We offer services that deal directly with your infant’s new teeth! This includes issues related to teething, infant tooth eruption, bottle decay, and more. We will also help you learn ways to help manage the growth and health of your child’s new teeth, including dietary and hygiene techniques specially considered for your little one! Just as pediatricians specialize in health care for children, pediatric dentistry refers to children’s dental care. Sometimes called pedodontics, pediatric dentistry starts even before a child’s first teeth appear. Your child’s dentist can assess oral health and ensure that new teeth grow normally. Early dental visits also teach children about proper oral hygiene from a young age and foster good dental habits. Kids who learn early that dental visits are neither painful nor unpleasant generally grow into adults who feel comfortable with regular dental upkeep. Dentists who specialize in pediatric care undergo additional training for two years to become familiar with the teeth of toddlers, young children, and teens
Children’s teeth are markedly different from the set of teeth they will have as adults. The smaller, softer deciduous teeth, also called milk teeth or baby teeth, that erupt in the first few years of a child’s life have thread-like roots. These delicate roots facilitate their eventual loss when permanent teeth grow to replace them. However, shallow roots also make early tooth loss a concern. While a tooth that will soon be lost may not need replacement, a tooth lost to a sports injury or fall may need a crown or bridgework to maintain proper tooth spacing and bite health. Baby teeth can also get cavities, and like cavities in adult teeth, they can be painful. Cavities in baby teeth are frequently associated with corresponding decay in permanent teeth, so it is still important to keep a child’s mouth free of decay and to fill any cavities even if those teeth will eventually disappear. Children who visit the dentist at early ages are likelier to develop good brushing habits that can forestall future cavities. Pediatric dentists also deal with issues unique to children’s teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is fairly common and should be addressed early. Thumb-sucking and pacifiers can affect a child’s bite. Your child’s dentist can monitor growing teeth and ensure that permanent teeth are growing well. If necessary, the dentist can also recommend an orthodontist who can correct crooked or gapped teeth soon after the permanent teeth appear. Brushing and flossing instructions, fluoride treatments, and baby tooth removal are other tasks a pediatric dentist might do.
Children have smaller jaws and fewer teeth than they will have as adults. When they are young, kids have a maximum of 20 teeth. Tooth growth begins at the front with incisors, the flat teeth that comprise the most visible part of the smile and continues toward the round molars toward the back of the jaw. The first permanent molars erupt behind the baby molars without displacing them at around 6 years old. Another full set of four molars comes in six years later, and at 18, the wisdom teeth erupt for the full adult complement of 32 teeth. Although most babies are born without teeth, some have one or more teeth already peeking from their gums at birth. Children get their teeth at widely varying times, but the following list is an approximate indication of when a child’s baby teeth generally appear. Central front teeth at 6 to 12 months Lateral front teeth at 9 to 13 months Canine teeth at 16 months to 2 years First and second molars at 1 to 3 years
Most pediatric dentists recommend bringing a child in for an initial visit before one year of age. Even children without teeth should have their oral health assessed. Babies are prone to conditions such as thrush and may develop gum infections before teeth erupt. Like adults, children should see the dentist every six months. The schedule is especially important to maintain for kids whose teeth are in a state of flux as baby teeth disappear and adult teeth erupt. Regular visits also allow your dentist to assess how well the permanent teeth are growing in and recommend steps for a healthier bite. Take your child to the dentist sooner in the event of an injury or tooth pain. Although their roots are smaller, baby teeth still have nerves and can be quite painful or sensitive if damaged. A dentist can also encourage a stubborn milk tooth to leave the gums and make room for a new permanent tooth. The Importance of Pediatric Dentistry Despite the temporary nature of your child’s teeth, pediatric dentistry is as important as dental visits for adults. Keeping milk teeth healthy and intact for as long as possible serves a variety of purposes: Saving space for permanent teeth Facilitating normal speech development Contributing to proper nutrition Giving permanent teeth a healthier start
Preventive dental care is important throughout life, especially at a young age. By installing good oral hygiene habits at home and scheduling regular checkups with the dentist, your child can help keep their smile bright and healthy for many years to come.
Preventive dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy. This helps to avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more.
There are many forms of preventive dentistry, such as daily brushing and dental cleanings. To maintain optimal oral health, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visits to the dentist at regular intervals determined by a dentist. These practices are designed to ensure that teeth are clean, strong, and white. Children should be taught proper oral hygiene at an early age.
