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Show Me Your Pearly Whites!
Cosmetic Dentistry for Kids
By Gwen Morrison
For a child who fractures or chips his tooth as the result of a trauma, there are several ways to restore it so that it matches the previous undamaged tooth.
Dr. Elliott D. Maser, D.D.S., M.Sc.D., a board certified pediatric dentist from Bensalem, Penn., has been in private practice treating children for almost 30 years and has seen children with various cosmetic problems. "A child that has baby bottle tooth decay, for example, can have their anterior or front teeth restored with white composite crowns to make the teeth look normal again," he says. "When a tooth is fractured, many parents ask if it can be bonded. That is normally the way the fracture would be repaired."
According to Dr. Maser, bonding is a generic term that is used to describe the use of dental adhesive materials that are normally light cured on the teeth. This includes the use of veneers, sealants and crowns. These treatments can restore the original shape of a chipped or broken tooth.
Bonding materials, often referred to as composite resins, are tooth-colored plastics that are applied to the tooth, formed into the proper shape and hardened with a light or chemical process. This treatment usually takes more than one visit to complete.
Bonding and veneer treatments are fast, comfortable, affordable ways to improve the look of your child's smile after a breakage or chip. The results will last for several years. There are, however, some limitations to bonding. It is important for parents to note that bonded teeth are generally not as strong as the original tooth structure prior to injury. Hard foods, nail biting and further accidents can damage them.
