Visits
Fillings and crowns
A filling repairs a tooth that has a cavity. A crown covers a tooth with a large cavity or one that has been weakened. Both are used on baby teeth and on adult teeth.
What happens, in order
- 01
Step 1: A look and an X-ray
Dr. Harrell looks at the tooth, usually with an X-ray, and shows you what she sees before anything is done.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing
A gel goes on the gum first, then a numbing medicine. Your child feels pressure and sometimes a pinch, and can raise a hand to ask for a break.
- 03
Step 3: Cleaning out the cavity, then the filling or crown
She removes the soft part of the tooth and cleans the space. The tooth is then filled, or covered with a crown made for the tooth.
- 04
Step 4: Checking the bite
She makes sure the tooth meets the others comfortably, then goes over after-care with you.
Comfort, other options, risks and the bill
Keeping your child comfortable
Your child's cheek and lip stay numb for a couple of hours. Tell us if they are worried, ask for a break at any time and bring a comfort item from home.
Other options, and waiting
A small cavity can sometimes be watched or treated with fluoride, and Dr. Harrell tells you when that is an option. A cavity left alone can grow and reach the nerve, and a baby tooth also holds the place for the adult tooth beneath it.
Risks and after-care
Children sometimes bite the numb cheek or lip, so please watch them until the numbness fades. A filling can feel high, and a crown can feel odd for a few days. Call us if your child has pain that doesn't ease or swelling.
How it is billed
Fillings and crowns are billed to your child's plan. Some plans need approval first, particularly for crowns, and we ask in advance and give you any fee in writing before we begin.
How fees work
Questions about fillings and crowns
Will my child feel it?
Most children feel pressure and sometimes a pinch when the numbing goes in. We tell your child what to expect and stop when asked.
Why fix a baby tooth?
A cavity in a baby tooth can hurt and spread, and the tooth keeps space for the adult tooth. Dr. Harrell tells you if one can wait.
What does a crown look like?
It is a cap shaped like the tooth. Dr. Harrell shows you the choices for your child's tooth.
Ask about this visit
Provided by Dr. Keshia Harrell, a pediatric dentist. Her training is on her page. Please leave out health details when you write; for anything urgent, call us.