Pediatric Dentistry
Why Choose A Pediatric Dentist?
A child has a different dentition than that of an adult. He/She might have certain behavioral and dental needs that are unique to children. In our practice we have a pediatric dentist that has two-three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only.
Besides treating current dental concerns, we like to also emphasize on prevention through discussing parent-child oral health education. It’s important to our practice that you and your child do not come to us to have their “cavities taken care of” but rather to prevent the cavity.
Sealants
The chewing surfaces of a child’s teeth consist of small grooves; making them the most prone to forming cavities and least benefited by fluorides. Sealants are a plastic material (can be clear or shaded) that are applied to these grooves on the back teeth. They act as barrier to plaque, food, and acid.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatment
When a child is not a candidate for restorative work yet, SDF treatment is a liquid treatment that is placed on tooth decay as a way to prevent it from growing larger. The fluoride in SDF boosts tooth strength by remineralizing the tooth enamel, while the silver kills the bacteria responsible for wearing down the tooth structure.
Pulp Therapy
Pulp therapy is necessary when the tooth’s decay has spread to the nerve, most of the time causing the patient a lot of discomfort. The procedure consists of treating the nerve of the tooth to avoid extracting the tooth.
Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over an entire tooth. They are commonly used as a way of preserving baby teeth that have become significantly decayed or damaged. They are also a measure to take to prevent the primary tooth from further decaying.
Extractions of Primary Teeth
Extractions are performed only as a last alternative solution to treating existing decay. Although the primary teeth will eventually be lost to make room for permanent teeth, it is important that they are not lost prematurely. If a primary molar is extracted prematurely, a space maintainer will be required to preserve the space; to avoid a variety of complications that can ultimately affect the permanent teeth.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas,” is the mildest form of sedation that we use during dental procedures. It does not significantly take away sensation for your child, it simply reduces pain and helps to ease feelings of fear and anxiety about the procedure and about having to sit in the dentist’s chair for a longer period of time than usual.
Sedation
In the event that a child has special needs or a lot of anxiety, our office offers I.V. sedation in order assure your child has a comfortable and pain free experience while the dentist accomplishes the extensive dental treatment necessary. We partner with an anesthesiologist who specializes in the field to safely administer the sedation.
