It's not uncommon for parents to ask this question. Baby teeth fall out, so why save one that has been badly damaged? It's true that pulling a baby tooth will accomplish some of the goals of treatment, such as eliminating the existing infection and resolving the pain that your child may be in. Your dentist must also think about the long-term effects of their actions, though, and baby teeth play a role in your child's development, so extraction must be considered with the utmost caution. 

There are several reasons to repair a baby tooth rather than pull it. Some of the top reasons include:

• Baby teeth help a child learn to eat solid food. This is not an aspect of development to be diminished. Chewing is the vital first step in the digestive process. A child who does not have all of their teeth may not break down solid foods sufficiently before smaller bits enter the stomach. Without that breakdown, the digestive process gets stressed and the child may experience stomach upset. 
• Baby teeth are placeholders for adult teeth. A child's permanent teeth aren't seen for many years. They are continually forming far beneath the gums from birth until they erupt through the gums later in childhood. The development of adult teeth can be affected if baby teeth are lost or extracted too early.
• Baby teeth are also "runways" for adult teeth. In addition to holding space in the mouth while the palate grows, baby teeth also guide adult teeth into their proper locations as these permanent teeth make their way toward the gums' surface. If a baby tooth is pulled rather than allowed to fall out naturally, the permanent tooth doesn't have proper guidance and may grow in abnormally.

In adulthood, crowns may need to be replaced every so often. Children's crowns are different. Crowns on baby teeth may last as long as the tooth is naturally in place. Having a crown won't keep the tooth from falling out when the time comes. The dentist won't need to remove the crown or pull the tooth, nature will work as it normally does. So, once the crown is placed, no further treatment should be necessary other than your child's normal check-ups and cleanings. 

Anytime a crown is placed, there is a chance that bacteria can accumulate around the margins at the gum line. This isn't much different than what can happen around natural teeth. What parents need to understand is only that having a crown won't keep a child from developing decay. Daily oral hygiene remains a very important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If your child receives a crown, it's important that they (or you) brush carefully around the crown when brushing other teeth. Flossing is also a must. This helps remove bacteria and debris from food from areas in between teeth and around the gum line. 

If your child receives a crown from the experienced staff at Park View Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in NYC, you can benefit from ongoing support as you need it!