Restorative Dentistry

Expert treatment for young teeth.

Children’s orthodontic treatment

At Clyde Munro, we are pleased to provide NHS orthodontics for children under the of 18 where there is a dental need for treatment. This means that if the teeth or bite are likely to cause issues in the future, or if they are an oral health concern, then your child will be eligible for treatment.

In order to assess the dental need for braces for children’s teeth, we use the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), which takes a variety of factors into account to ascertain whether treatment can be provided by the NHS.

Children’s braces consist of traditional silver metal braces that use wires, bands, and brackets that are fixed to the teeth. They work by applying forces to the teeth to gradually move them into the desired position over time. We’ll schedule regular dental appointments in order to check the progress of the treatment and change or tighten the wire and the elastic bands. Many of our young patients like to choose different coloured bands to customise their braces and inject some fun… we love doing this!

Your dentist will advise the best age for braces based on your child’s unique orthodontic needs. If your child is eligible for NHS treatment, you may discover that there is a waiting list for it. This is because we are given a limited amount of funding each year for children’s NHS teeth straightening treatment. If you do not want to wait, or if you would like to explore other orthodontic options, we are able to offer private treatment to under-18s, such as Invisalign, although this will attract a fee.

Restoring children’s teeth

Sometimes during a dental check-up we spot damage, decay, or cavity that requires treatment.

Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth, so we always try to save the tooth where we can. Even though we know these teeth will eventually fall out to make way for adult teeth, removing them too soon can cause problems with eating, speaking, and confidence.

Children’s fillings

The first line treatment for dental decay is a dental filling, this is the most common dental treatment we provide. A dental filling will repair the damage and allow the tooth to function properly without any pain or concern.

Children’s dental fillings are carried out using a local anaesthetic so the treatment is completely comfortable and pain free. The area is first cleaned, the decay is removed and then the filling material is applied. This will be sculpted and polished so that it feels smooth and looks just like the original tooth.

Dental crowns for children

Sometimes the extent of decay to a tooth is too much to treat with a regular dental filling. We will still do our best to avoid a tooth extraction if we can, in these cases we would treat the problem with a dental crown. Dental crowns are also used after root canal treatment for an infection.

Children’s dental crowns are sometimes called caps. They fit on top of the broken, decayed, or damaged tooth to restore the smile. We begin by removing the decay or damage, leaving a post of natural tooth behind. We use pre-made crowns for children, which are able to adapt so the size and shape is perfect. The new dental crown will be permanently adhered to the remaining section of natural tooth and will function as normal.

Children’s tooth extraction

Where tooth decay or damage is too severe for a dental filling or crown, our last course of treatment would be to extract the tooth. Your Clyde Munro dentist will consider every option possible, with the aim of saving the tooth as a priority, but if this is not possible we will recommend tooth removal. This will prevent further infection or swelling, which could cause a problem for the adult tooth that will eventually come through.

We make sure your child is as comfortable and relaxed as possible during the tooth extraction procedure. We use local anaesthetic and can also offer dental sedation services, too. Your dentist will explain everything thoroughly to ensure that you and your child feel safe and confident at every stage, and we are always here to answer any questions you have.

Emergency dental care for your children

If your child has a dental emergency in Scotland, it is important to remain calm. The first thing to do is contact your Clyde Munro dentist as soon as you are able to. If the emergency happens during opening hours, you will be offered an emergency dental appointment as soon as possible.

If it is outside our opening hours, contact NHS24 on 111 who will be able to provide advice and recommend whether you should visit A&E.