As children grow, their beautiful smiles naturally change and evolve. With the arrival of new teeth and the fun of playtime, it's normal for kids to experience some dental challenges along the way. Fortunately, your pediatric dentist is here to help! If your child faces any issues like decay, minor chips, or cracks, they might recommend a friendly solution like a protective dental crown to keep those smiles bright and healthy. While stainless steel crowns have been the standard, white crowns are gaining favor for their natural aesthetics. We at Just For Kids Dental in Waxahachie, TX want to provide some helpful information and reassurance about the strength of white crowns for kids.
Why Do Kids Need Dental Crowns?
There are a few main scenarios where your child's dentist may suggest a crown:
- Large cavities or extensive decay is present that is too substantial for a basic filling to repair. Crowns envelop the entire tooth like a cap to prevent further damage. This protects the remaining healthy inner structure.
- Facial or mouth trauma from sports injuries, accidents, or falls can chip, crack, or even fracture teeth. Dental crowns repair the shape, appearance, and function of the damaged tooth.
- Ongoing grinding of teeth wears down the enamel over time. Crowns shield the teeth from additional erosion and sensitivity that might result.
- Following nerve treatment procedures, crowns add reinforcement to teeth that have been weakened by decay or lost tooth structure.
- Enamel defects present at birth, like enamel hypocalcification, require capping with a protective barrier.
In situations of considerable tooth issues, crowns offer the restorative solution to rebuild, strengthen, and avoid lasting problems.
The Durability of White Crowns
The natural shade of white crowns has made them a popular choice to restore children's teeth. Parents want their child's smile to look as bright and healthy as possible. But does opting for the white color come at the expense of durability? We have good news - modern white crowns are extremely durable thanks to major innovations in dental technology and materials. Here's why:
- Advanced Ceramics and Bonding
White crowns for kids are called zirconia crowns. These substances closely match the natural color of teeth while also providing lasting structural integrity. Precision crafting and advanced bonding techniques allow white crowns to adhere securely to teeth for many years of reliable wear.
- Withstand Chewing Forces
State-of-the-art white crowns for kids in Waxahachie are specially fabricated to withstand considerable biting and chewing impacts from children's daily activity. Parents can rest assured knowing white crowns offer complete functional protection.
- Resistant to Chipping
Robust materials like dental-grade zirconia demonstrate impressive fracture toughness. This makes white crowns far less susceptible to chipping than in the past. Their physical integrity holds up beautifully.
- Abrasion Resistant
The newest generation of white crown materials such as high-quality zirconia offer remarkable abrasion resistance. This means white crowns can better endure the scratching forces in the mouth over time.
How Long Do White Crowns Last?
With attentive at-home dental care and routine professional cleanings, white crowns for kids can last several years on average, often until the tooth exfoliates or falls out naturally. However, factors like a child's age and dental habits impact the lifespan of dental crowns.
If placed on a baby tooth that will fall out naturally, the crown may need to last anywhere from 2 to 10 years. Some baby molars stay in the mouth until the age of 12.
Oral Hygiene
A child's diligence with daily brushing, flossing, healthy diet, and avoiding grinding affect crown longevity significantly. Poor habits lead to faster breakdown.
Regular Dental Visits
Checkups every 6 months and professional cleanings allow for monitoring and proactive maintenance of white crowns. This helps optimize their working lifespan.
Accidents Happen
With active kids, dental crowns invariably face risks of sports collisions, falls, and biting on hard objects. Accidental damage can impact durability.
With vigilance both at home and in the dental chair, white crowns for baby teeth can absolutely last years without issue. And they'll maintain their beautiful white shade the entire time.
How Do White Crowns Compare to Stainless Steel?
For generations, stainless steel crowns have been valued for their unmatched durability and longevity in children's mouths. But the tradeoff has always been their drab, metallic appearance. Increasingly, white crowns are proving to offer the best of both worlds - natural aesthetics plus impressive strength and endurance.
While stainless steel crowns likely still have a slight edge in maximum lifespan, white crowns excel at providing durable function without sacrificing beauty and self-confidence. For most kids, that striking white color makes all the difference.
Caring for White Crowns
To help maximize the working lifespan of white crowns, be sure your child adheres to diligent dental care:
- Brush gently twice per day with a soft fluoride toothpaste
- Floss around the crown edges each night before bedtime
- Avoid sticky, crunchy, and hard foods that could loosen or damage crowns
- Wear a protective mouthguard for contact sports
- Visit the pediatric dentist every 6 months for exams and professional cleanings
With meticulous home hygiene and regular dental maintenance, white crowns will stay strong and pristine.
Choosing the Best Crowns
Consult your pediatric dentist about whether white or stainless steel crowns are recommended for your child’s needs. For primary teeth, white pediatric crowns fulfill demands for longevity, durability, function, and natural aesthetics. Dr. Armin and Dr. Ngo want to make sure your child’s first dental crown is both effective and enhances their overall dental appearance.
We hope this overview has provided helpful insights into the durability and lifespan of white crowns for kids compared to alternatives like surgical-grade stainless steel. You can feel confident knowing modern white pediatric dental crowns are engineered to deliver lasting protection and beauty.
To learn more about white crowns for kids or schedule a consultation, please contact Just For Kids Dental in Waxahachie, TX, today. Our skilled dentists have extensive experience with white crowns for pediatric patients to give your child a happy, healthy smile that will last for years to come. We look forward to helping your child achieve their brightest, most confident smile possible with white crowns designed just for kids!