Keep reading to learn more about the steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy.
Brush Your Teeth Daily
The most important part of preventive dentistry is to brush your teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Most people should replace their toothbrushes three to four times per year or as the bristles start to fray.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue. This will help remove bacteria from your mouth and also help freshen your breath.
Floss Daily
Daily flossing is also recommended. Flossing helps to clean out the tight spaces between the teeth. If you have braces, you may need to use floss threaders to get between the metal brackets.
To get the most benefit out of flossing, you’ll want to make sure you’re flossing in the correct way. At your next dental appointment, ask your dentist for a quick flossing demonstration to make sure you’re getting the full benefit from using this tool.
Is It Worse to Skip Brushing Your Teeth or Flossing?
Visit Your Dentist
You should see your dentist at least once per year for an exam to check for any problems in the teeth or gums. If you’re at a high risk for dental problems, you’ll likely benefit from more frequent dental visits. If you’re at a low risk for dental problems, you may see the same benefits from only one cleaning per year. Dental cleanings and exams allow dentists to identify problems and take care of them right away.
If you have dental insurance, find out what’s covered. Many insurance plans cover two preventive dental visits per year.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet also helps to protect your teeth by providing them with the nutrients they need. Limit your sugar intake, including simple carbohydrates like white bread, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Vitamins are important for oral health. Eating a varied diet will help you to get all of the vitamins you need to maintain a healthy smile.
Preventive dentistry prevents people from developing dental problems later on. If you use proper dental care, you can avoid or lessen the effects of these:
cavities
gingivitis
enamel loss
periodontitis
Everyone benefits from preventive dentistry. Children, in particular, benefit because it allows their newly developing adult teeth to come in strong and healthy. Dental sealants and topical fluoride treatments help prevent decay in your children’s teeth. If you’re an aging adult, you can benefit from preventive dentistry because it helps you to keep your real teeth.
Oral health is connected to the health of your body as a whole. This is because the mouth is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Maintaining a clean mouth benefits your overall health.
With good dental hygiene, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental problems. This, in turn, can reduce your risk of secondary problems caused by poor oral health. Some health problems that may be linked to poor oral health are:
Premature birth and low birth weight may also be linked to poor oral health. You should continue to practice or adopt good preventive oral health if you’re pregnant. This includes visiting your dentist for routine checkups during your pregnancy.
In addition to reducing your risk for other health issues, practicing good preventive health can save you money. Even with dental insurance, the costs associated with poor oral hygiene can add up. While preventive dentistry may not completely eliminate your need for fillings, root canals, or dental implants, it can go a long way in reducing your need for these costly treatments.
At our office we use the most advanced techniques and materials to ensure your child is getting the quality of care they deserve. We provide cleanings, sealants, fillings, crowns and extractions. Our goal is to ensure all your child’s needs are addressed.
A dental crown is a cap, made from porcelain or metal, that your dentist places over a tooth in order to protect that tooth or improve its appearance. Your dentist may recommend a crown if you have had a root canal procedure performed, if your tooth has been weakened by a large cavity, or if your tooth has a serious chip or discoloration that detracts from its appearance. If you’ve experience any of these dental issues, use a dentist near me search to locate the nearest Bright Now! Dental office for ways your dentist can help provide you with a dental crown. As long as you care for it properly, a dental crown can last 5 to 15 years, and often longer. The process of having a crown applied is simple and painless, and it usually takes place across two appointments.
Dental implants are the preferred choice for replacing missing or lost teeth. A simple dental implant consists of a metal screw that is inserted into the jaw bone, along with a visible crown portion of the tooth that attaches to the screw. Specialized implants can also support a denture or partial denture, providing a more stable alternative to conventional dentures.
Dental implants help prevent many of the problems that can occur when a missing tooth is left unaddressed. Once you have healed from dental implant surgery, your implanted tooth will look just like a natural tooth, and you can care for it just as you would a natural tooth with daily brushing and flossing.
Did you know that oral cavity and pharynx cancer accounted for 2.9% of all new cancer cases in America in 2017 alone? That was 49,670 people. Furthermore, around 1.1% of men and women are predicted to have oral cavity and pharynx cancer. Oral hygiene is, therefore, a critical part of overall health and wellness and as such calls for the same care as other medical concerns.
