While all parents know baby teeth eventually fall out, it’s important to keep little teeth healthy because they are the blueprint for your child’s permanent teeth. Treating a cavity in a baby tooth is crucial to ensure the tooth stays in place until it falls out naturally because little teeth save space for, and are the pathway, for permanent teeth. Additionally, baby teeth are important to speech development and maintaining good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly. If decay in a baby tooth is not treated, it could cause pain, impair speech and potentially damage permanent teeth or cause them to grow in crooked.

Treatment options vary based on the severity of the cavity. Be sure to discuss options with your pediatric dentist to decide what is best for your child. Need help finding a pediatric dentist? Look here.

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  • Dr. James Nickman

    James Nickman, DDS, MS. AAPD, President-Elect. Dr. James Nickman is the President-Elect for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a fellow in the American College of Dentists and a fellow in the International College of Dentists. Dr. Nickman is active in the Minneapolis District Dental Society, Minnesota Dental Association and is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He is a past-president of the Minnesota Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and has served on the Board of Trustees of the AAPD. Dr. Nickman graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and obtained a Master of Science degree in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Minnesota.