Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your teeth from tooth decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
Sealants are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits’ (small hollows) and ‘fissures’ (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Your dental team will tell you which teeth should be sealed after they have examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally have deep grooves which will need to be sealed; others have shallow ones which will not need sealing.
Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.
In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child’s baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it’s important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.
Applying sealant at Growing Smiles in Richardson and Anna is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. The application steps are as follows:
Sealants at Growing Smiles in Richardson and Anna can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can replace sealants as necessary.
The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier by covering all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves if they are not sealed.
Sealants are often applied as soon as the first permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.
Yes. It is still very important to do this. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal brushing. Using a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, will help to protect your teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of fillings you might need.
Since children may not always brush their teeth properly, they may be more likely to get cavities. For this reason, dental sealants are often recommended for children. Generally, sealants are applied to a child’s adult molars as soon as they come in around age six. In some cases, dentists may even recommend sealants for baby teeth if the child is prone to decay.
But adults may be candidates for dental sealants too. Some people are more cavity-prone than others, so sealants may be an option worth considering. No matter what the age, it is good to know the pros and cons of sealants.
Especially when considering a procedure for children, safety is always a concern. When talking about the pros and cons of sealants, the subject of BPA is sometimes raised. BPA is a synthetic compound found in many plastics. Studies have shown that exposure to large amounts can be harmful.
Since sealants are made of plastic and may contain trace amounts of BPA, they are sometimes thought to be unsafe. But the amounts of BPA in sealants are tiny. Research by The American Dental Association shows that the amounts are well below anything that could be harmful. In fact, people are exposed to more BPA in their day-to-day lives than they are through sealants.
You can discuss your concerns with your dentist There are some BPA-free sealants on the market that may be an option.
Cost is another important issue when deciding on the pros and cons of sealants. Some dental insurance plans cover them for children. Even if you are paying out of pocket, getting dental sealants is usually less expensive than getting a filling. And if you have multiple cavities over time, those costs can add up. You may decide that a one-time application of a sealant is more cost-effective alternative.
Before deciding if they are right for you or your child, you will want to weigh these pros and cons.
If someone is at low risk of tooth decay, they may not have a need for sealants. This would include people with good diets and exceptional oral hygiene. And some people have relatively smooth teeth, with shallow grooves. Food particles are easily brushed away and they’re not prone to cavities.
For many, though, the minimal cost and discomfort is an effective alternative to the possibility of cavities down the road.
Resources:
dentalhealthsociety.com
webmd.com
dentalhealth.org
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. Growing Smiles is a pediatric dentist in Anna, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Murphy we have Pediatric Services in Texas: Early Childhood Care, Preventive Care, General Treatments, Sedation Dentistry, Special Needs Dentistry, Emergency Service and Orthodontic (Braces & Invisalign) For more information call us to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Childhood is a time filled with adventure, exploration and growth. However, these years of discovery are also home to the occasional dental problems — a climb on the jungle gym could end in a broken tooth, or a missed spot of plaque could result in a cavity.
Many of a kid’s dental problems are the same ones that affect adults, but your child’s teeth are still developing, and they’re softer and younger than their permanent successors. Untreated dental conditions can cause poor and misaligned tooth development, leading to more serious problems as a child grows up.
Understanding common pediatric dental problems and why they happen will help you and your child know how to prevent them. Here are the 10 most common dental problems for kids, along with how to prevent them from developing.
Most young children aren’t proficient at brushing and flossing without supervision. Coupled with the fact that some kids might have a sugar-heavy diet, cavities can become a major issue. The acid in the plaque essentially eats away at the enamel, eventually wearing away at the tooth.
Parents should supervise and help children brush their teeth until they can firmly grasp and control a toothbrush on their own. Making sure your kids are removing plaque, bacteria, and food particles from their teeth every day will help prevent early tooth decay. If a cavity does develop, the typical treatment is a tooth filling, which involves drilling away the decay and filling the hole with a hard composite material.
Sensitive teeth are a dental problem can be uncomfortable and distracting, often disrupting your child’s focus and routine. Some of the different things that can cause your child’s teeth to feel sensitive include:
In the case of sensitive teeth, there’s a variety of treatments that can help reduce the pain and discomfort that your child is experiencing. If the sensitivity is caused by a dental-related problem, such as a cavity, you should see your dentist right away to prevent the issue from becoming worse.
It is a dental problem that can happen at virtually any time. Kids playing sports, roughhousing with siblings, or falling while riding a bike are all scenarios in which a dental-related accident can happen. These accidents can result in teeth chipping, breaking, or cracking. In more severe circumstances, a permanent tooth may be knocked out completely.
