Why Should I Fill Cavities on Baby Teeth?

There are two reasons why restoring cavities on baby teeth is important.

(1) Untreated decay in a single tooth can harbor bacteria which can affect nearby teeth and, if left untreated, may affect the permanent tooth developing beneath the baby tooth. This can lead to pain, infection, tooth loss and gum disease and other serious health conditions.

(2) In addition, baby teeth fulfill very important growth functions for kids. They help children develop proper chewing habits, speech and, most importantly, they hold the space for developing adult teeth. If kids lose baby teeth prematurely due to cavities, this may impact the ability of the adult teeth to come in (“erupt”) and create a future complications with tooth alignment and function – potentially requiring orthodontic care to correct.

Learn more about children's cavities and fillings