It’s natural for children to become aware of their smiles as they grow up, especially if their teeth are cracked, chipped, or misshapen. It could be a gradual awareness for some, but others may be more unfortunate to experience bullying from other kids, making them self-conscious.
As parents, it can be challenging to see your child struggling with their confidence. Fortunately, there’s always the option of obtaining cosmetic dental services for your child.
Cosmetic dentistry is not exclusive to adults. It’s a service commonly given to children, and it helps prevent self-esteem issues that can affect them into adulthood. These are the types of procedures a cosmetic dentist can perform on children:
Bonding
A children’s dentist uses bonding to replace missing teeth, but the procedure can also address defects like discolouration, chips, or irregular spacing. This procedure can be a temporary solution for children, lasting for about three years while you and your child wait for their permanent teeth to grow out. The process requires using tooth-coloured resin, which is applied to the imperfect tooth and adhered to using a specialised blue light tool.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns cover teeth damage comprising cracks or chips. Dentists cement crowns into the mouth, fully covering the tooth and reaching the gum line. It might sound scary, but it’s a perfectly safe procedure, and it can even strengthen your child’s teeth, making it last for many years or until their permanent teeth come out.
Fillings
Fillings are also called composite or white fillings, and they’re a standard solution for tooth decay. If your child suffers from cavities, a dentist will clean them before filling multiple layers. They’ll be shaped and polished so that the filling’s surface blends naturally with the rest of your child’s teeth.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a popular procedure among adults, but it’s perfectly safe for children too. If your child is self-conscious about their discoloured teeth, you can opt for a teeth whitening service from your dentist. Once done, you’ll have to make sure your child practises good oral care habits to sustain the effects of the procedure for longer. Good oral habits include brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily.
Veneers
Veneers are custom-made composite resins, which are adhered to the front part of the teeth. Dentists may opt to use them to address teeth that are chipped, worn down, abnormally placed, discoloured, or misaligned. It’s a more comfortable option than getting dental crowns because less of the tooth material needs to be removed.
Conclusion
It’s understandable to only want the best for your child. If you’ve noticed that they hesitate to smile more often or that they’re continuously assessing their teeth in the mirror, it might be time to talk to them about possible troubling feelings they could have about their appearance.
If you think your child can benefit from a cosmetic dental procedure, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a children’s dentist who also specialises in cosmetic dentistry. The first appointment with your dentist will determine the kind of procedure that will fit your child best. Since children’s teeth are still growing and will fall out, these procedures are only meant to provide temporary relief until their permanent teeth appear.
Enamel Dental Studio are experienced cosmetic dentists in Brisbane. Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about cosmetic dental procedures for kids and other services.