comprehensive paediatric dental care

If your dentist has advised your child would benefit from a stainless steel crown, it's usually for one or more of these reasons: 

• The tooth is significantly decayed
• The enamel is weak and soft 
• The tooth has undergone a pulpotomy treatment
• The tooth has a large filling which keeps failing

A stainless steel crown is shiny and silver in appearance.

• They are placed on back molar teeth, so often they are less noticeable than you might think!
• Children are usually pleased to have a shiny tooth rather than one with a hole.
• They can be referred to as a sparkle tooth, princess tooth, jewelled tooth, silver cap or hat to children.

The material is selected for its durability and strength, which are essential for protecting severely decayed or damaged teeth, especially in paediatric dentistry. Unlike tooth-coloured materials such as composite resin or porcelain, stainless steel is highly resistant to wear and tear and can withstand the pressures of chewing and grinding in the mouth. The silver colour of hall crowns can also comfort children and parents, signifying a sturdy and dependable dental restoration.

• Local anaesthetic is not usually required.

Rest assured, we will use The Wand STA if we need to use a local anaesthetic.

We generally use the Hall Technique, which is minimally invasive, requires no numbing or drilling of the tooth.

The procedure:

1. To create space without doing any drilling, we will place orthodontic separators (rubber bands) between the adjacent teeth.
2. After one week, you will return to have these bands removed.
3. We will select the crown and cement in place to ensure the tooth is completely sealed and protected with the new shiny crown. 

The crown is designed to stay securely in place until the baby tooth naturally falls out, allowing the permanent tooth underneath to come through in its natural position.

• We use soft cotton wool rolls to keep your tongue and cheeks away from your tooth
• We clean the tooth thoroughly using a special toothbrush and toothpaste.
• The SDF liquid is painted onto the tooth for 1-3 minutes. Following this, the teeth are dried a second time. Sometimes, we may then place a temporary filling over the top. 
• This is all done in one appointment. A second appointment 2-4 weeks later is made to to check the teeth and apply more SDF liquid if needed.
• SDF liquid is then reapplied once a year

There are no special preparations required. However, SDF cannot be used if your child has:

• An allergy to silver or another heavy metals or another component of SDF
• Painful gums, ulcers or sores in their mouth

• This simple procedure reduces sensitivity and slows down and prevents tooth decay progression.
• In many cases, SDF is more effective than fluoride varnish.
• It can provide a temporary solution for children who cannot undergo dental treatment immediately, preventing decay from worsening until further treatment is possible.

• It can temporarily stain the skin, lips, gums, and cheeks brown or white for 1-3 weeks, but this will disappear over time. However, we try our best to avoid contact with skin. 
• It permanently discolours the decayed areas of teeth black, while healthy parts of the tooth remain unaffected.
• It may also discolour tooth-coloured fillings. Polishing these fillings can help remove the stain, although it may remain visible at the join between the tooth and the filling.

SDF is fully licensed in many countries worldwide and has been safely used for many years. 

In the UK, it is licensed for treating sensitivity only and has not been widely used until recently. 

However, it can be used 'off-label' for decay and is increasingly being recommended for this purpose. If SDF does not halt the progression of decay, other treatments, such as fillings or tooth removal, may be necessary. 

Maintaining good tooth-brushing habits and limiting sugary sweets and drinks to mealtimes is crucial to prevent decay from worsening or developing in other teeth.

• We use soft cotton wool rolls to gently keep the tongue and cheek away from the tooth.
• We clean the tooth thoroughly using a special toothbrush and toothpaste.
• An etching jelly is applied to the tooth to help the sealant adhere, which is then rinsed off within 20 seconds using our super-cool water jet. Excess water is sucked away with the suction tube.
• A special glue is applied to the tooth and a light is shined on to make it active. 
• The sealant is carefully painted onto the tooth to fill any deep grooves.
• The light is shined on again, and the sealant turns hard and is fixed to the tooth in seconds.

No local anaesthetic is required for preventative fissure sealants.

Yes! It only takes a couple of minutes to do one tooth. No drilling is required for this procedure.

Not everyone is suitable for fissure sealants, as not every molar has deep pits and grooves. 

However the permanent molars usually erupt:

• 7 years of age - all four adult molars may be sealed
• 12-13 years - second adult molars erupt

Fissure sealants usually last around 4-5 years, sometimes longer! We will assess the condition of them at each routine visit and recommend if they need to be replaced. 

Yes, the material is set hard by the end of the procedure and your child can eat and drink as normal.

Yes, ICON treatment is minimally invasive and less expensive than fillings/crowns/veneers!

The front and/or back teeth may appear yellow/cream/brown and discoloured. They may be sensitive or painful, sometimes crumbly. This is because the enamel is soft, they are prone to developing decay. 

The ICON resin infiltration treatment is minimally invasive and can be completed in a single visit, with no need for local anaesthetic. 

1. The process starts with cleaning the affected teeth using a special toothbrush and pumice to clean and roughen the white spots.
2. After this, we place a special rubber sheet to isolate the affected teeth.
3. Next, the teeth are dried, followed by the application of ICON resin. The resin is then massaged against the teeth for around three minutes. 
4. After that, remove the material from the tooth with some cotton wool rolls 
5. We then shine a special light on the teeth to cure the resin
6. Finally, we polish the teeth to make them smooth and sparkly 

Appointments for ICON treatment are generally booked for 30-60 minutes. However, the time depends on how many teeth are being treated. 

Yes, the results are generally instant. For stubborn white spots, additional visits may be required.