Pediatric Dentistry
Good oral health doesn’t begin in the teenage years. It starts the moment the first tooth appears. At Dental Care 4 Kids , we strive to make oral health a habit for our patients from the earliest ages through adolescence and into their late teenage years. With a focus entirely on pediatric dentistry, we will help you help your child take good care of their teeth.
What Is Pediatric Dentistry?
Dental care is similar for children and adults, so why do we need pediatric dentistry? Pediatric dentistry focuses on treating common dental and oral health problems in children and adolescents while also providing a foundation for good oral healthcare for life. In pediatric dentistry, your child’s dentist will focus on preventative care so your child grows healthy teeth and learns good habits.
How Is Pediatric Dentistry Different Than General Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry is a specialty type of dentistry that focuses on the needs of younger patients. While general dentists may see many patients with gum disease, bone loss, and similar age-related conditions, these are rare in pediatric dentistry. Instead, our team at Dental Care 4 Kids focuses on cavity prevention, cleanings, the growth of adult teeth, and teaching children how to take care of their teeth for life. We screen for developmental issues that relate to the teeth and mouth, such as tongue ties, crowding, and impacted adult teeth.
Making Dentistry Fun
In addition to screening for concerns specific to children, pediatric dentists focus on making dental care fun. At our clinic, we’ve created a kid-friendly environment with toys, colorful decorations, tools to support sensory needs, and prizes for good cooperation. All of these help our young patients enjoy their visit to the dentist. We also understand and train our team to work with the natural fear of the dentist that some children face. If your child feels afraid, we will turn up the charm to help them feel comfortable and supported during their visit.
Common Pediatric Dentistry Services
In addition to providing kid-friendly dental care, pediatric dentists have specific types of services they are particularly skilled in offering.
These include:
Routine Exams
We recommend twice-a-year exams for your child starting at age one. At these exams, we will inspect your child’s teeth, clean any tartar or plaque buildup, and make sure that the adult teeth are developing as they should. We make these appointments fun and engaging so your kid will be empowered to make better choices about their oral healthcare.
X-Rays
One of the best ways for us to see how the adult teeth are coming in and whether or not your child has any cavities or other concerns is with an x-ray. We use digital X-rays so we can see them quickly at the appointment. We typically recommend x-rays about once a year.
Cavity Treatment
Kids aren’t always great at taking care of their teeth, which means cavities are common. In fact, as many as one in five kids between the ages of 5 and 11 will have decay in their teeth. We typically treat cavities with a filling, allowing your child to continue to use that tooth. However, there are times when a tooth is about to come out that we may just monitor the area instead of filling the cavity.
Preventive Treatment
Sometimes, preventing decay before it begins is the best option. One way we do this is with dental sealants. Sealants are coatings placed over the surface of the tooth to make it smooth and protect the natural grooves and ridges from hiding food that can turn into a cavity. It is a painless, fast procedure that can provide quite a bit of protection. We also help protect your child from oral health concerns with fluoride treatments. Fluoride applied to the teeth can help strengthen the enamel against plaque and bacteria, which may help prevent cavities.
Orthodontic Screenings
At Dental Care 4 Kids, we offer orthodontic care in addition to our pediatric dentistry services. Thus, our dental checkups may include orthodontic screening. Many types of alignment and bite issues are more easily treated if caught early and before the adult teeth come in completely, so we will keep track of your child’s orthodontic needs.
Special Needs Dentistry
For children with special needs, the sensory overload that happens at the dentist’s office can be difficult to handle. Our team is trained to help children with anxiety, autism, ADHD, and other special needs conditions, and we can help your child feel comfortable and safe at our clinic. If you have concerns about your child’s needs, be sure to let our staff know before their first appointment.
What to Expect At Your First Appointment
When you come to Dental Care 4 Kids for your child’s first appointment, you will notice that we do things a little differently. We work to make your child comfortable. They’ll receive a personalized coloring book they can use to track their visits. We will talk and play with them while we take a look at their teeth. We will provide guidance for both you and your child about how to best care for their teeth as they grow. If we notice any concerns, we will give compassionate guidance about how to best care for them.
Sedation and Calming Options
Even though we strive to make our clinic as comfortable and welcoming as possible for children of all ages and their parents, sometimes there will be times when kids feel afraid. We offer a number of sedation and calming options to help.
One of the most common options we choose is nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, this gas helps a child relax for their dental treatment. We deliver this through a comfortable breathing mask your child will wear during their treatment. This is a safe, effective technique that doesn’t require your child to go to sleep.
In addition, we offer a conscious sedation option. Very young children, some special needs children, and those who have high anxiety levels may use medication to relax during their treatment. This medication makes them sleepy and calm without making them fully unconscious.
For children who do not work well with these two options, we offer I.V. sedation. In these instances, an anesthesiologist will oversee your child’s sedation while the dentist performs the necessary treatments. This process takes place in our clinic, and it can allow us to do more extensive dental work in one appointment without causing undue anxiety for your child.
In cases where none of these less invasive treatments will work, we have the option to put your child under general anesthesia. This procedure is done in an outpatient center or hospital, but it is a safe option when extensive oral health treatment is necessary for your child.
Take Charge of Your Child’s Health Today!
Oral health is not something to take lightly. Without a good foundation, most kids will grow up with serious problems with their teeth and gums. Dental Care 4 Kids offers a friendly, calm, and inviting location for children to establish good oral health for the first time. We see children and teens of all ages, including special needs kids, and will help you help your child achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. Schedule your appointment with our pediatric dental team today.
