Dental Crowns for Children

A dental crown is recommended when a baby or permanent tooth has been significantly damaged by decay, fracture, or injury and cannot be adequately restored with a filling alone. Crowns are also routinely placed after a pulpotomy or pulpectomy — procedures used to treat infection inside a baby tooth — to protect and strengthen the treated tooth. Our pediatric dentists at Drs. Nicolas & Asp Centers assess each case individually and only recommend a crown when it is the most appropriate and durable solution for your child.

Yes. Pediatric dental crowns are a well-established, safe treatment used routinely in children's dentistry worldwide. The materials used — including stainless steel, tooth-colored composite resin, and zirconia — are all biocompatible and approved for use in children. Zirconia crowns, in particular, are valued for their durability and natural appearance, with no known adverse reactions in pediatric patients.

The procedure is carried out under local anesthetic, so your child should not feel pain during treatment. Some mild soreness around the gum area is normal for a day or two afterward and typically settles quickly. For anxious children or those who need multiple teeth treated at once, our team offers sedation dentistry options to keep the experience as calm and comfortable as possible.

With proper care, a crown placed on a baby tooth typically lasts until that tooth falls out naturally — usually when the permanent tooth underneath is ready to come through. This means the crown does its job fully without needing replacement. Crowns placed on permanent teeth are designed to last significantly longer. Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly, and attending six-monthly check-ups help protect both the crown and the surrounding teeth.

Stainless steel crowns are silver in appearance and are most often used on back teeth, where they are not easily visible. They are exceptionally durable and resistant to heavy biting forces. Tooth-colored crowns, made from composite resin, blend with the natural teeth and are typically chosen for front teeth where appearance matters most. Zirconia crowns offer the best of both: they are tooth-colored, highly strong, and suitable for both front and back teeth. Your child's dentist will recommend the most appropriate crown type based on which tooth is being treated and your priorities for aesthetics and longevity.

No — pediatric crowns are sized and shaped to preserve the natural spacing in your child's mouth. Baby teeth act as space holders that guide permanent teeth into their correct positions. A crown protects and maintains that tooth until it falls out naturally, which actually supports healthy eruption of the permanent tooth underneath. Leaving a severely decayed baby tooth untreated is far more likely to disrupt adult tooth development than placing a crown.

There is no fixed minimum age. A crown can be placed as soon as the tooth in question has erupted sufficiently and requires protection that a filling cannot reliably provide. In practice, crowns on baby teeth are most commonly placed in children between the ages of 2 and 8, depending on which teeth are involved and the extent of the decay or damage.

Coverage for pediatric dental crowns varies depending on your insurance plan and the specific tooth being treated. At Drs. Nicolas & Asp Centers, we work with most major insurance providers and handle all pre-approvals and paperwork on your behalf, so you are not left navigating the process alone. For a clear picture of what your plan covers, visit our Insurance & Payments page or contact us directly before your appointment.