Dental Fillings for Kids

Cavities (tooth decay) are caused by acid-producing bacteria that break down and weaken an area of tooth, causing a hole to form. Not all cavities need fillings and our pediatric dentist, Dr. Fran, will review with you and your family thorough and effective oral care plans to prevent cavities. It may be as simple as regular brushing and flossing to getting sealants to cover any deep grooves.

When the hole reaches a certain size or depth, however, intervention is necessary to save the tooth and prevent further tooth decay. At Glow, we use white dental fillings for kids to restore the teeth after the cavities are removed.

What is a filling?

Fillings are what dentists and pediatric dentists use to replace the tooth structure that has been diseased and removed during the cavity cleaning process. The hollow space is filled to restore its original shape and function. Fillings also prevent further collection of food and bacteria in what used to be the cavity hole.

White fillings

Depending on the size of the cavities and whether they are in baby teeth or permanent teeth, cavities can be fixed with different materials. At Glow, we use white fillings, otherwise known as composite resins. White fillings are a mixture of different biocompatible materials that include grains of glass, plastic and ceramic.

White fillings are mainly used for small-to-medium-size cavities in both front and back teeth. Compared to silver (amalgam) and gold fillings, white fillings are the most aesthetic and match the natural colour of your child’s teeth, providing a cleaner look.

White fillings can be sensitive to the dentist’s technique and moisture. Compared to silver fillings, white fillings are slightly more susceptible to new cavities. In children, this is not a major drawback as the baby teeth generally get replaced by the adult (permanent) teeth before they have a chance to develop new cavities.

Dr. Fran will recommend an appropriate plan for your child based on many factors, including the risk of getting new cavities, diet, oral hygiene and how long the tooth will last before getting replaced by its permanent tooth successor.

How do we fill a cavity?

GETTING A FILLING IS SIMPLE. IT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO FIVE STEPS.

1. Numbing & freezing. Numbing gel is placed on the gum, followed by the administration of local anesthesia.

2. Cavity removal. Once the tooth is “sleeping,” we clean the cavity out and catch the “sugarbugs.”

3. Surface preparation. The tooth surface is then coated with an acid etching gel and bonding agent to help keep the filling on the tooth.

4. Filling. White filling is now ready to be applied and cured (hardened) — it only takes a few seconds!

5. Polishing. Once everything is set and done, Dr. Fran polishes the filling to ensure that it will function naturally and look amazing.

As simple as this sounds, some children have multiple cavities needing many dental fillings. This is where our team at Glow will discuss with your family the different ways to help your child relax during the filling appointment. It may be as simple as distracting them with Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig on our TV. Sometimes we may need laughing gas or oral conscious sedation. For children with heightened dental anxiety and/or extensive treatment needs, we also offer general anesthesia as an option, where the child will be fully asleep.

For parents

While we never want to surprise our littlest patients, we think it’s best they come to their filling appointment with just enough information — overloading them with details often results in added anxiety. Rest assured that our team will guide your child through their treatment in a way that’s appropriate for their age and understanding. Relaxed parents make for relaxed children, so if you treat the appointment with ease, we hope your child will, too!

What is a filling?

White fillings

How do we fill a cavity?

GETTING A FILLING IS SIMPLE. IT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO FIVE STEPS.

For parents

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