Should 'baby' teeth be 'filled'?

 

The eating habits of the world's population have changed considerably in recent years and, in the case of children, in many cases this leads to a higher intake of sugar than a few years ago, the consumption of sweetened juices or soft drinks and the replacement of fibrous foods with 'softer' ones that require less effort to chew.

The consequence of this is the frequent presence of dental caries in primary or 'baby' teeth, which is a reason for consultation in the dental clinics. main dental clinics in the Region of Murcia.

And when asked the question: "Should 'baby' teeth be 'filled', the answer is that it is always necessary to treat a decayed toothto prevent its progression, which often leads to various problems:

–       painThe treatment of a tooth, derived from the involvement of the nerve of the tooth, can lead to lengthy and complex treatments,

–       loss of arch lengthThe reduction in tooth size, which will lead to crowding and malpositioning of permanent teeth.

The decayed tooth implies a loss of space for the permanent premolar that will replace it.
The decayed tooth implies a loss of space for the permanent premolar that will replace it.

 

–       masticatory problemsThe patient chews on only one side, which can overload certain teeth and limit their intake of food and nutrients that are essential for their overall development.

In this regard, it is important to note that the most common treatment is a filling, which may be done with resins or amalgams, following the criteria of the specialised professional The extraction of the tooth may also be considered if its root has already begun to resorb, an indicator that the tooth is about to fall out, and the permanent tooth that will replace it will erupt soon.

However, it should be emphasised that it is not advisable to extract a temporary tooth with caries if there is still a long time to go before the eruption of its permanent replacement, as the adjacent teeth will tend to close the space it occupied, preventing the normal eruption of the adult dentition and causing multiple occlusal problems. In cases where there is no other option but to extract the tooth, as it cannot be restored with a filling or obturation, the professional will recommend the placement of a small space maintainer to ensure the correct eruption of the permanent teeth.

Premature extraction can lead to serious dental problems
Premature extraction can lead to serious dental problems