Crowns for Baby Teeth in Christiansburg, VA

• Large cavities: decay that is too big for a filling or affects more than one side of a baby molar.
• After pulp treatment: a tooth that has had pulp therapy needs full coverage to keep it from breaking.
• Broken teeth: a tooth damaged in a fall or accident.
• Weak enamel: teeth that came in soft, chalky or pitted.
• High cavity risk: a crown is less likely than a large filling to need repeat treatment.

Baby molars usually stay until about age 10 to 12, so saving them matters for chewing, speech and the spacing of the adult teeth.

Depending on the tooth, the main options are:

• Stainless steel crowns: silver crowns for back teeth that are very durable and usually last until the tooth falls out. Learn more in our guide to stainless steel crowns for kids.
• Tooth-colored crowns: options such as zirconia crowns and strip crowns give a natural look, especially for front teeth. Our comparison of strip crowns and zirconia crowns explains the differences.

Your child's dentist will explain which options suit each tooth, considering how much healthy tooth is left, your child's needs and your preferences.

The tooth and gum are numbed with local anesthetic, the decay is removed and the tooth is gently shaped. The dentist then selects a ready-made crown in the right size, adjusts it for a snug fit and cements it in place. There is usually no mold, no temporary crown and no second appointment. Children who are nervous or need several teeth treated may benefit from laughing gas or other sedation options.

The gums around a new crown may be tender for a few days. Help your child brush twice a day and floss along the gumline, limit sticky candy and keep up with regular checkups. If a crown ever feels loose or comes off, keep it and call us at (540) 394-3300. Many dental plans cover crowns on baby teeth when they are needed because of decay or injury, and our team can review your benefits before treatment.

When you discuss crown options with your child's dentist, it helps to ask a few questions. How much healthy tooth is left? How long until this tooth is expected to fall out? Is the tooth in the front, where appearance matters most, or in the back, where chewing forces are strongest? Will numbing be enough, or would laughing gas or sedation help? How does my insurance cover each option? The answers will guide you toward the crown that fits your child and your family.

Crowns are usually needed after cavities grow large, so preventing new decay protects your child's other teeth. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss once teeth touch, avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice and keep up with regular checkups. Fluoride varnish and sealants add extra protection for teeth that are at risk.

Blacksburg families are about 15 minutes from our office along US-460. Because most crowns for baby teeth are placed in a single appointment, a damaged tooth can usually be restored in one trip. If your child has a toothache, call us first so we can see them quickly and plan treatment.

From Radford, our office is about 20 minutes away, and families from Dublin and Pulaski typically drive 25 to 35 minutes on I-81. When a child needs more than one crown, we try to complete the work in as few visits as possible, and for children who need several teeth treated, we can talk about sedation options so treatment can be done comfortably in one appointment.

Families from Roanoke City and Roanoke County make the 40 to 50 minute drive up I-81 to see us. If your child needs a crown, we will explain the options before treatment begins, so you can decide on the type of crown and plan the visit around the drive.