Lorton, Va
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Stainless Steel Crowns

Over time, your child’s teeth might become damaged, decayed, or over-used. If a dental filling doesn’t suffice, our next measure is dental crowns.
Petite Smiles dental office exam area

What is a stainless steel crown?

A stainless steel crown is the gold standard when your little one needs more than just a filling. Dental crowns are permanently placed caps designed to protect the integrity of damaged or decayed teeth. This restorative dentistry method repairs the affected tooth’s shape, size, and strength.

Are you worried about stainless steel crowns appearing in your child’s school photos or family photo albums? Not to worry! Stainless steel crowns are only placed on back teeth.

Does your child need dental crowns?

Your child might benefit from a dental crown for many restorative reasons, including:

  • Protecting a weakened, eroded, or broken tooth from further damage and breakage
  • Replacing large fillings
  • Reinforcing a tooth after root canal treatment
  • Balancing the bite
  • Large or multiple surfaces of decay
  • Protecting those with a high risk of developing cavities
  • Those with a high risk of developing more cavities

Tooth Cap vs. Crown: What’s the difference?

Some common questions asked amongst young patients and their parents are:

  • What is a tooth crown?
  • Is it similar to a tooth cap?
Although these might sound like trick questions, the answers are pretty simple. The terms “tooth crown” and dental crown” are interchangeable. Therefore, there’s no difference between these two treatments. Instead, they are simply synonyms—though the technical term is “dental crown.” Similar to how a cap fits snugly on top of your head, Dr. Heba Rashed places dental crowns on top of the teeth.
exam room with a drawing of a dinosaur chewing bubble gum

Dental Crown Procedure

Crowns allow baby teeth with decay to remain healthy and functional as the permanent teeth develop. They stop the spread of bacteria between teeth and can save a child from early extraction, which could lead to orthodontic issues down the road. For children, crowns are typically applied in a single visit and comes out with the baby tooth once it’s ready to naturally fall out.

Petite Smiles uses advanced dental technology and techniques, such as digital x-rays and intra-oral cameras, to ensure a more comfortable and accurate treatment process. First, Dr. Heba Rashed will take digital x-rays of the tooth and the surrounding bone. She will look for signs of decay, infection, or injury to determine the right path for treatment and if installing a dental crown is a reasonable next step.

Then, Dr. Rashed will prepare the tooth by carefully removing any diseased tissue. The tooth’s pulp chamber is the part of the teeth that encompasses nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Nerve therapy may be in order if the tooth’s pulp is infected or injured. Stainless steel pediatric crowns are prefabricated and optimized for quick fittings. That means less discomfort and chair time compared to adult crowns procedures. Dr. Rashed will then choose the appropriate crown and assess the fit for lasting protection, sort of like trying on shoes at a store to find the one that fits perfectly. The crown is then cemented using a glass ionomer cement to form a seal around the tooth.

composite fillings
tooth extractions
nerve therapy

Dental Crowns in Lorton, VA

Stainless steel dental crowns carry a reputation as the highest standard of care, and their quality is unmatched. Furthermore, extensive clinical evidence supports stainless steel crowns as a successful way to protect the integrity of compromised teeth.

Call (703)-688-2155 or message us online for more information about dental crowns for kids.

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Petite Stories

My experience at Petite Smiles Dentistry with Dr. Heba Rashed exceeded my expectations. The clinic itself was beautifully designed with a child-friendly atmosphere, creating a relaxing environment. It was evident that they catered to their patients and the attention to detail was remarkable.

Brittany D.

So glad my kids first dental experience was at Petite Smiles! I have 4-year-old triplets and each one was so comfortable at the clinic. The entire Petite Smiles team was incredibly warm and welcoming. They engaged with my kids, which really helped them feel comfortable throughout their cleaning and checks. And Dr. Rashed was awesome - very knowledgeable, thorough, and communicative throughout the visit.

Fairuz M

I'm absolutely thrilled to share our wonderful experience with Petite Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. From the moment we stepped into their clinic, we were greeted with warm smiles and a friendly atmosphere that immediately put my children at ease. They even had a board with their names welcoming them in! It’s so important to create such a positive environment for children where they could be nervous…

Melanie K.

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