If your child’s permanent tooth does fall out, immediately call the dentist for an emergency appointment and retrieve the tooth. Place the tooth in a glass of milk, saline solution, or clean water. The dentist may be able to place the permanent tooth back into the socket, allowing it to reattach with the help of a retainer.
You may have thought that gum diseases are dental problems only seen in adults. Unfortunately for parents, this is not the case. Gingivitis and gum disease can occur in children and are actually quite common in pediatric dental patients. Gingivitis is the precursor to gum disease, and it’s often marked by red, swollen gums, and slight bleeding when your child brushes or flosses.
Gum disease is more aggressive in children with poor oral hygiene. It often involves pain in the mouth, gum recession, and areas of swelling. In most cases, gingivitis and gum disease could have been avoided if more care was taken to brush and floss daily. In other instances, your child’s teeth may grow in so crooked and crowded that they cannot properly clean their teeth, resulting in areas of gingivitis or gum disease.
Children rarely have perfectly straight teeth without any intervention. Luckily, there are many orthodontic treatments available to help your child or teen smile with confidence. Orthodontic problems are often a result of genetics, with the size and shape of the jaw playing a role in how your child’s teeth grow and come together. Some common misalignment issues seen in children include an overbite, underbite, open bite, and spacing problems.
It’s a good idea to have your child in for their first orthodontic appointment around the age of seven or eight. Orthodontic problems can mean more than just a crooked smile. Significant overcrowding and misalignments of your child’s teeth can result in jaw problems, cracked teeth, and oral hygiene issues.
Many infants, toddlers, and small children resort to thumb-sucking and pacifier use as a means to soothe anxiety. It doesn’t really become a dental problem until the child is older and still continues with this habit as prolonged thumb sucking can cause issues with the way a child’s teeth develop. Because of this, parents should not allow the habit to continue past the toddler stage.
Most often, chronic thumb sucking and pacifier use can cause what is known as an open bite. An open bite is when the upper front teeth don’t come together with the lower front teeth, leaving a gap even when the mouth is closed. This can make it difficult for your child to bite and chew, and can even affect their speech.
Let’s face it, many adults are nervous when it comes to visiting the dentist. So it’s no surprise that kids and teens are often fearful of the experience as well. Dental anxiety can make it challenging to get your child in for their routine dental checkups and teeth cleanings. It can also stay with them into adulthood, affecting their dental health in significant ways.
The best way to combat dental anxiety in children is to make the experience relaxed, fun, and enjoyable. Choose a pediatric dentist that has experience working with anxious kids and has a process in place to help them. In addition, teaching your children the importance of dental care and making it a part of their routine can help in reinforcing the notion that they shouldn’t be scared.
This involuntary habit is seen in most babies and toddlers. Children may clench or grind their teeth due to some discomfort in their jaws when their primary teeth start to emerge. However, children stop doing this after their teeth develop. But some children may continue grinding their teeth and risk the chances of eroding their tooth enamels. This can result in tooth decay or even sensitive tooth.
Also known as halitosis, bad breath can affect anyone, regardless of their age. However, chronic bad breath in children could indicate a deeper root issue than eating stinky foods.
bad breath could be an indicator
Halitosis is ultimately caused by bacteria that live in the mouth. These bacteria colonies feed on leftover food, fluid and plaque — as they eat, they produce hydrogen sulfide, which leads to a bad smell in the mouth. As with adults, bad breath is most common in children in the morning, after they wake up. During the night, bacteria multiply in the mouth, leading to a case of “morning breath.” However, if your child’s bad breath persists throughout the day, it probably indicates a larger issue.
Gum problems, poor oral hygiene and dry mouth are the most common culprits behind halitosis, but other issues such as chronic sinusitis, diabetes, tooth decay and digestive problems can also lead to bad breath. Sometimes, the way medication breaks down in the body could produce abnormal-smelling breath.
Proper dental hygiene is the best way to treat and prevent bad breath. An antibacterial mouthwash may help reduce any smells, and brushing the tongue could help fight bacteria in the mouth.
For many children, the first loose tooth is an exciting sign — the tooth fairy may make a visit soon, and their small “baby tooth” will soon be replaced by a “grown-up” one. Tooth loss is a natural stage of development. The first lost tooth is usually one of the middle front teeth, and it typically loosens around the age of six. Generally, molars aren’t lost until a child is between 10 and 12, and most children have their full set of 28 permanent teeth by the time they’re 13 years old.
For many children, losing their primary or “baby” teeth is painless. However, if it refuses to fall out or is causing the kid pain, it might be time to consult your dentist.
