Tooth-Colored Crowns
When a child's tooth has been weakened by a large cavity, a fracture, or extensive decay, a dental crown can restore its strength, shape, and function. Tooth-colored crowns offer a 
natural-looking option that blends in with the rest of your child's smile, so they can eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
Why Might My Child Need a Crown?
Crowns are often recommended for baby teeth or young permanent teeth that have too much decay for a filling to repair effectively, have been chipped or fractured, or have undergone a root canal and need extra support. Because baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth and help with proper chewing and speech development, treating a damaged tooth early helps protect your child's long-term oral health.
What Are Tooth-Colored Crowns Made Of?
Pediatric tooth-colored crowns are typically made from durable materials such as zirconia or composite resin, both designed to mimic the natural color and translucency of teeth. Unlike traditional stainless steel crowns, which are silver in color, tooth-colored crowns blend in seamlessly, which many parents and children prefer, especially for front teeth.
What's the Process Like?
When decay on a baby tooth is too large for a filling or extends into the nerve of the tooth, a crown is the best way to restore the tooth to full function.
Dr. Reed offers zirconia crowns, a natural-looking way to restore the tooth. Zirconia is a high-strength ceramic that’s completely metal-free, making it a wonderful aesthetic and biocompatible option. Unlike traditional silver stainless steel crowns, zirconia crowns are tooth-colored and blend beautifully with the surrounding teeth, so your child can smile with confidence.
Zirconia crowns are often recommended for teeth affected by extensive decay or fractures, for front teeth that are discolored or malformed, or to restore a tooth after pulp therapy. To keep your child comfortable and at ease, nitrous oxide is used during the procedure, and the crown is placed in a single visit.
Dr. Reed will take the time to get to know your child, so she can recommend the treatment option that fits them best and helps ensure a positive dental experience. From there, she will discuss all the details with you, answer any questions on your mind, and share whether a zirconia (white) crown would be a good fit for your child. Dr. Reed truly values open, caring conversations with parents — because when you feel informed and at ease, you can make the best, most confident decision for your little one.
Testimonial
Wonderful staff and Dr. Reed is super nice and great with kids!
Frequently Asked Questions
At Frontenac Pediatric Dentistry of St. Louis, we offer several types of dental crowns to fit your child’s specific needs. Each option is chosen with durability, function, and your child’s comfort in mind.
Stainless steel crowns (SSCs) are a trusted, budget-friendly choice for primary (baby) teeth. These ready-made crowns are exceptionally strong, making them a great fit for teeth that are heavily decayed or damaged, especially the back teeth, where chewing forces are greatest. They also work well as a sturdy, temporary solution while your child waits for their permanent teeth to come in.
Zirconia crowns are a more natural-looking option for both baby and permanent teeth. Made from a strong, tooth-colored ceramic called zirconium oxide, they combine impressive durability with a smile-friendly appearance. Because they blend in so seamlessly, zirconia crowns are an excellent choice for front teeth or any time a more esthetic result is the goal. That said, zirconia crowns do come with a few limitations, so not every child is a good candidate. If this is an option you’re interested in for your child, Dr. Reed will perform an exam, take any necessary x-rays, and help you decide whether a zirconia crown is the right choice for your child.
Our Team
Tooth-Colored Crowns Technology
Intraoral Camera
What if you could see exactly what your dentist sees? You’d probably find it simpler to make informed decisions about your oral health!
Intraoral cameras allow you to do precisely that. Using a small digital camera embedded in a wand, the dentist can move it around your mouth and transmit the images instantly to a chairside monitor. This allows you to clearly see everything the dentist describes.