How to Place Caps on Baby Teeth

Baby teeth require optimal care due to their sensitive nature. Many parents overlook the importance of baby teeth care, since baby teeth will eventually be replaced by new teeth. However, WebMD states, "Experts recommend that your child's dental care start at 12 months of age." And if your baby has an injury or another tooth issue, you should consult a dentist sooner.



Tooth decay and baby-bottle tooth decay usually develop because of an unhealthy diet. In order to ensure that the new teeth are properly developed, you need to see your dentist immediately to restore your baby's decayed teeth. If not restored properly, a shift in the baby's bite could develop, requiring expensive procedures when new teeth arrive in the place of previous ones. Caps for baby teeth are a common form of restoration and can be applied for many reasons.

Things You'll Need

• Dentist appointment
• Proper nutrition
• Low-sugar diet

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Instructions

• 1

  Arrange an appointment with a trusted dentist who sees babies on a regular basis and let him examine your child's teeth. Caps, also known as crowns, cover discolored or broken teeth as well as dental implants. The discoloring of baby teeth occurs for various reasons and can sometimes be solved through proper cleaning methods determined by your dentist.

• 2

  Ask the dentist the reasons for the decay or discoloring of your baby's teeth. If it is due to your baby's diet or consumption of sugar, then you must change the diet immediately and restrict her sugar intake to prevent further decay. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, it is also important to give your baby only water---and no other drinks---before bedtime to avoid baby-bottle tooth decay.

• 3

  Ask your dentist about the different options available for capping your baby's teeth. Caps are available in various materials, including metal, porcelain, resin and ceramic. Also ask the dentist about the safety of the caps, as some caps may contain harmful substances, such as mercury or BPA. According to WebMD, bisphenol A, or BPA, may have harmful effects on human health, particularly on a child's development.

• 4

  Arrange preliminary checkups for the preparation of your baby's caps. Cap placements are usually performed at two dentist appointments. The first appointment will take X-rays of your baby's teeth to determine the placing of the caps and the surrounding area. If needed, the tooth is reshaped and impressions are made for the placement of the caps. These impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory for the manufacturing of the caps.

• 5

  Visit the dentist again on the scheduled date of your appointment to get the caps fitted on your baby's teeth. The dentist will remove the temporary crowns, if any, and carefully fix the new caps. The dentist will also advise on how to take proper care of your baby's caps and might schedule a checkup.