Why Get a Filling on a Baby Tooth If It's Going to Fall Out Anyway?

What Causes Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay occurs as a result of harmful bacteria, acids, and sugars weakening and damaging the structure of the tooth.

Foods and beverages that may increase your child’s risk of tooth decay include:

Candy
Soda
Juice
Cookies

A diet that is high in harmful foods or beverages - paired with poor oral home care - is likely to lead to tooth decay.

To help your child avoid tooth decay, provide them with a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products that will provide your child with the fuel and nutrients they need to stay happy and healthy. Ensure that they brush twice daily for a minimum of two minutes. When they are young, you will need to brush their teeth for them, but as they age, you can turn brushing and flossing into a fun bonding experience that they will look forward to and value.

Why Does My Child Need a Filling in a Baby Tooth?

The human body is designed to shed the first set of teeth (baby teeth) once the second set (adult teeth) is finished developing and is ready to descend into the mouth. As the adult tooth develops, the roots of the baby teeth dissolve and the adult tooth pushes the baby tooth out.. This allows the child to experience little to no blood or pain when they eventually do lose their baby tooth. This is because as the root is absorbed by the eruption of the adult tooth, the nerves of the tooth are absorbed as well.

When a baby tooth is removed or lost from the mouth before the adult teeth are ready to descend, it places the child at risk for facing issues with the development and eruption of their adult teeth. The baby tooth holds the space for the adult tooth and when they are lost prematurely, the space needed for the larger adult tooth can close. This situation requires extensive orthodontics to fix. Generally a child with all baby teeth have gaps around the baby teeth to allow room for the larger adult tooth.

Therefore, it is important to preserve the health and life of the baby teeth for as long as possible; this helps ensure the proper development of your child’s teeth and jaw.

A dental filling is a relatively simple procedure; the decay is removed from the tooth, and the tooth is then filled with a synthetic material that is selected to perfectly match the shade of the natural teeth. The filling will be indistinguishable to the naked eye, and you can rest assured that your child’s tooth will remain strong and healthy until it is ready to make way for the adult teeth.