Most loose teeth are a result of the eruption of a permanent tooth underneath the primary one, but some are due to injury or trauma to the tooth before it’s ready to come out. Go to a certified dentist if your child’s tooth is loose before it should be — they’ll try everything they can to save the tooth so that the permanent teeth will develop properly.
Resources:
parenting.firstcry.com
absolutedental.com
dentalchoice.ca
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. Growing Smiles is a pediatric dentist in Anna, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Murphy we have Pediatric Services in Texas: Early Childhood Care, Preventive Care, General Treatments, Sedation Dentistry, Special Needs Dentistry, Emergency Service and Orthodontic (Braces & Invisalign) For more information call us to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
We all know that kids like to test gravity and sometimes suffer the consequences (ex, Tongue Laceration, Eyelid Laceration, and Concussions). One of the most common consequences of testing gravity (or general poor coordination) is dental trauma. This is true for adults and older children also, but what needs to be done when the trauma involves a young child’s primary dentition?
The most common injury to a tooth is a chip. Young children might chip a tooth when falling, playing at the park, or even when taking a bath at home. Chipped teeth are not usually a dental emergency, but you should make an appointment to have the tooth examined shortly after the accident.
Some chips are not serious. They may not even extend deep enough to harm the tooth. If your child is very young and the chip is shallow, your dentist might recommend waiting a year or two before filling the chip so your child will be able to sit still for the appointment.
However, some chips can break through the enamel of a baby tooth, exposing the soft dentin underneath. These chips will need to be filled immediately to prevent further decay. Don’t rely on your exam to determine whether or not a chip is serious. Some chips may look mild, but even a hairline crack in the dentin will expose the tooth to harmful bacteria.
When your child’s tooth is knocked hard enough to make it loose in the socket, there can be some cause for concern, but your child will generally recover quickly. Your child might:
These are normal symptoms of a loosened tooth because of trauma. The best solution is to encourage soft foods and to keep your child from playing with the loose tooth as it resettles and heals. However, you should still have the tooth examined by a dentist because sometimes a tooth can have deep nerve damage.
In rare cases, the permanent tooth might become damaged, especially if the baby tooth is forced upwards into the socket. An x-ray will help determine whether or not there is any damage.
With a lot of external force, your child may lose his or her tooth. Usually, if the tooth is primary or baby, your dentist might recommend just allowing the Tooth Fairy to come and collect the tooth. Replacing the tooth might affect the growth of the primary tooth, and it’s often not worth the risk. A spacer can help keep your child’s teeth from crowding.
A dental exam is still necessary to make sure that there are no underlying problems from the accident, but you won’t have to worry about chewing food or speech problems. It will only be a short while before the primary tooth comes to fill in the gap.
Each of the above situations can lead to more serious dental problems. Parents might become concerned to see a tooth turning grey or brown shortly after trauma. This is normal for damaged teeth.
Think of the discoloration as a bruise. Increased blood flow to broken vessels in the tooth leads to a grayish tinge. It sometimes fades, but many times, the tooth will stay slightly darker than its fellows. The lack of rich blood supply to the tooth will not fully resolve the color change. In a baby tooth, this is not a concern most of the time.
In months following the trauma, whether it was a chip or a loose tooth, be careful to watch the tooth for signs of trouble. Even if the color does not fully return, the tooth could be perfectly healthy, and it will remain that way with the right hygiene.
In rare cases, though, sometimes the pulp inside the tooth can die as a reaction to the trauma and reduced blood flow to the tooth. An abscess will form. These infections are painful and often result in tooth loss for young children. The only other alternative is a root canal, but the care and expense required are often too much for a baby tooth, considering the tooth will fall out to make way for adult teeth.
Signs of an abscess include a high fever, gum, and facial swelling, and great pain. Some children may not be able to communicate the pain they are feeling. For example, if a front tooth becomes abscessed, a child might complain of nasal pain, even though the infection is based on the root of the tooth.
Resources:
pedemmorsels.com
stanfordchildrens.org
treasuredsmilesdentistry.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. Growing Smiles is a pediatric dentist in Anna, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Murphy we have Pediatric Services in Texas: Early Childhood Care, Preventive Care, General Treatments, Sedation Dentistry, Special Needs Dentistry, Emergency Service and Orthodontic (Braces & Invisalign) For more information call us to answer all of your questions.
Sweeping away the “sugar bugs.” Playing “beat the timer.” Making funny faces. These are just some of the silly but effective ways my husband and I got our two daughters excited about taking care of their teeth. Our hard work has paid off: now, the girls are happy to brush twice a day and show off their pearly whites to the dentist.
