Twin studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the average U.S. adolescent of the 1970s had six or seven cavities; his 1990s counterpart, just three. Today’s teenagers are twice as likely to return from the dentist and report, “Look, Ma, no cavities!”—to quote a famous toothpaste commercial of yesteryear.
Dr. Jim Steiner, director of pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, attributes the improvement in young people’s dental health primarily to increased access to fluoridation. “Fluoride reduces tooth decay as well as slows down the decaying process,” he explains. “More than 95 percent of all toothpaste now have fluoride in them, and about 65 percent of our population drinks fluoridated water.”
A related advance is the use of dental sealants, clear or white thin plastic coatings that can be painted onto permanent teeth. As Dr. Steiner explains, “Fluoride protects the areas between the teeth. But it can’t always reach the chewing surfaces of the back molars.” Sealants fill the tiny pits and grooves of those teeth, the site of most cavities. Second molars typically arrive around age twelve. One sealant application costs roughly half the price of a filling.
Teens who do develop cavities have less reason to dread the dentist’s chair than you might have when you were their age. New dental instruments such as the laser and the air abrasion unit make getting fillings virtually painless. Laser therapy doesn’t require anesthesia. Nor do many treatments with the air abrasion handpiece, which resembles a tiny sandblaster. However, the devices can’t be used in all situations, so don’t expect to see the high-speed drill become obsolete anytime soon.
Another advance of interest to young patients is cosmetic. Besides the traditional silver-colored metal alloy used to fill cavities, a composite material can be used so that the color can be tinted to match the teeth.
Crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites are best corrected with braces during puberty, while the facial bones are still growing. These are usually inherited traits, although some orthodontic problems stem from injuries, years of thumb-sucking or losing one’s baby teeth earlier or later than normal.
If you were a “metal mouth” as a teenager, you’ll immediately notice that modern dental appliances are less conspicuous than the braces you wore. “Years ago,” says Dr. Jim Steiner, director of pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, “the silver bands that hold the wires had to be placed around all the teeth. That’s no longer done. Nowadays we might band only the first and second molars, and bond brackets directly to the rest of the teeth.” The brackets can be colored to match the teeth. They also come in a clear material, as well as metal. Some patients may be candidates for “invisible braces,” which are worn on the inside of the teeth.
On average, youngsters can expect to wear the appliances for about two years. During that time, they return to the orthodontist on a monthly basis. The doctor will usually tighten the wires at these appointments, in order to increase the tension on the teeth. Any discomfort or soreness afterward can usually be alleviated with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
When braces alone aren’t sufficient to straighten the teeth, a child may have to wear a night brace to bed, to apply pressure externally. Two prongs on the headgear are inserted into a pair of cylinder-shaped metal receptacles constructed on the outer surface of the back molars. Then an elastic band wraps around the back of the head to keep the apparatus in place. Understandably, teens usually aren’t too happy about having to put on the night brace, but parents can reassure them that this is a temporary measure.
After the orthodontist removes the braces, the young person is given a removable retainer to wear for the next six to twelve months in order to maintain the alignment of the teeth. The simple device consists of a metal wire attached to a plastic plate that has been confirmed to fit against the roof of the mouth..
source:
healthychildren.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.
Children and adults with special health care needs (SHCN) need oral treatment like everyone else, but they benefit the most from seeing a dentist who specifically caters to these patients. Special needs dentistry is a branch of dentistry for which doctors have undergone additional training, and so has their own assistants and office staff. When looking for a dentist, parents of SHCN patients should find a practitioner who understands the wide range of issues these patients face and can accommodate those needs.
Dental Care for Children with SHCN
Children with SHCN require routine dental care but often need additional attention as well. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) defines pediatric special needs dentistry as the practices that treat children with a physical, emotional, developmental, cognitive, sensory or mental impairment, as well as those affected by an orofacial disorder or condition. Treatment for kids with SHCN includes examinations, fillings, and cleanings along with regular care, but these dentists embrace a unique understanding of the effects of a child’s condition to provide effective treatment. Children affected by an orofacial disorder require this medically specialized dental care.
A Special Needs Dentist Appointment
An appointment with a special needs dentist is generally different from a visit with a regular dentist. The special needs dentist is aware of and tailors his or her approach to the patient’s additional needs. According to Evelyn Chung, DDS, Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California Dental School Section of Hospital Dentistry, patients with SHCN usually require a slower approach than usual, and their appointments should be set when the clinic isn’t as busy. O. Lee Wilson, DMD, and Chair of Dentistry at The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine finds the best method for treating sensitive patients with SHCN is to provide them with general anesthesia in an operating room.
