{"id":243,"date":"2023-06-13T15:51:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=243"},"modified":"2026-02-23T20:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T20:25:36","slug":"are-fillings-for-baby-teeth-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/13\/are-fillings-for-baby-teeth-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Fillings for Baby Teeth Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"girl<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Before your little one came to you, you never realized how something so small could be so powerful. Your baby stole your heart and means the world to you. The fact that they grow so fast encourages you to enjoy every moment you can with your tiny miracle and take care of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, as the baby gets older, parents may become more relaxed especially when it comes to caring for their child\u2019s baby teeth. In fact, some parents wonder whether getting a filling on a decayed baby tooth<\/a> is even worthwhile when it will fall out anyway. In this post, you\u2019ll learn the value of baby teeth and why they are worth saving as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Do Baby Teeth Matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although your child has them for a limited time before they naturally come out, baby teeth are just as important as permanent ones! As you probably noticed before your little one\u2019s baby teeth arrived, your child\u2019s diet is greatly limited without these primary teeth. They enable your child to grind fruits, vegetables, and other solid food for digestion and facilitate their body\u2019s absorption of nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to essential daily function, your child\u2019s baby teeth also serve another important purpose\u2014placeholders for permanent teeth. As adult teeth develop underneath the gum tissue, they usually line up according to where the baby counterparts are, meaning that if your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, alignment of their permanent teeth can be thrown off kilter. As a result, more advanced orthodontic care may be required to give them a healthy, straight bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is It Worth Putting Fillings on Baby Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a baby tooth has a small cavity, it is definitely worthwhile to place a filling in it. The alternative, not treating the tooth, could mean trouble for your child\u2019s smile. Decay\u2014even a tiny amount\u2014in the thin enamel of a baby tooth can cause pain for your child and interfere with their social and academic development. For deeper cavities, a dental crown may preserve the tooth, but why not take care of the issue while it\u2019s small and easier to address with a filling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring for Baby Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, the best course of action is to prevent tooth decay from wreaking havoc on your child\u2019s tiny baby teeth in the first place. Daily brushing and flossing as well as healthy choices in their diet (e.g., less sugar, more water, etc.) can make a huge difference in controlling the bacteria and acids in their mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child does get a cavity in a baby tooth, their dentist can remove the decayed structure and put in a filling. Yes, eventually the tooth will be replaced by a permanent one, but it should be preserved until it is ready to come out naturally. Like your child, their teeth are small but important, so make sure they get the care and treatment they need!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry, three pediatric dentists serve our young patients and help their parents teach healthy habits to their children. <\/a>Dr. Lucely Santillan<\/a>, Dr. Adam Preece<\/a>, and Dr. Alexander Shau<\/a> may come from various backgrounds, but they all enjoy babies, toddlers, children, and teens. To schedule an appointment at our Garland office, you may call us at (972) 364-7472<\/a> or visit our Contact Us page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before your little one came to you, you never realized how something so small could be so powerful. Your baby stole your heart and means the world to you. The fact that they grow so fast encourages you to enjoy every moment you can with your tiny miracle and take care of them. Unfortunately, as the baby gets older, parents may become more relaxed especially when it comes to caring for their child\u2019s baby teeth. In fact, some parents wonder whether getting a filling on a decayed baby tooth is even worthwhile when it will fall out anyway. In this post, you\u2019ll learn the value of baby teeth and why they are worth saving as […] (Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAre Fillings for Baby Teeth Important? | The Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even though baby teeth fall out eventually, they are worth preserving with fillings if necessary. 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