The dentist has found a small hole in one of your child's back teeth and suggested a filling. Many parents feel a pang of guilt at this point, but decay in baby teeth is one of the most common health problems in Australian children, and a small cavity found early is usually quick to repair. How the visit goes often depends less on the tooth than on how your child has been prepared for it.
A baby molar may need to last until age 12
The question parents ask most is why a tooth that will fall out needs fixing at all. Front baby teeth are usually lost around six or seven, but the baby molars at the back often stay until somewhere between ten and twelve. A cavity in one of those teeth has years to grow.
Left alone, decay in a baby tooth can reach the nerve, which is closer to the surface than in an adult tooth. That can lead to toothache, infection and swelling, and an abscess on a baby tooth can sometimes affect the adult tooth forming underneath. If the tooth has to come out early, the teeth beside it may drift into the gap and leave less room for the adult tooth. A filling keeps the tooth comfortable and in place until it is ready to go on its own.
What your child will see, hear and feel
For a small, early cavity the visit is often over in well under half an hour. The dentist explains each step in words a child understands before doing it. If the tooth needs numbing, a flavoured gel goes on the gum first so the injection is barely noticed. Many children only register that their cheek feels "fat" or tingly.
While the decay is removed, your child will hear a buzzing or whistling sound and feel vibration or pressure. That is normal and different from pain. The tooth is then filled, shaped and often set with a small blue light, which children tend to find interesting. A final check of the bite and the job is done.
Some very small cavities in baby teeth can be treated without numbing, or managed with a fluoride-releasing material placed with minimal drilling. Your dentist will explain which approach suits the tooth. For a child who is very anxious or who needs several teeth treated, ask us about sedation options, though most first fillings do not need them.
Choosing the filling material
Three options cover nearly all children's fillings, and the choice is made tooth by tooth.
Glass ionomer is tooth-coloured and releases a small amount of fluoride over time. It copes well when a tooth is hard to keep dry, which is common with small children, so it is often used in baby teeth.
Composite resin is also tooth-coloured. It is bonded to the tooth and tends to be harder wearing, so it suits cavities in front teeth and some back teeth where the child can sit still long enough for a dry field.
Stainless steel crowns are pre-formed caps that fit over a baby molar. They are used when decay is extensive or the tooth has had nerve treatment, because a filling alone would not hold up until the tooth falls out.
Silver amalgam is now used much less often, especially in children. Our article on white and silver fillings explains why practice has shifted.
Words that help before the visit
Children read the adult beside them. If you seem relaxed, most children follow. A few habits make a real difference:
- Tell your child a day or so ahead, in plain terms: the dentist is going to clean out a little spot and fix the tooth.
- Leave out "hurt", "needle", "drill" and "don't be scared". Even reassurances like "it won't hurt" plant the idea that it might.
- Play dentist at home with a toy or a book, counting teeth with a mirror.
- Book a time when your child is fed and rested, and avoid squeezing it in before a busy afternoon.
- Let the dental team do the explaining in the chair. They are used to choosing words for children.
- Plan a small reward that is not sweet, such as a sticker, a trip to the park or a story at bedtime.
If your child is already worried about the dentist, our guide to helping an anxious child at the dentist goes into more detail.
The first couple of hours afterwards
If the tooth was numbed, the lip, cheek or tongue may feel strange for around two hours, sometimes longer; in one trial in children, normal lip feeling took a median of a little over two hours to return. The main risk is a child chewing or sucking the numb area out of curiosity, which can leave a sore, swollen lip the next day. Keep an eye on them, offer drinks rather than food until the feeling returns, and steer them away from hot drinks. After that, normal eating and brushing can resume. Mild tenderness around the gum usually settles within a day or two.
Keeping it to one filling
A first filling is a useful signal that something in the daily routine needs adjusting. Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste suited to your child's age, with an adult helping until about eight or nine, does most of the work. Keeping sweet food and drinks to mealtimes rather than spread through the day reduces how often teeth come under acid attack. When the first adult molars arrive around six, fissure sealants can protect their deep grooves. Regular check-ups with a dentist or OHT mean any new decay is found while it is still small.
Typical costs and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
Many families are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, a Medicare program that covers basic dental services, including fillings, for eligible children up to a capped amount over two calendar years. The figures below are typical Australian market ranges for general guidance, not Lumi fees.
| Treatment | Typical market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Child filling (glass ionomer or composite) | $120 to $300 | Depends on size and which tooth |
| Stainless steel crown on a baby molar | $250 to $500 | For extensive decay |
| Check-up, clean and fluoride | $200 to $400 | Preventive visit |
What parents ask before the visit
Should I stay in the room?
For young children, a parent in the room is usually welcome and helps them settle. Sit where your child can see you, keep your voice calm and let the dentist do the talking.
Will the filling need replacing?
A filling in a baby tooth only needs to last until the tooth falls out. Some do need repair along the way, especially larger ones, which is why your dentist checks them at each visit.
Can a cavity in a baby tooth heal by itself?
A chalky white spot of very early decay can sometimes harden again with fluoride and better habits. Once a true hole has formed, it does not grow back, though small ones in baby teeth may sometimes be monitored or sealed rather than drilled. Your dentist will tell you which applies.
Our dentists and oral health therapists see children of all ages and can check Child Dental Benefits Schedule eligibility on the day. To book your child in at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park, see our current offers or our general dentistry page. If this is your child's first visit of any kind, our guide to your child's first dental visit is a good place to start.
