Why Treat Baby Teeth?

Why Treat Baby Teeth?

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/30/2015

We all know that baby teeth (most of the time) fall out and are replaced with adult teeth eventually in our lifetimes. So, if a baby tooth gets a cavity, why not just wait until the tooth falls out instead of opting for costly dental treatment? In this week’s article, San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS will discuss why it is necessary and recommended that baby teeth are treated for decay.

What happens when a baby tooth gets a cavity?

Baby teeth have thinner enamel than adult teeth, and so when a tooth gets a cavity, it can spread quickly toward the nerve and blood vessel of the tooth. As the cavity deepens at this quickened rate, painful sensitivity can develop and can turn into deep, severe pain as the pulp of the tooth becomes infected with the decay. Infected teeth can lead to abscesses that require extraction of the teeth and can sometimes cause more serious facial infections.

Why not just pull out the tooth, since it’s going to come out anyway?

When baby teeth are extracted or pulled out before they are ready, it can cause some problems. If the tooth is firmly rooted to the jaw still, the extraction would be complex and difficult, and can sometimes cause harm to the jaw bone itself and/or make it difficult for the adult teeth underneath to erupt or even form (if they have not formed fully yet). Also, when teeth are extracted early, the other teeth will shift to fill the empty space, causing difficulty for the adult teeth to erupt and increasing the probability that the child will need orthodontic treatment to correct the crowding or the teeth.

If you have questions about fillings for children or are concerned about your child’s oral health, visit San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, San Francisco pediatric dentist, baby teeth, baby teeth cavity, baby teeth treatment, baby teeth extractions, adult teeth, baby teeth fillings, problems with baby teeth, baby teeth problems, baby teeth pain, dental abscesses, tooth infection, facial infection 

Treatment for Peg Lateral Teeth

Treatment for Peg Lateral Teeth

By Mina Levi, DDS 08/28/2014

What is a peg lateral tooth? Peg lateral teeth are terms used to describe a condition where the lateral incisors (second tooth on either side of the very front upper teeth) are undersized and are smaller than normal. This condition occurs when the incisors to not fully develop. In some cases, permanent adult lateral incisor teeth do not develop at all, leaving only the baby teeth. Peg lateral teeth refer to the under-developed adult tooth erupted in the incisor place.

35 year old female patient S.M. presented with a peg lateral incisor on the upper right side.

There are multiple ways to treat a peg lateral tooth to make it look more fully developed. One is cosmetic bonding, and the other is porcelain veneers. Cosmetic bonding is the application of a composite material that is matched to tooth color (usually, Zoom whitening or at-home whitening kits are recommended before this procedure) to the surfaces of the teeth. This composite material is then sculpted into the shape that is so desired by the patient to achieve the highest aesthetic value. Porcelain veneers are thin “shells” of porcelain fabricated in a laboratory that cover the front surfaces of the teeth. The teeth are prepared for the veneers, molded impressions of the teeth are then sent out to a laboratory so that the veneers can be made to fit the exact tooth structure. Then the veneers are applied to the teeth with an adhesive.

In this patient’s case, the porcelain veneer was the best option. After a quick preparation, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS took impressions of the tooth for Lumineers by DenMat, which are very thin veneers that do not require removal of a large amount of healthy tooth structure. After about two weeks, the Lumineer was fabricated and Dr. Mina Levi the permanent restoration.  

 

If you have questions about peg lateral incisors, cosmetic bonding or Lumineers, visit Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, peg lateral, peg lateral incisor, peg lateral teeth, treatment for peg lateral, peg lateral options, cosmetic bonding, bonding, cosmetic dentist San Francisco, cosmetic dentistry, veneers San Francisco, teeth bonding, Lumineers, porcelain veneers, veneers, veneers for peg lateral teeth, veneer dentist, Lumineers Dentist San Francisco, teeth whitening, dental restoration