Dentistry is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions, disorders, and diseases of the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw. Often considered necessary for complete oral health, dentistry can have an impact on the health of your entire body. Our pediatric specialists and staff love children and are specially trained to put them at ease. We teach your children the proper way to take care of their teeth and just as important, they learn that going to the dentist can be fun.
In the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a child’s medical needs, our pediatric dental specialists are uniquely qualified to protect your child’s oral health using the most advanced techniques, and all in our delightfully friendly, open treatment area.
Pediatric dentists have an additional two to three years of training at university pediatric facilities in addition to four years of dental school and four years of college study. Some pediatric dentists (including all of ours) practice general dentistry before specializing, giving them a unique perspective. They learn how to deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable, and how to make the experience pleasant. They also are trained and qualified to treat special needs patients.
- Helps prevent tooth decay
- Protects against periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth and bone loss
- Prevents bad breath – brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist regularly will help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath
- Gives you a more attractive smile and increases your self-confidence
- Helps keep teeth looking bright by preventing them from becoming stained by food, drinks, and tobacco
- Strengthens your teeth so that you can enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles for the rest of your life
- Professional teeth whitening
- Fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth
- Tooth replacement and full smile makeovers
- Is the appointment schedule convenient?
- Is the office easy to get to and close by?
- Does the office appear to be clean and orderly?
- Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?
- Does the dentist explain techniques for good oral health?
- Is information about cost presented to you before treatment is scheduled?
- Is your dentist a member of the ADA (American Dental Association)?
- ALWAYS remember to brush your teeth at least two times a day, and floss at least once!
- Make sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride, and ask your dentist if you need a fluoride rinse. This will help prevent cavities.
- Avoid foods with a lot of sugar (sugar increases the amount of bacteria that grows in your mouth causing more plaque and possibly cavities) and avoid tobacco (this can stain your teeth, cause gum disease, and eventually lead to oral cancer).
- Don’t be afraid to brush your tongue! By brushing your tongue, you will remove food particles and reduce the amount of plaque-causing bacteria. Tongue brushing also helps keep your breath fresh.
- Be sure to schedule your routine checkup. It is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months.
- Red, irritated, bleeding, or swollen gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Loose teeth, or loss of teeth
- Extreme tooth sensitivity
- Receding gum line
- Abscessed teeth
Bruxism is the grinding of teeth. It can be caused by stress, anxiety and sleep disorders as well as an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked. Symptoms include:
- a) Dull headaches
- b) Jaw soreness
- c) Teeth that are painful or loose
- d) Fractured teeth
“Sleep” Bruxism is the grinding of teeth while you are sleeping. The cause is unclear; but the American Dental Association studies indicate that a number of factors play a role in sleep bruxism, including but not limited to, genes, anxiety, sleep patterns, anatomy and use of some types of drugs. For a child, the stress or anxiety may be based on an event in a child’s life, i.e., parental separation or divorce, changing schools, moving away from friends, etc., all of which create an environment that can cause anxiety and stress. There is also the medical-based cause relating to pressure in the inner ear at night-time.
Parents may first be made aware of a child grinding his teeth by the noise it creates or they may notice the teeth wearing down. The latter can be addressed with a simple mouth guard fitted by the dentist and worn at night-time/nap-time. The good news is that most children outgrow bruxism. It normally occurs between ages 6-9 and is gone by ages 9-12.