Why fill baby teeth when they fall out anyway?
While it is true that baby teeth do eventually come out, it is also true that they are important to a child in the meantime.
Primary or baby teeth hold space for the permanent teeth to grow in. However, the first tooth is usually lost around age six and some primary molars remain in place until 12 or 13 years of age. If one is lost, the others can shift into the empty space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting. This often means a crooked smile in a child’s future. In addition, a decayed tooth can become abscessed and cause discomfort for a child. Tooth decay causes significant pain, loss of school days and may lead to infections and even death. Left untreated, dental caries can result in a broad range of functional impairments that have far-reaching implications for growth, development, school performance, and peer relationship.
Remember – your child’s primary teeth are necessary for proper chewing, speech, development of the jaws and aesthetics. Care of the primary teeth is important not only for proper function, but also to avoid a number of unpleasant conditions, such as facial infections and pain, that may result from their neglect.