PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Your Trusted Pediatric Dentist
As soon as a child gets their first tooth, preventative dental care can begin. Preventative dentistry for kids can help identify problems early on in your child’s life before dental problems become worse and often more costly. Dedicated Dental provides pediatric dentistry services.
When Should My Child Visit The Dentist?
As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Dedicated Dental encourages you to bring your child to see a dentist when the first tooth appears or before their first birthday. Decay is unlikely at such a young age, but parents benefit most from the guidance provided. Cavities are preventable!
Benefits Of Early Dental Care
From your trusted dentists at Dedicated Dental
Establishing a dental home for your child to curb any future fears about going to the dentist
Learning the tools, you need as a parent to keep your baby healthy
Demonstrating fun and effective ways to brush your baby’s teeth
Eliminating the need for unnecessary dental work
Feeding and nutrition tips for a healthy mouth
Teaching your child the importance of oral health from an early age
Continued preventive care and education for a lifetime of no cavities
Learn about teething, pacifiers and thumbsucking
Building confidence and knowledge as a parent
Our doctor will examine your baby’s teeth, check for decay, make sure teeth are erupting in the right order, screen all the oral tissues for diseases, determine proper jaw development and give valuable information on infant oral care and proper nutrition. Ask about our free new patient exam offer for new patients under three years old.
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY SERVICES
We provide comprehensive checkups and dental cleanings to help children maintain good oral health. We encourage good dental hygiene and patient education as part of our pediatric dentistry services. Checkups and cleaning services typically include the following:
Checkups and Cleanings For Children
Regular teeth cleanings and oral exams, usually every six months
Routine X-rays to help track jaw and teeth development
Fitting athletic mouthguards
Referrals to orthodontists as necessary
Referrals to other dental specialists as needed
Helping identify related health issues that may impact a child’s dental health
Promoting good dental habits, including brushing and flossing, guidance on thumb sucking, and advice on eating habits that help improve dental health
Fluoride
Healthy teeth are key in ensuring your child is healthier and happier. Dedicated Dental may recommend a fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay and maintain healthy teeth. Topical fluoride is a preventative agent applied to tooth enamel. Your pediatric dentist considers many factors before recommending fluoride treatment. Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at the highest risk for decay. Risk factors include a history of previous decay, a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates, orthodontic appliances, and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
Fluoride inhibits loss of minerals from tooth enamel and encourages remineralization, strengthening areas that are weakened and beginning to develop cavities. Fluoride also affects bacteria that cause cavities and discourages acid attacks that break down the tooth. The risk for decay is reduced even more when fluoride is combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Fluoride treatment comes in different forms. A dental professional may place gels or foams in trays that are held against the teeth for up to 4 minutes. Fluoride varnish is brushed or “painted” on the enamel. Varnish is especially useful for young patients and those with special needs who may not tolerate fluoride trays.
Using fluoride for the prevention and control of decay is proven to be both safe and effective. Fluoride is also an active ingredient in many dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, and varnish. Nevertheless, too much fluoride could cause fluorosis of developing permanent teeth. Fluorosis changes the appearance of tooth enamel, causing tiny white specks or streaks. Your pediatric dentist can help determine if your child is receiving and not exceeding the recommended amount of fluoride.
Sealants
A dental sealant is a plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Grooves in these teeth are so narrow that a toothbrush cannot fit into the spaces to remove plaque. Dental sealants prevent dental decay in the grooves. Children should receive sealants on permanent molars as soon as they erupt (about ages 6 and 12 years).
Often, children fail to brush the back of their mouth, resulting in tooth decay and cavities. But even when kids do a good job of brushing and flossing their teeth, it’s still difficult for food and plaque to be removed from all those crannies and nooks of the back teeth. By covering chewing surfaces of the back teeth, sealants help keep out germs, food, and plaque. By sealing the teeth, bacteria, food, and other cavity-causing substances can not attach to the teeth protecting children against tooth decay.
Sealant application is simple, quick and painless. The tooth is etched with a mild acid to create retention for the sealant, then rinsed and air-dried. Then, the liquid sealant is painted into the grooves of the teeth, and a high-intensity light is used to activate the liquid plastic to harden.
Sealants last up to ten years but are most effective for two to four years. Sealants help in protecting against cavities when the sealant is continuously monitored by a dentist. Sealants should be checked by a dentist during regular check-ups, and if needed, they can be re-applied.
The sealant material is designed to flow into and fill the pits and grooves of the teeth. This material does not work on the smooth surfaces of the teeth, like the fronts and backs and sides of the teeth. Therefore, sealants are only applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Athletic Mouthguards
A common misconception is that only contact sport participants require mouthguards, but all athletes need to protect their teeth, jaws, and brain by using a custom-fitted athletic mouthguard.
A mouthguard is used by athletes of all ages to protect teeth from trauma during competitive and individual sporting activities. The American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists advocate the use of mouthguards by children and adults during organized and recreational sporting activities.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three main types of mouthguards:
Essentially “ready to wear” versions that are available at most sporting goods stores. They are sold in pre-determined sizes that cannot be customized and offer the least protection. Most dentists do not recommend the use of these mouth guards as they provide little to no protection.
Typically placed in hot water to soften and then placed in the individual’s mouth to form. They are sold in most sporting goods stores and can potentially offer a better fit than a stock mouthguard.
Individually designed and created based on your dentist’s prescription. The dentist will take a high-quality impression of the mouth to create a model. This model is used to make a custom, well-fitting mouthguard that offers the greatest protection and the most comfortable fit.
Why Should My Child Use A Custom Mouthguard?
Provides support that can prevent fracture or damage to the lower jaw
Prevents tooth fractures and tooth displacement
Helps reduce brain injury by acting as shock absorbers, reducing incidents of concussions, and positive reinforcement in the prevention of neck injuries
Prevents cuts and bruising during impact between the lips and the teeth
Opposing teeth are protected from jarring during a blow to the head
Athletes feel more confident and aggressive when they have the proper protection
Cavities and Fillings
What Causes Early Childhood Cavities?
Cavities and tooth decay are caused by plaque buildup that constantly forms on and around the teeth. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that feed off simple carbohydrates like sugar. As they feed, these bacteria produce acids that attack the enamel, which results in tooth decay.
Your child may be more susceptible to early cavities due to certain factors, including:
Not seeing a dentist for cleanings and exams
Going to bed with a bottle that contains anything but water
Lack of appropriate oral hygiene
Genetics
Frequent eating and eating sticky, sugary foods
Fillings
Cavity fillings, also called dental fillings or tooth fillings, are most commonly used to fill minor cavities (decaying teeth). Before a cavity filling is placed, your dentist administers a local anesthetic (numbing medication). Then, the diseased portion of your tooth is removed. Lastly, your dentist fills the cavity with a tooth-colored filling material.
Tooth fillings are used to close spaces in teeth where bacteria, sugars, and food can enter, which prevents the progression of tooth decay, and for repairing broken, chipped, or worn-down teeth. Direct fillings are made inside of the mouth during one office visit.
