Restorative Dentistry for Children in Central Jersey

The pediatric dentists at Tender Smiles 4 Kids provide restorative services in Freehold, North Brunswick, Edison, Roselle, and Ocean Township. Call us today to learn more and schedule your appointment.

Restorative dentistry refers to the various dental procedures that are performed to fix damaged teeth. Children’s teeth can be damaged due to a variety of factors, including playing sports or a lack of effective dental hygiene. Whether teeth are broken, knocked out, or simply decayed, restorative dentistry procedures can correct the problem and restore teeth to their natural condition.

Tender Smiles 4 Kids offers a full range of restorative services, including:

• Composite (White) Fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are the most lifelike material used to fill cavities. Composite fillings can be done in one visit. Once the decay is removed, the tooth is filled with this composite material that hardens immediately after placement.
•  Pulp Treatment (Pulpotomy/Pulpectomy/Baby Root Canal). Root canals involve treating decay that is inside of the tooth. If the dental pulp inside the tooth is damaged, it will gradually decay if left untreated. Pulpotomy involves removing the pulp, cleaning out the root canals, and packing the canals with material that will help restore the tooth until it is time for it to exfoliate (or fall out on its own naturally).
• Dental Crowns. Crowns are used to restore damaged or decayed teeth in children. Crowns completely cover the remaining tooth structure after it has been treated. They can be made of many different materials, including stainless steel, composite materials, polycarbonate, resin, porcelain, and zirconia. We offer several different options, allowing you to choose what is best for your child.
• Extractions. A tooth that cannot be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. Before removing the tooth, the area will be numbed with local anesthesia. The tooth is then loosened using a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After the tooth is loosened from the socket, it is removed.

Many parents wonder why it is necessary to perform restorative procedures on baby teeth that will eventually fall out. There are several possible reasons, such as:

• Avoiding Pain. Tooth decay and broken or chipped teeth can be extremely painful. A small cavity left unfilled could become a much bigger problem that will eventually reach the root where the nerve is. A broken or chipped tooth could leave the pulp or the nerve exposed, causing your child pain.
• Keeping Proper Alignment. Baby teeth are generally lost and replaced by permanent teeth in a specific order. A baby tooth falls out because the permanent tooth is coming in, wearing down the root of the baby tooth until it becomes loose and falls out. If a baby tooth is lost due to an accident or severe decay before the permanent tooth is ready to come in, teeth could become misaligned and be more likely to require orthodontic correction like braces in the future.
• Eating Ability. Teeth exist to help a person bite and chew. If teeth are missing, broken, or significantly decayed it can affect a child’s ability to eat their food.
• Speech Articulation. Teeth play a big part in speech and the way a person pronounces words. Missing teeth can affect a child’s ability to articulate certain phonic sounds when speaking, which may lead to difficulty at school.
• Appearance. If damaged teeth are in the front of the mouth in plain view, both parent and child may be concerned about the appearance of their smile. Restorative dentistry can make teeth look natural.

A pediatric dentist specializes in treating children from infancy through adolescence. Their equipment is designed especially for children, from the size of the chairs to the tools they use. Pediatric dentists and staff are both trained and naturally gifted for working with children and helping them to feel comfortable and safe before, during, and after treatment.

Tender Smiles 4 Kids specializes in pediatric dentistry, especially children with special care needs. The dentists and staff have the compassion and soft touch needed to help ease children’s anxious or nervous feelings about dental procedures. The kid-friendly environment is designed to accommodate children of all ages from toddlers to teenagers.

If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist for your child, call Tender Smiles 4 Kids at any one of our convenient locations:

Freehold Office: 732-625-8080

North Brunswick Office: 732-249-1010

Edison Office: 732-549-3773

Roselle Office: 908-245-5556

Ocean Office: 732-774-7008