The idea that baby teeth do not matter because they fall out is the most common and most costly misunderstanding in children’s dentistry.
Small cavities may be restored simply. Larger ones may need more coverage, and a tooth with nerve involvement may need treatment or removal — sometimes with a space maintainer afterwards to hold the gap.
Prevention is genuinely more effective here than anywhere else in dentistry: sugar frequency, brushing at the gum line, and sealants where indicated.
A page can inform you. It cannot examine you.
If you can see a mark or your child mentions discomfort, have it looked at rather than watched.
General information reviewed by Mankirat Gill, DDS · August 2026. Not a substitute for an in-person examination.