Locating a Special Needs Dentist
Many dentists have the compassion and understanding required to treat children with SHCN, but only some specialize in these patients, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Luckily, these dentists can be found through most usual channels, such as advertising in local media. The Special Care Dentistry Association even maintains a searchable database of registered members. You can also contact your local university or dentistry college; many of them run clinics that treat children and adults with SHCN.
What to Look For
Certain factors can inform parents’ decisions when it comes to choosing a special needs dentist for their child. The well-trained office staff at a practice that treats children with SHCN can discern the nature of the condition, and take note of whether he is under regular treatment from a medical practitioner. The AAPD says the receptionist may arrange a slightly longer appointment and the presence of auxiliary staff under the guidance of the dentist.
Above all, a good special needs dentistry practice will contain specialized equipment, such as an operating theater, and a dentist who takes a detailed history that shapes his or her treatment delivery around the patient’s unique needs. Advice on day-to-day oral health care for the child should factor in these needs, as well. For example, using a battery-powered toothbrush provides the bristle movements that challenged children to need to take care of their teeth. It’s important that parents feel comfortable with the dentist and confident their child’s needs are being met.
Raising someone with SHCN can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Finding the right dentist is only one item on a long list of considerations you’ll have.
source:
colgate.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.
Baby teeth aren’t permanent, but did you know that it’s possible to lose a baby tooth too soon? Here’s everything parents need to know about losing a baby tooth too soon.
If your child loses a tooth before the age of 4, then you need to schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist. Usually, natural tooth loss begins around age 6 and concludes around age 12.
If a baby tooth is lost too early, it can cause serious crowding problems for the developing adult teeth, as well as negatively impact the jaw’s muscle and bone development. This can lead to necessary orthodontic treatment later in life to correct a bite and alignment issues.
The most common causes of premature tooth loss are traumatic facial injuries and tooth decay. It’s impossible to prevent accidents from happening, but you can prevent tooth decay by ensuring your child follows a healthy brushing and flossing regiment and enjoys mouth healthy foods and plenty of water.
Baby teeth usually begin to fall out around age 6, and the process usually lasts 6 years until ages 11-12. Baby teeth will naturally become looser, and fall out on their own to make room for adult teeth erupting beneath them. Usually, teeth fall out in the order that they first arrived, but that’s not always the case.
Fortunately, there are plenty of options for those that lose teeth too soon! Spacers and space maintainers are placed in the gap of the lost tooth to help prepare for the arrival of the incoming adult tooth. Spacers come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and can make an un-fun situation more enjoyable for your child.
If you think that your child has lost a tooth too soon, then call our office to schedule an evaluation. We’ll provide your child with the necessary treatment that best prepares their mouth for a healthy, adult smile.
source:
childrensdentalspecialties.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Even if you had cavities when you were young, your child doesn’t have to develop them. Find out how to protect kids’ teeth from tooth decay. Practices like using fluoride to strengthen teeth and eating a balanced diet can set your child up for a healthy smile for life.
What Causes Cavities?
When plaque has the chance to build upon the surface of teeth, the germs in plaque mix with sugars and carbohydrates in the mouth. This dangerous cocktail of bacteria and sugars forms acids that can attack the outer surface of teeth. When this process, known as demineralization, goes unchecked, cavities form. Using fluoride can strengthen the outer enamel of teeth and help to prevent cavities. Brushing and regular dental visits can help to fight plaque. Eating a healthy diet can help to nourish young teeth and gums.
Fluoride and Kids’ Teeth
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as kids are old enough to spit, getting fluoride treatments at the dentist’s office and getting a small amount of this mineral through water and some foods can set your child up for cavity protection. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with toothpaste. Little ones can look forward to brushing with a fun, fruit-flavored toothpaste like Colgate Dora the Explorer. Older kids may enjoy a toothpaste with cavity protection like Colgate Fresh ‘N Protect. Talk to your dentist about how much fluoride your child is exposed to. He or she may tell you to use fluoride water or supplements in addition to using a fluoride toothpaste.
Oral Care Essentials for Kids
To fight childhood cavities, use fluoride as part of a healthy oral care routine. When kids are still young, they need help brushing their teeth. For those independent spirits, let them brush first and then you can brush a second time. Floss your child’s teeth for her to remove plaque from the gum line and between teeth. Children should start seeing a dentist two times a year around the age of one.
Healthy Eating Habits
Another way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities is to make a healthy diet a part of your family’s lifestyle. Cut back on sugary snacks and starchy foods. Crunchy foods like apples, carrots, almonds, and celery make wonderful snacks for developing teeth. Serve whole grains and plenty of low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. Encourage brushing after meals. With good oral hygiene and healthy habits, you can ensure that your kids will be less likely to have to deal with cavities.
source:
colgate.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.