A Beautiful Option for Your Child’s Smile

White Zirconia SPRIG Pediatric Crowns

Northern California's Premier Provider

Every parent wants their children to have a beautiful smile. Since 2011, Dr. Johnson has helped both children and their parents smile big by offering safe, effective, esthetic natural-looking zirconia pediatric dental crowns as an alternative to the traditional silver colored stainless steel crowns.

We Are The Experts

Parents come to us from all over the region—as far away as Redding, Santa Rosa, Fresno, and even Reno! Few dentists who treat children have the expertise and skill to manage children comfortably to provide ceramic white crowns for their patients. Dr. Johnson, a board certified pediatric specialist, and his highly trained team have been offering parents this option for over ten years, successfully placing thousands of SPRIG ceramic pediatric crowns and providing stunning smiles for his child patients of all ages.

White Zirconia SPRIG Pediatric Crowns Happy Patient

YES! You Have A Choice

Until recently, silver colored, stainless steel crowns were the only choice parents had if their child required a crown. Now parents have a choice! For a perfect natural looking smile, Dr. Johnson offers white zirconia crowns for all primary teeth, front and back teeth, something very few dental offices and children’s dentists can provide.

  • Natural tooth-colored pediatric dental crowns
  • Sprig Zirconia Dental Crowns for Children
  • Esthetic, Biocompatible, Metal-Free

Read Parent Testimonials on Sprig's Website

Why Would a Baby Tooth Need a Crown?

Aren’t They Going to Fall Out Anyway?

Great question! We hear this one often! Yes, primary (baby) teeth will eventually fall out, but they play an important role in your child’s dental health and development. Here’s the top reasons crowns are recommended for primary teeth:

  • Timing: Some baby teeth, like canines and molars, don’t fall out until age 10 to 13. Front teeth begin exfoliating around age 6 but can linger until 9.
  • Chewing and Nutrition: Missing key teeth can make chewing difficult and large cavities can make chewing painful, potentially affecting growth.
  • Space Maintenance: Baby molars hold space for adult teeth. If lost too early, surrounding teeth may shift, leading to crowding.
  • Pain: Big cavities can cause pain, often triggered by certain foods such as cold items or sugary treats.
  • Infection Risk: Decay nearing the pulp can lead to serious infections that require antibiotics and ultimately premature extraction.

Can’t You Just Do a Filling Instead?

In many cases, yes we can! And we do whenever possible. We use white (composite) fillings to treat small or moderate cavities. Composite fillings are wonderful and esthetic, but they have their physical and engineering limitations.

When decay is extensive or very close to the pulp, a crown (often combined with a pulpotomy, or nerve treatment) is the best option to save the tooth and restore function. A crown provides strength to a weakened tooth and adds longevity.

If a tooth can’t be saved with a filling or a crown, extraction becomes the last resort, and that’s something we always try to avoid when possible.

Pediatric Filling Alternative

Silver vs. White Pediatric Crowns

White Zirconia Crowns

Material: Made from zirconium ceramic. They are strong, non-flexible and biocompatible.

Appearance: White and look very natural, especially important for visible front teeth.

Cost: Higher due to manufacturing cost and the technical expertise needed for placement. The procedure takes longer, and precise preparation is key to success.

Stainless Steel Crowns (SSCs)

Material: Made from a strong metal alloy. They are durable, slightly flexible, and biocompatible.

Appearance: Silver in color and considered non-esthetic.

Cost: Less costly manufacturing costs and require less technical expertise for placement.

Child Smiling

Are There Any Downsides to White Ceramic Crowns?

Zirconia crowns are a fantastic option with little to no downside. But they’re not the best option for every child or for every situation. Some considerations include:

  • Patient suitability: Not all children are ideal candidates for white crown placement. Dr. Johnson and his team will evaluate your child carefully and provide you with options specific for your child.
  • Tooth location and visibility: Crowns on upper back teeth (molars) are typically less visible, while front teeth and lower back teeth are more noticeable.
  • Cost: Ceramic crowns are more expensive to manufacture and the technique for placement is more time intensive. Both increase the cost to the consumer.

Ready for a Confident Smile?

We are committed to helping your child achieve a healthy, confident smile. Zirconia crowns offer an esthetic, durable, and safe solution when more extensive treatment is needed.

If you're interested in learning more or want to find out if your child is a candidate, we’re happy to answer your questions and schedule a consultation.