PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

A filling may be required when the tooth structure has become damaged due to decay or a fracture. Often, fillings are used to remedy the effects of a cavity by removing the decayed portion of the tooth and filling the resulting space with a material that can restore the tooth to its proper function. Fillings may also be recommended for teeth that have been cracked, broken or worn down through bad habits such as nail-biting and tooth grinding.

Unlike a filling, which only removes a small portion of a damaged tooth, an extraction involves the complete removal of a tooth. These may become necessary if one of your child’s primary teeth is preventing the normal eruption of a permanent tooth, if their tooth has suffered extensive tooth decay or trauma that cannot be repaired or filled, if your child is suffering from gum disease or if the tooth is impacted.

A tongue-tie or lip-tie is a thick, short or otherwise malformed oral tissue that can affect a child’s ability to breastfeed, speak, and eat solid foods. This malformed tissue can lead to a restricted range of motion for the tongue and make simple functions much more challenging. In infants, these ties can make breastfeeding very difficult which can result in poor weight gain and frequent or prolonged nursing sessions. In children, these ties can lead to problems speaking and eating, as well as dental and orthodontic issues. Our pediatric dentists have the training and skills to diagnose this problem and offer a simple, effective and painless solution.

Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. Ranging from numbing agents to general anesthesia that helps your child sleep during dental procedures, sometimes sedation is necessary to keep your loved one comfortable during their treatment. Sedation is most commonly used during extensive procedures for patients with dental phobia or children who find it difficult to be calm and sit still. Children with dental phobia, low pain tolerance, major dental treatment, physical disabilities or strong gag reflexes may require sedation.

Having your child maintain proper dental hygiene through regular brushing and flossing is always the best way to prevent cavities and keep your child’s smile bright and healthy. Sometimes brushing is not enough to keep the hard-to-reach spots of their teeth clean. However, dentists today have a way to help your child keep their teeth clean, particularly the molars in the back of their teeth that can be particularly tricky to keep clean and clear of bacteria and debris.

Sealants are a protective coating made from specialized plastic resin materials that adhere to the bumpy chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth. The material latches on to the small cracks and grooves in your little one’s teeth that, when left alone, can cause tooth decay. These sealants do not replace proper dental hygiene, but they can help prevent cavities and reduce the risk of decay in the sealed teeth by nearly 80%.