To maintain an excellent level of oral health, it is incumbent upon you to continually focus on these essential items:
Daily brushing: It is recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day. When you clean in the morning, you remove the bacteria that forms overnight while you sleep. Night brushing just before you sleep is essential because at this time saliva production and flow is low. As the primary cleaning agent in the mouth, a reduction in saliva levels leaves your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Cleaning your teeth helps bolster hygiene and protects against potential decay.
Best brushing technique: Brushing your teeth using the proper technique is also important. Dentists recommend brushing in circular motions for two to three minutes. It goes without saying that you should only use toothpaste that contains fluoride when brushing your teeth.
Fluoride content: Different age groups require different levels of fluoride in their toothpaste. For young ones, age three years and below, use toothpaste whose fluoride levels are 1,000 parts per million (ppm). For anyone older than three years, the recommended fluoride level in toothpaste they use should be between 1,300 to 1,500 parts per million.
Brush type: Ensure you use brushes with firm but not hard bristles for best results. Replace your toothbrush after every three months.
Best time to brush: When you brush your teeth is just as crucial a factor in how well you maintain your oral hygiene. Anytime you have a meal your mouth takes approximately forty minutes to neutralize any present acids completely. During this period your enamel is weaker. If you brush before the complete neutralization of acids in the mouth, you risk brushing away part of this weak enamel. Dentists recommend a waiting period of one hour after a meal before brushing your teeth.
Appropriate flossing: Flossing your teeth regularly is another important aspect of home dental hygiene. Pass the floss through your teeth moving from side to side. Doing this will help you eliminate food particles that get caught between the teeth where a brush can’t reach. If left unchecked, such food particles cause tooth decay over time.
Visiting Your Dentist Regularly: It is imperative to see your dentist every six months for an oral examination. Consistent check-ups will identify and help address more complex dental problems that brushing and flossing alone cannot. Daily brushing and flossing can’t help you monitor the collection at the subgingival area for example.
Sometimes a child may be too anxious or fearful for treatment to be completed and intervention may be needed to ensure safe and effective completion of the dental work. At Growing Smiles we offer a range of sedation services such as conscious sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia in a hospital setting. The goal for our doctors is to complete your child’s treatment in the least invasive and the safest way possible.
what is sleep dentistry?
In short, sleep dentistry is the use of sedation through an IV drip into the patient’s bloodstream to help ease their fears and anxieties of being at the dentist and having work done on them.What is sedation dentistry?Sedation dentistry is another term used for sleep dentistry where medication is used on patient’s that relax them during dental proceduresHow safe is sedation dentistry?Dental sedation is safe when given by experienced dentists. However, to assure your safety you should talk to your primary care provider before getting sedation to make sure there are no other medical conditions that could interfere with the medication.Are you asleep during sleep dentistry?No, you’re not asleep during sleep or sedative dentistry, but it will feel like you are or were after the fact. You will feel sleepy, groggy, and pretty much out of it, as if you’re exhausted and drifting off to sleep.How are patients sedated during sleep dentistry?Your dentist will either have you inhale what they call “laughing gas”, or they will give you an IV drip that goes directly into your bloodstream to sedate you. Both of these methods are safe, effective, and administered by a professional.Which method is more effective?For those who want the least memorable appointment as possible for whatever reason, the IV drip method is the way to go. It has a higher chance of eliminating the possibility for patients feeling any anxiety or pain, and, more often than not, leaves them in a state of minor amnesia after they are fully conscious and aware again.Is sleep dentistry safe for children?Not only is sleep dentistry safe for children to undergo, it’s actually highly recommended for treatments and procedures that are usually very complicated for children to undergo.For example, if a child needs to have a tooth pulled, but they don’t want to by any means necessary and have a fear of the dentist that causes the dentist to struggle with the procedure, sleep dentistry can help relax the child and allow the dentist to do what needs to be done.Sleep dentistry is a beneficial option for all ages, anxiety levels, you name it.Are there any side effects of sleep dentistry?Typically there are two side effects that occur after sleep dentistry. The first is that some people tend to get the hiccups for a couple of minutes while it has a chance to fully wear off. Second, a lot of people will experience dry mouth.However, these side effects occur while the sedative is wearing off, so if you do experience either, or both, of these side effects you probably won’t even remember them