Preventative Dentistry
By routinely seeing your child's dentist for exams and cleanings, you can prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath, save money by avoiding costly and extensive dental procedures, keep their teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks, and have a smile that will last a lifetime.
Fluoride
Fluoride is effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay by coating teeth and preventing plaque from building up and hardening on the tooth's surface. A fluoride treatment in our dentist's office takes just a few minutes.
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-rays provide several advanced imaging options designed to save time, provide clearer dental photos, and expose patients to less radiation than with traditional X-ray technology.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety in children. Administered through a small mask that fits over your child’s nose, it is an effective way to calm anxiety. As the gas begins to work, your child will become calm, although he or she will still be awake and able to talk with the dentist.
Sealants
Dental sealants are plastic resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on your tooth's surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective.
White Fillings
Composite dental fillings, or resin restoratives, are used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, or wear. Composite fillings mimic the appearance of natural teeth, and can be closely matched to the color of your child’s existing teeth. For this reason, they are more aesthetically suited for use in the front teeth or more visible areas of your child’s smile.
Silver Crowns
Stainless steel dental crowns are considered a good temporary restoration to save a primary tooth until the permanent tooth can erupt and take its place. Keeping the primary tooth if at all possible is very important. A primary tooth can be restored with a stainless steel crown during one appointment.
Nerve Treatment
If the decay or trauma is confined to the crown of the tooth, a pulpotomy may be recommended. A pulpotomy is when the inflamed pulp chamber, usually on a baby molar, is removed. If the infection involves tissue in both the tooth crown and the tooth root, a pulpectomy may be the best option. In a pulpectomy, the entire pulp material is removed from both the crown and the roots.
Extractions
Sometimes, a baby tooth has misshapen or long roots that prevent it from falling out as it should, and the tooth must be removed to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt. Other times, a tooth may have so much decay that it puts the surrounding teeth and jaw at risk. Infection, orthodontic correction, or problems with a wisdom tooth can also require removal of a tooth.
Hospital Dentistry
If your child cannot receive dental care in a traditional dental office, our practice offers gentle and effective dental care in the nurturing environment of our local hospital. As one of the only pediatric dentists in the area to offer this unique service, our pediatric dentist has the distinctive ability to understand the specific needs of children who need dental care but cannot cooperate for safe dental treatment.
Space Maintenance
If your child’s tooth has come out too soon because of decay or an accident, it is important to maintain the space to prevent future space loss and dental problems when permanent teeth begin to come in. Without the use of a space maintainer, the teeth that surround the open space can shift, impeding the permanent tooth’s eruption.
Emergency Dental Care
It is very important to be prepared in case your child has an emergency. Even though we wish that they wouldn’t, emergencies do happen. Being educated and knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth.