Restorative Dental Care
When a cavity or an injury needs treatment, gentle and conservative restorative care protects your child's smile and keeps development on track. Here is how Dr. Andrea approaches fillings, crowns, and everything in between at our Novato office.
White fillings
At Poppy Kids, we exclusively use tooth-colored fillings for all our restorations. Unlike traditional silver fillings, these modern composite materials blend seamlessly with your child's natural smile while providing excellent durability. Our BPA-free materials are carefully chosen to match your child's tooth color and bond directly to the tooth structure, allowing us to preserve more natural tooth during treatment.
When decay is detected, Dr. Andrea gently removes the affected area and places the composite material, carefully shaping and polishing it for optimal comfort and appearance. The result is a virtually invisible restoration that protects and strengthens the tooth. Children can return to their normal activities immediately after treatment, and with proper care, these restorations provide long-lasting protection.
We believe in helping parents make informed decisions about their child's dental care. The Dental Board of California provides a comprehensive guide detailing various restoration materials, which we're happy to discuss during your visit. At Poppy Kids, we're confident in our choice to use only tooth-colored materials, as they represent the perfect combination of safety, durability, and aesthetics for your child's growing smile.
Our commitment to using only white fillings reflects our broader philosophy of providing the safest, most advanced dental care possible. We combine these modern materials with gentle techniques to ensure your child receives the highest quality treatment in the most comfortable way possible.
When decay is detected, Dr. Andrea gently removes the affected area and places the composite material, carefully shaping and polishing it for optimal comfort and appearance. The result is a virtually invisible restoration that protects and strengthens the tooth. Children can return to their normal activities immediately after treatment, and with proper care, these restorations provide long-lasting protection.
We believe in helping parents make informed decisions about their child's dental care. The Dental Board of California provides a comprehensive guide detailing various restoration materials, which we're happy to discuss during your visit. At Poppy Kids, we're confident in our choice to use only tooth-colored materials, as they represent the perfect combination of safety, durability, and aesthetics for your child's growing smile.
Our commitment to using only white fillings reflects our broader philosophy of providing the safest, most advanced dental care possible. We combine these modern materials with gentle techniques to ensure your child receives the highest quality treatment in the most comfortable way possible.
Crowns
When a tooth has extensive decay that extends beyond what a filling can effectively repair, a dental crown provides the ideal solution. A crown covers the entire tooth, protecting it from further damage while restoring its shape, size, and function.
Front Teeth (Anterior): For front teeth, where aesthetics are particularly important, we exclusively offer white zirconia crowns. These beautiful, natural-looking restorations are specially designed for children's teeth and provide excellent durability while maintaining a bright, confident smile.
Back Teeth (Molars): For back primary (baby) teeth, we offer parents a choice between traditional stainless steel crowns and white zirconia crowns:
- Stainless steel crowns have been trusted in pediatric dentistry for decades. They are incredibly durable, cost-effective, and excellent for withstanding the heavy forces of chewing. These silver crowns are often the most practical choice for molars, especially when the restoration needs to last until the natural loss of the baby tooth.
- Zirconia crowns are also available for back teeth, offering a more aesthetic alternative while still providing reliable strength. These white crowns can be an excellent choice for families who prefer a metal-free restoration or when appearance is a priority.
Our goal is to provide restorations that protect your child's dental health while meeting your family's specific preferences and needs. Dr. Andrea carefully evaluates each situation to help guide you in selecting the most appropriate type of crown for your child's molars.
Front Teeth (Anterior): For front teeth, where aesthetics are particularly important, we exclusively offer white zirconia crowns. These beautiful, natural-looking restorations are specially designed for children's teeth and provide excellent durability while maintaining a bright, confident smile.
Back Teeth (Molars): For back primary (baby) teeth, we offer parents a choice between traditional stainless steel crowns and white zirconia crowns:
- Stainless steel crowns have been trusted in pediatric dentistry for decades. They are incredibly durable, cost-effective, and excellent for withstanding the heavy forces of chewing. These silver crowns are often the most practical choice for molars, especially when the restoration needs to last until the natural loss of the baby tooth.
- Zirconia crowns are also available for back teeth, offering a more aesthetic alternative while still providing reliable strength. These white crowns can be an excellent choice for families who prefer a metal-free restoration or when appearance is a priority.
Our goal is to provide restorations that protect your child's dental health while meeting your family's specific preferences and needs. Dr. Andrea carefully evaluates each situation to help guide you in selecting the most appropriate type of crown for your child's molars.
Pulp Therapy:
Saving Deeply Affected Baby Teeth
When decay reaches the inner nerve (pulp) of a baby tooth, pulp therapy offers a chance to save the tooth rather than removing it. This treatment is crucial because baby teeth play vital roles in your child's development – they enable proper chewing, help with speech development, and maintain space for permanent teeth to emerge correctly.
Understanding Pulp Therapy:
Pulp therapy comes in two forms, depending on how deeply the decay has progressed:
- A pulpotomy treats decay that has reached the top portion of the tooth's nerve. During this procedure, Dr. Andrea carefully removes the affected nerve tissue in the crown of the tooth and places a specialized medicament that helps the remaining healthy nerve tissue heal. This is often called a "baby tooth root canal."
- A pulpectomy becomes necessary when the decay affects the entire nerve, including the roots. In this case, all nerve tissue is gently removed and replaced with a biocompatible material that allows the tooth to remain functional until it naturally falls out.
What to Expect:
After pulp therapy, the treated tooth requires a crown to protect it and restore its function. While pulp therapy has a good success rate, every case is unique. Dr. Andrea will carefully monitor the treated tooth during regular check-ups to ensure it's healing properly and maintaining its role in your child's smile. Our goal is to preserve baby teeth whenever possible while ensuring your child's comfort and long-term dental health.
Understanding Pulp Therapy:
Pulp therapy comes in two forms, depending on how deeply the decay has progressed:
- A pulpotomy treats decay that has reached the top portion of the tooth's nerve. During this procedure, Dr. Andrea carefully removes the affected nerve tissue in the crown of the tooth and places a specialized medicament that helps the remaining healthy nerve tissue heal. This is often called a "baby tooth root canal."
- A pulpectomy becomes necessary when the decay affects the entire nerve, including the roots. In this case, all nerve tissue is gently removed and replaced with a biocompatible material that allows the tooth to remain functional until it naturally falls out.
What to Expect:
After pulp therapy, the treated tooth requires a crown to protect it and restore its function. While pulp therapy has a good success rate, every case is unique. Dr. Andrea will carefully monitor the treated tooth during regular check-ups to ensure it's healing properly and maintaining its role in your child's smile. Our goal is to preserve baby teeth whenever possible while ensuring your child's comfort and long-term dental health.
Tooth Extractions
Losing baby teeth is a natural part of childhood. While most of your child's 20 primary teeth will fall out on their own starting around age 6, sometimes they need professional help to make way for permanent teeth.
At Poppy Kids, we strive to make every extraction comfortable and positive. Dr. Andrea and our team take special care in providing clear explanations and detailed aftercare instructions. We celebrate this milestone with our young patients while focusing on their comfort throughout the process.
When extractions are recommended
Dr. Andrea may recommend removing a tooth when:
- A permanent tooth is emerging while the baby tooth remains firm
- An orthodontist requests removal to support proper tooth alignment
- A tooth has experienced severe trauma
- There's significant decay or infection
- A loose tooth is causing persistent discomfort
- A permanent tooth is emerging while the baby tooth remains firm
- An orthodontist requests removal to support proper tooth alignment
- A tooth has experienced severe trauma
- There's significant decay or infection
- A loose tooth is causing persistent discomfort
Space maintainers
When a baby tooth is lost earlier than nature intended, whether due to decay, injury, or other causes, it's important to preserve that space for the future permanent tooth. Baby teeth serve as natural space holders, guiding permanent teeth into their proper positions. If this space is lost too early, surrounding teeth can shift, leading to alignment problems when permanent teeth eventually emerge.
How Space Maintainers Help:
Space maintainers are custom-made appliances designed to hold open the space left by an early lost baby tooth. These small, comfortable devices prevent nearby teeth from drifting into the empty space, ensuring there's room for the permanent tooth to emerge naturally.
When They're Needed:
Dr. Andrea may recommend a space maintainer when:
- A baby molar is lost before the permanent tooth is ready to emerge
- There's risk of neighboring teeth shifting into the empty space
- Maintaining proper spacing is crucial for future tooth alignment
These simple yet effective appliances play an important role in preventing future orthodontic complications and supporting your child's developing smile.
How Space Maintainers Help:
Space maintainers are custom-made appliances designed to hold open the space left by an early lost baby tooth. These small, comfortable devices prevent nearby teeth from drifting into the empty space, ensuring there's room for the permanent tooth to emerge naturally.
When They're Needed:
Dr. Andrea may recommend a space maintainer when:
- A baby molar is lost before the permanent tooth is ready to emerge
- There's risk of neighboring teeth shifting into the empty space
- Maintaining proper spacing is crucial for future tooth alignment
These simple yet effective appliances play an important role in preventing future orthodontic complications and supporting your child's developing smile.
Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment
Silver Diamine Fluoride is an innovative, FDA-approved liquid medication that can help stop active tooth decay in its tracks. This painless treatment combines the antibacterial effects of silver with the strengthening power of fluoride to create a powerful cavity-fighting solution. The application is quick and comfortable, requiring no drilling, numbing, or shots, making it an excellent option for young children.
When SDF Can Help:
At Poppy Kids, we understand that every child's dental needs are unique. SDF can be particularly beneficial for very young children who may have difficulty cooperating for traditional treatment, children with special healthcare needs, or situations where multiple cavities need immediate management.
Important Information for Parents:
One of the most important things to understand about SDF is that it permanently stains decay black, indicating where the cavity-causing bacteria have been stopped. While this staining remains until the tooth falls out or until traditional treatment is completed, it serves as a visible sign that the treatment is working. Some situations may require multiple applications for optimal results, and not all cavities are candidates for SDF treatment.
Our Approach:
Dr. Andrea carefully evaluates each child's specific situation to determine if SDF is the right choice. We often recommend it as an interim solution, buying valuable time until a child is older or more cooperative for traditional treatment. This conservative approach allows us to manage decay while avoiding more invasive procedures when possible.
Whether SDF is the best choice for your child depends on many factors that we'll discuss together. Our goal is to provide you with all the information needed to make the best decision for your child's unique dental needs.
When SDF Can Help:
At Poppy Kids, we understand that every child's dental needs are unique. SDF can be particularly beneficial for very young children who may have difficulty cooperating for traditional treatment, children with special healthcare needs, or situations where multiple cavities need immediate management.
Important Information for Parents:
One of the most important things to understand about SDF is that it permanently stains decay black, indicating where the cavity-causing bacteria have been stopped. While this staining remains until the tooth falls out or until traditional treatment is completed, it serves as a visible sign that the treatment is working. Some situations may require multiple applications for optimal results, and not all cavities are candidates for SDF treatment.
Our Approach:
Dr. Andrea carefully evaluates each child's specific situation to determine if SDF is the right choice. We often recommend it as an interim solution, buying valuable time until a child is older or more cooperative for traditional treatment. This conservative approach allows us to manage decay while avoiding more invasive procedures when possible.
Whether SDF is the best choice for your child depends on many factors that we'll discuss together. Our goal is to provide you with all the information needed to make the best decision for your child's unique dental needs.
Restorative care is one part of our complete smile care. Explore preventive care and sedation options, or see everything we offer.
