Milk-tooth fillings and crowns
Milk teeth fall out, but they do their job for years. They help your child chew and speak, and they hold space for the adult teeth underneath. A decayed milk tooth can hurt, can form an abscess and can affect the adult tooth growing below it. Depending on how much of the tooth is damaged, it is repaired with a filling or, for badly decayed back teeth, a stainless steel crown.
Step by step
- 1Examine and X-ray
The dentist looks at the tooth and takes a standard dental X-ray if needed to see how deep the decay goes.
- 2Make your child comfortable
The dentist explains each step in simple words, shows the instruments and goes at your child's pace. Local anaesthetic is used so the tooth is numb during treatment.
- 3Remove the decay
The decayed part is cleaned out and the tooth is shaped for a filling or a crown.
- 4Fill or crown the tooth
A small cavity is filled, usually with a tooth-coloured material. A badly decayed back milk tooth is usually covered with a stainless steel crown, which is cemented over the whole tooth. Tooth-coloured options for some front teeth may be advised.
- 5Check the bite
Your child bites together so any high spot can be adjusted, and the dentist checks that the filling or crown fits well.
- Brown or black spots or holes in a milk tooth
- A child who complains of pain, or avoids chewing on one side
- A milk molar with a large cavity that a filling is unlikely to hold
- A milk tooth that has been chipped or broken
- Cavities found at a check-up before they cause any pain
Your child can usually eat once the numbness wears off, in about 2 to 3 hours. Until then, watch that your child does not bite or chew the cheek, lip or tongue. The gum around a new crown may be slightly sore for a day or two, and a soft diet helps. Normal brushing continues, with a smear of fluoride toothpaste under age 3 and a pea-sized amount from 3. Call if the pain is increasing or there is swelling.
Fillings and crowns on milk teeth are routine treatments. A filling may fail if the cavity was large or if sugary snacks continue, and a crown may come loose or wear through and need to be replaced. A milk tooth with deep decay may have an infected nerve. In that case, a milk-tooth nerve treatment (pulp treatment) may be needed, or the tooth may need to be removed. This is decided after examining the tooth and the X-ray. A crown is placed on a milk tooth and comes out naturally with it when the adult tooth is ready.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
Payment by card, cash or UPI.
Questions patients ask
Do milk teeth really need treatment if they fall out anyway?
Yes. Some milk molars stay until age 10 to 12, so they can be in the mouth for many years. Untreated decay can cause pain and abscesses, and can affect the adult tooth underneath.
Will my child feel pain during the treatment?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so your child should feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. The dentist explains each step first, and the visit is paced to your child. Some children are nervous, and we may do it in more than one short visit.
Why a steel crown instead of a big filling?
When a back milk tooth has lost a lot of its structure, a large filling often breaks or leaks. A stainless steel crown covers and protects the whole tooth and usually lasts until the tooth falls out.
Can the crown be tooth-coloured?
For some front teeth, a tooth-coloured option may be advised. Back teeth are usually crowned with stainless steel because it is strong. Your dentist will explain what suits your child's tooth.
What if the decay has reached the nerve?
The dentist may advise a milk-tooth nerve treatment (pulpotomy or pulpectomy) to keep the tooth, or removal if the tooth cannot be saved. If a tooth is removed early, a space maintainer may be advised.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.