Many parents may be tempted to overlook problems with primary teeth, or baby teeth as they are commonly known, but that could be a mistake, especially in the case of fillings. There are many reasons why your child may need a filling, and other reasons why a pediatric dentist may decide to wait. Here are a few considerations if you are worried your child may be a candidate. 

How Can You Tell if Your Child May Need a Filling?

It may be hard to tell if your child has a cavity. Young children may lack the vocabulary to even tell you that they are experiencing discomfort. Some other signs to watch for are trouble chewing, speech delays, discoloration of teeth, and discomfort when drinking hot or cold beverages. 

If you notice these symptoms in your child, you will need to make an appointment with a pediatric dentist. Having regular checkups with a dentist can also be beneficial in establishing dental care practices as well as noticing any decay and taking care of it before it spreads to healthy or permanent teeth. 

Why Might a Baby Tooth Need a Filling?   

Cavities can be painful in both adults and children. Cavities can also lead to discoloration of teeth or cause them to fall out before their time. Chronic toothaches or missing teeth can impede children's learning and speech. 

If they are in pain, it may be difficult for them to concentrate in school and, since teeth are apart of speech, they can develop impeded speech as a result of tooth problems. This can also cause children to suffer from a lack of self-confidence that can follow them throughout their school-aged years or set them back from their peers. 

Untreated decay in baby teeth can spread to permanent teeth. Cavities are caused by bacteria, and bacteria spreads easily. Tooth fillings can also eliminate the need to unnecessarily pull a tooth. The premature pulling of a primary tooth can cause malalignment of future permanent teeth, which could lead to orthodontics or restorative dentistry in your child's future. 

When is it Not Recommended?

If a tooth is loose, it may not be necessary to fill the cavity. If the cavity is small enough, the tooth may go through a remineralization process where the tooth heals itself. If this happens quickly and the tooth is not situated around permanent teeth, the pediatric dentist may decline doing the procedure.

If you feel your child may have a cavity, seek the expertise of Brandi Prather DMD, PSC in Somerset, KY. Dr. Brandi strives to teach her young patients about optimal dental care in a comfortable and stress-free environment. For more information, call (606) 697-5437 or visit her Facebook page today.