At routine visits we will evaluate for cavities and monitor growth.
Dental cleanings ensure we remove plaque that might prevent us to see if any cavities are starting to form. It also give us a chance to demonstrate and review oral hygiene techniques with you and your child.
Application of topical fluoride both strengthens teeth and kills bacteria that cause cavities.
For small cavities remineralization products provide an option that preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible.
Composite restorations are what we typically think of as a filling. They are tooth-colored and mechanically bonded to tooth structure.
On front teeth a zirconia crown, similar to a tooth-colored crown for adult permanent teeth, is a durable option with a great esthetic result. For children a silver, or stainless steel crown, is often the best option for a back tooth. Sometimes we have the option to utilize a zirconia crown for a back tooth as well.
Extraction of baby teeth may be needed if it cannot be saved with restorative treatment or if an infection has damaged the surrounding bone structure. Primary teeth may also need to be extracted if they are interfering with proper growth and development.
For many mothers, it is obvious that their infant has a problem when feeding issues arise. For children, oral development may appear normal until they reach specific developmental benchmarks or their problem remained undiagnosed in infancy. When facial growth has been disrupted parents notice problems with speech, breathing, or alignment of teeth. Restriction of tissues in the mouth are referred to as tethered oral tissues or ties and they may be the cause of these problems.
When trauma to the mouth occurs radiographs are typically needed to determine the extent of the damage and if any treatment is needed. For infants these injuries occur from falls. In children sports and outdoor activities are the most common causes of orofacial trauma.
Trauma to the face can result in fractured, displaced, or avulsed teeth and it is best if you reach out to us immediately so we can triage and determine if urgent treatment in our office is needed. Some injuries are not time sensitive while others, like avulsion, are seriously impacted by delays in care.
Our team has extensive training in behavior guidance techniques. In each appointment we customize our strategies for your child. We adapt as we go and utilize the techniques that your child is most receptive to.
Nitrous oxide provides relaxation and relieves some of the anxiety children may feel while they are receiving dental treatment. While we work very hard to minimize the discomfort of treatment we expect that some aspects of care will be uncomfortable. For some children having someone is in their personal space or having limited control of their sensory experience can induce anxiety. Often, nitrous oxide can assuage those fears.
Mild sedation is performed in our office with an oral medication that will result in your child feeling sleepy but not asleep. The ideal sedation for us maintains your child's ability to follow instructions but increases their level of cooperation and comfort.
We enlist the help of a physician anesthesiologist to provide general anesthesia in our office. General anesthesia involves medication that ensures your child is completely asleep for the duration of the procedure. For some children, very young or especially fearful, it is the only way to complete needed treatment.
