Children’s crowns at Happy Kids Dental
Children’s crowns are often our next course of action when a tooth is damaged or a cavity becomes too deep or extensive for a filling to be effective. It’s also the recommended restoration procedure following a root canal treatment.
Our procedure involves administering local anaesthetic (such as The Wand™) and filing the natural tooth down to a shape that will best accommodate the crown.
Crowns for baby teeth
Unlike custom-made adult crowns, crowns for baby teeth are made of metal, pre-manufactured in different sizes and shapes, then adjusted by the dentist in situ for the perfect fit.
If your child requires a crown to restore a baby tooth, they will benefit from a completely bespoke service at Happy Kids Dental.
Hall technique for metal crowns
Children’s Crown Method
The crowns can be placed with or without preparation of the tooth, and with or without the use of local anaesthetic (known as the Hall Technique, see below). Again, your paediatric dentist will discuss the options with you in order to decide what’s best for your child so their new crown will not only allow them to eat without discomfort, but also look and feel completely natural.
Once a crown is cemented in place, we’ll help your child establish a tailor-made hygiene routine to make sure it stays clean and healthy long-term.
Children's Crowns Q&A
A pre-formed metal crown is made of a metal alloy, usually consisting of nickel and chromium. They are routinely used by our paediatric dentists to restore baby teeth with extensive cavities.
They can be placed either using a conventional technique (local anaesthetic and tooth preparation is required) or by using the ‘Hall Technique’
The Hall Technique was first recognised around 20 years ago and is used on baby teeth that present with large cavities, but where the patient has no pain or radiographic symptoms.
The technique is very effective for children who are very anxious and not cooperative, so preparation of the tooth for a conventional crown is not achievable.
The crowns are usually fitted over two appointments - in the first appointment, we place little orthodontic elastic bands between the teeth to create adequate space. A few days later (up to a week) we have the second appointment, when the tooth is cleaned from food debris and the crown is placed using a special cement.
During the first 48 hours the bite may feel higher, but this will adjust fairly quickly