Learning how to care for your teeth and gums at an early age is so important. The oral health habits that are established in childhood will stay with your child for the rest of their life. At Children’s Dentistry, we’re committed to bringing the best care to your child’s oral health.
We offer a wide variety of services, from preventative care to sedation dentistry to root canals. No matter what type of pediatric dental procedure your child needs, our experienced staff is up to the task. Read on to learn more about the services offered at Children’s Dentistry.
Preventative Services
The best way to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy is to take preventative measures. At Children’s Dentistry, we offer a full range of preventative dental services, including teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments.
Your child should have their teeth cleaned professionally every 6 months. During a cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will use a scaler to scrape tartar off the teeth, both below and above the gum line. After rinsing the plaque and tartar away with water, the dentist will use a lightly abrasive paste to polish the teeth. Finally, the dentist will floss between the teeth to be sure that all plaque buildup is removed.
After a cleaning, your child’s dentist will examine their teeth and gums for any abnormalities. These regular checkups ensure that any developing issues are caught and treated early.
Our pediatric dental procedures also include fluoride treatments. Our dentists can apply topical fluoride treatments to your child’s teeth up to four times a year. Talk to your child’s dentist to see what type of fluoride regiment is best.
X-Rays
Dental x-rays are a pediatric dental procedures that are generally use in preventative care. With dental x-rays, your child’s dentist can monitor the development of your child’s teeth. X-rays allow the dentist to detect issues that may not be visible with a physical examination alone. X-rays can also be used to monitor healing after a mouth injury, detect tooth infections, and determine whether your child needs orthodontic treatment.
The x-ray process is completely painless and totally safe. Your child will be seated for the duration of the x-ray.
Dental Sealants for Kids
Dental sealants are pediatric dental procedure that cover the chewing surfaces of your child’s permanent teeth. Children start getting their adult teeth around age 6, and that’s when they become a candidate for dental sealants. Adult teeth contain pits and fissures, making it easy for food to get stuck. The food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause cavities and tooth decay.
To help prevent bacteria from building up in these fissures, the dentist can apply dental sealants to their teeth. The dental sealants are plastic-like coverings that fill in all the little divots in the teeth so food can’t get stuck there. They’re impervious to bacteria, saliva, and food particles. Paired with preventative dental care, dental sealants will ensure that your child’s teeth stay as healthy as possible.
Composite Fillings
If your child has tooth decay or cavities, they’ll need to have a composite filling. Composite fillings are some of the most common pediatric dental procedures. The dentist uses a tooth-colored composite material to fill in any holes caused by tooth decay. The material bonds to your child’s enamel, creating a hard surface that helps prevent any further damage.
Pediatric Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is simply any pediatric dental procedure where the patient receives sedative medication to help them relax. Sedation dentistry, also known as sleep dentistry, is ideal for children with anxiety, with special needs, or who simply have trouble sitting still during procedures. Our dentists will work with you to determine what level and type of sedation will be best for your child after considering their medical history, needs, and the procedure that needs to be done.
Depending on the procedure and the patient, the dentist can opt to use various levels of sedation. There are four levels available during sleep dentistry: minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. With minimal sedation, your child will be awake during the procedure but will feel totally relaxed. With moderate sedation, your child is still awake, but they won’t have much memory of the procedure. With deep sedation, your child is asleep but not quite unconscious. With general anesthesia, your child is completely unconscious and asleep for the whole procedure.
Root Canals, Crowns, and Bridges
For children who require more serious pediatric dental procedures, we offer root canals, crowns and bridges. Root canals for children are needed if your child develops an infection in the pulp inside of their teeth. During a root canal, the dentist removes the infected pulp, replacing it with a therapeutic material. They then cap the tooth with a crown for added protection. Overall, the original tooth is left in tact.
Crowns are a more extreme type of repair for teeth that have undergone too much damage for an ordinary composite filling. Crowns “cap” or cover a tooth to give it a normal appearance while help protecting against any future damage.
If your child has lost one or more teeth, they may be eligible for a pediatric dental procedure called a bridge. If your child has a gap in their permanent teeth, the other teeth around it will eventually shift and fill that gap. To prevent this shifting, one or more artificial teeth can be implanted with a bridge. The bridge attaches to the natural teeth surrounding the gap, and a replacement tooth then fills the gap.
No matter if your child’s teeth are healthy or in need of a little TLC, pediatric dental procedures can help make your child’s smile even brighter. At Children’s Dentistry, our dentists can treat any issue that your child may be experiencing, from tooth decay to missing teeth and more. If your child’s teeth are healthy, there is still work to be done. Even children with healthy teeth need preventative pediatric dental procedures to keep their teeth looking and feeling their best. To learn more about our services or to make an appointment, contact Children’s Dentistry today.