For many parents, teaching kids good dental hygiene is a twice-daily battle. But as experts point out, it’s a fight worth having. Though it’s largely preventable, tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease among children aged 6-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to everything from speech delays to dental pain and infections to diabetes.
We at Growing Smiles in Anna tx know that oral health is closely linked to overall health, If we make sure children receive proper dental education and care early on, it will help them to be healthy throughout their lives.
Here are some ways to make brushing and flossing a fun — and regular — part of your child’s daily routine.
Many people do not understand that adult toothpaste is not the ideal option for young children simply because it is not appealing.
Additionally, consider recommending that parents buy a few different flavors of toothpaste, for example, strawberry, bubblegum, and watermelon. Children feel empowered when they have options and the ability to make their own decisions. Remind parents that spending a few extra dollars on a variety of children’s toothpaste is a minimal expense when compared to the alternative expense of fillings.
It’s never too early to make brushing and flossing a part of their morning and nightly routines. Dentists recommend starting dental care even before your child’s first tooth arrives. During infancy, wipe down their gums nightly with a soft, damp cloth. Switch to a toothbrush when their teeth come in (usually around 6 months of age), and floss once teeth start touching (typically around age 2 or 3). Schedule a visit to the dentist by the first birthday, regardless of how many teeth they have.
Encourage parents to purchase soft or extra-soft toothbrushes for their children. Many stores have a limited selection, so you could also suggest that they go online to find different options. Brushing can be painful for children because of their growing jaws, sensitive gums, and erupting teeth. Reducing the “ouch” factor of brushing by recommending soft toothbrushes will help kids feel more at ease about the brushing process.
Another easy adjustment that can be made is to lighten the lateral pressure that children and/or parents use when they are brushing. Even the softest bristles can feel like needles if they are pressed up against the gums too hard. Remember that plaque is a biofilm and it does not take much to remove it. Tell parents to let the bristles do the work. Keeping kids comfortable will help them be more cooperative.
When it comes to teaching good dental hygiene, practice what you preach. “A child emulates whatever a parent is doing,” explains the doctors at Growing Smiles in Anna tx “So if your child regularly sees you flossing, she’s more likely to floss.” For added fun, pretend to be a mirror the next time you and your kid brush together and encourage them to copy your every move.
Allowing children to choose which toothbrush they want is another excellent way to get kids more enthusiastic about brushing. Pediatric toothbrushes are intentionally designed to have thicker handles for easier grasping, smaller heads for more comfortable access, and they have bright colors and recognizable characters. This makes the toothbrush look more appealing. Help skeptical parents see that while these brushes are maybe a little more expensive, their appeal factor is worth the investment. Allowing little ones to choose between two or three options gives them a sense of ownership and will hopefully help them feel more enthusiastic and excited about brushing.
Whether you’re 6 or 66, dentists recommend brushing teeth twice a day, for two minutes at a time. That’s because studies show that the longer you brush, the more plaque you remove, says Conicella. Try one of these creative games to help them meet the two-minute mark:
Kids love games and, depending on their age, they are often enthusiastic about doing activities where they can bond with others—especially their parents. Unfortunately, children associate toothbrushing with bedtime. And we all know how most kids feel about bedtime.
Making it fun can be difficult. What works like a charm one day can be an epic fail the next day. But here are a few fun suggestions that may be helpful to parents.
It used to be a fight for Callie Rae McCarthy to get her 2- and 4-year-olds to brush. But when the Bloomfield, N.J., mom said animals were hiding in their teeth, the kids popped their mouths wide open. Now, the children choose which animal to go after each night, and it darts all over the teeth and tongue while Callie Rae or her husband chases it with a toothbrush. In the end, she hands the brush to each child and tells them to finish the chase. “They laugh and they giggle — isn’t that just what we want with everything?” she says.
Experts say using something relatable, like a story, is a great way to get reluctant brushers to participate. You can also try reading an age-appropriate book about taking care of your teeth or letting your child practice brushing their stuffed animal’s teeth.
After giving parents each of the four suggestions, make sure to encourage them. Parents and caregivers face many challenges and sometimes the battle of helping children brush their teeth feels too overwhelming to handle. Encourage them to keep their chin up and to keep trying because “tooth brushing habits which are learned during early years of life [are] deeply ingrained in the child’s mind and this may [lead] to the adoption of good oral hygiene methods in later life.”
Resources:
dentistryiq.com
aetna.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. Growing Smiles is a pediatric dentist in Anna, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Murphy we have Pediatric Services in Texas: Early Childhood Care, Preventive Care, General Treatments, Sedation Dentistry, Special Needs Dentistry, Emergency Service and Orthodontic (Braces & Invisalign) For more information call us to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.