Many parents ask why does my child need a filling in a baby tooth if it is going to eventually fall out?
1. A cavity in a baby tooth can be sensitive or even painful when eating depending on the size of the cavity. Just like a car needs maintenance every so many miles, children’s teeth need to be examined and cleaned every 6 months.
2. Cavities large enough can cause an abscess in the tooth (infection seen as a swelling around or below the tooth) to form that can spread if not treated immediately.
3. Baby teeth hold the space for the corresponding adult tooth until it is ready to erupt. When taken out early then the opposing tooth can supra-erupt and adjacent teeth to shift into the vacant space.
4. A baby tooth infected and extracted earlier than the anticipated eruption time can lead to delayed eruption of the adult tooth.
5. Also, the extraction of a baby tooth early on due to large cavity will be one less tooth for the child to use when eating.
