. If choosing a tooth-colored crown, such as a pressed ceramic or porcelain crown, the pediatric dentist will also ensure that the crown's shade matches that of the surrounding teeth.

4. A simple placement process

Two appointments may be needed to get a kids dental crown, but the procedure itself is simple. The first appointment is to treat the dental condition (for instance, removing tooth decay and any infection during a root canal) and take impressions. The pediatric dentist will likely need to sculpt the tooth, leaving it too small to function on its own. During the second appointment, the provider will apply dental cement to secure the crown in place. Note that children will need a temporary crown to use between these two appointments.

5. Require minimal aftercare

One of the main benefits of kids dental crowns is that they require minimal aftercare. To maintain a crown's integrity, children can continue practicing good dental hygiene (brushing, flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and regular dental visits). As an extra precaution, they may wear a mouthguard while playing sports. Similarly, children with bruxism should wear a nightguard.