Repairing cavities and damaged teeth without losing sight of the child
Restorative dentistry repairs teeth after decay, fracture, infection, or other damage. In children, the treatment choice has to account for more than the cavity itself: age, tooth development, cooperation, the remaining life of the baby tooth, and the health of the permanent tooth underneath all matter.
Educational content only. Your child's diagnosis and treatment plan require an in-person dental evaluation.
Reviewed by Dr. Gabriela Asensi, DMD, MPH · Last updated September 22, 2026
SmileWorks offers the full range of pediatric restorative care at our Tallahassee office, from minimally invasive options such as silver diamine fluoride to tooth-colored fillings, full-coverage crowns, pulp therapy, and extractions. Comfort is part of the plan: Solea laser treatment when appropriate, behavior guidance, and sedation when needed.
Treatment should match the tooth, and the child
A small cavity in a cooperative ten-year-old is a different problem from a large cavity in a three-year-old. The same diagnosis can lead to different treatment plans based on cavity depth, tooth location, symptoms, eruption timing, and the child's ability to tolerate treatment.
If you have just been told your child has a cavity and want to understand the stages, start with cavity treatment for kids. This page is the map of what we offer.
What we offer
- Tooth-colored fillings for selected cavities where enough healthy tooth structure remains.
- Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to help arrest selected cavities when a noninvasive approach is useful.
- Pediatric crowns, stainless steel or tooth-colored zirconia, when a baby tooth needs stronger full-coverage protection.
- Pulp therapy: pulpotomy when decay reaches the pulp in the crown of a restorable baby tooth, and pulpectomy when the whole pulp must be treated.
- Extraction when a tooth cannot be predictably restored or infection makes removal the better option, with a space maintainer when the space needs holding.
Why baby teeth are worth restoring
Baby teeth help children chew, speak, smile, and hold space for permanent teeth. Some remain in the mouth for many years. Untreated decay can progress to pain, infection, swelling, and premature tooth loss.
Our parent guide Do cavities in baby teeth really matter? goes deeper on why.
Comfort is part of the treatment plan
We use pediatric behavior guidance, technology such as Solea laser treatment when appropriate, and sedation options when needed, from nitrous oxide to in-office IV sedation with a pediatric anesthesiologist. For selected children with extensive treatment needs, hospital-based dentistry at TMH may also be considered.
Parents are welcome chairside, and the appointment moves at your child's pace.
What happens after treatment?
We explain how to care for the restored tooth, what symptoms are normal after the appointment, and what would warrant a call. We also focus on preventing the next cavity through hygiene, diet counseling, fluoride, sealants, and regular preventive visits.
Questions families ask
Do cavities in baby teeth really need treatment?
Often, yes. The recommendation depends on cavity depth, symptoms, the tooth's expected time in the mouth, and risk of infection. Some early lesions can be managed noninvasively; others need restoration.
Will my child need a crown instead of a filling?
A crown may be recommended when too much tooth structure is damaged for a filling to be predictable, or after certain pulp treatments. The dentist will explain why one option is more durable for that tooth.
Can you treat cavities without a drill?
Some selected lesions can be treated with silver diamine fluoride, and Solea laser dentistry may reduce or eliminate traditional drilling for certain procedures. Not every cavity is a candidate.
What if my child is too anxious for treatment?
Behavior guidance is the first step. Sedation or anesthesia-supported care can be discussed when necessary treatment cannot be completed comfortably or safely with routine approaches.
Are white fillings used on baby teeth?
Yes. We use tooth-colored fillings for selected cavities. When too much of the tooth is gone, a crown is usually the more predictable choice.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
Cavity treatment for kids
What happens next after "your child has a cavity," stage by stage.
Cavity treatment for kids →Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)
A no-drill option that arrests selected cavities, plus Curodont remineralization and other early-intervention options.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) →Dental crowns for kids
Why a weakened baby tooth may need a crown, and how the material is chosen.
Dental crowns for kids →Pulpotomy and pulp therapy
When deep decay reaches the pulp of a baby tooth: pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and the crown that follows.
Pulpotomy and pulp therapy →Pediatric sedation dentistry
The full continuum, from nitrous oxide to in-office IV sedation with a pediatric anesthesiologist, and when hospital care fits.
Pediatric sedation dentistry →Pediatric dentistry
Board-certified pediatric dentists under the same roof as the orthodontic team.
Pediatric dentistry →A cavity is not one-size-fits-all. The treatment plan should not be either.
Call to schedule an exam at our Tallahassee office; we will explain the options for your child's tooth.
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