Services
Preventative
Hygiene
Dental hygiene visits consist of a dental exam, cleaning, flossing of teeth, and additional diagnostic aids such as radiographs when prescribed by the dentist.
The most common dental hygiene visit interval is recommended every 6 months. This interval frequency is based on your child’s risk assessment and a high caries risk may require more frequent visits.
The most common dental hygiene visit interval is recommended every 6 months. This interval frequency is based on your child’s risk assessment and a high caries risk may require more frequent visits.
Fluoride
The AAPD encourages fluoride exposure for every child and recognizes fluoride in the community water supply as being the most beneficial and cost-effective preventative intervention.
Brushing your child’s teeth daily with a rice-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste is recommended for children less than three years of age and no more than a pea-size for children three to six years of age. For children who are unable to spit, parents may wipe the excess toothpaste from their mouth with a wet washcloth.
Brushing your child’s teeth daily with a rice-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste is recommended for children less than three years of age and no more than a pea-size for children three to six years of age. For children who are unable to spit, parents may wipe the excess toothpaste from their mouth with a wet washcloth.
Sealants
Sealants are protective coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. They reduce the risk of decay on teeth that are predisposed to plaque retention. The need for sealant placement will be assessed at periodic hygiene visits. They will be monitored and repaired or replaced as needed.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
Silver diamine fluoride is approved in the US for arresting caries and tooth sensitivity. It is a clear solution that is applied to teeth that have decay. A side effect is that the cavitated surface will stain black. However, depending on the child’s age and ability to tolerate treatment in the dental office, this is an effective method to prevent the progression of decay.
Radiographs
Radiographs may be prescribed by the doctor during the exam or emergency visit to examine the oral cavity and optimize patient care. American Dental Association’s guidelines for prescribing dental radiographs are followed at our office. We do all that is possible to minimize radiation exposure at our office.
Space Maintainers
If a tooth becomes non-restorable or infected, it may require removal of a baby tooth. Depending on the patient’s age and dental development, a space maintainer may be indicated to prevent the movement of surrounding teeth into the space. The space maintainer will need to be monitored at recall visits and removed when permanent teeth erupt.
Thumb/Finger Habit Appliance
There are a few over the counter methods that can be used to assist a child in breaking the thumb habit. When these options fail and the child is old enough and has the will to stop the habit, we have the option of making an appliance to assist with cessation of the habit. The appliance will stay in the child’s mouth for up to a year and it will serve as a reminder for the child to not suck their thumb or fingers.
Restorative Dentistry
Fillings
There are two types of fillings used in our office, composites and glass ionomers. Both are tooth-colored fillings that replace the decayed part of the tooth. We do not offer silver (amalgam) fillings in our office.
Crowns
Crowns are placed when a cavity is large or when multiple surfaces are affected. They cover all surfaces of the tooth and remain in place with cement. They are also placed on the tooth following a pulpotomy or pulpectomy. A weakness in the integrity of the tooth structure known as enamel hypoplasia may require a crown depending on the severity of hypoplasia.
Crowns may also be recommended for children with high caries risk and when treatment has to be completed with sedation or general anesthesia. Silver crowns are typically placed on the back teeth due to their proven stability and durability. They often remain in place until the child loses the baby tooth. White crowns are used on the front teeth and stainless steel crowns are used on the back teeth in our office. The type of white crown used will depend on the extent of the decay. Below is a list of the different crown options:
Crowns may also be recommended for children with high caries risk and when treatment has to be completed with sedation or general anesthesia. Silver crowns are typically placed on the back teeth due to their proven stability and durability. They often remain in place until the child loses the baby tooth. White crowns are used on the front teeth and stainless steel crowns are used on the back teeth in our office. The type of white crown used will depend on the extent of the decay. Below is a list of the different crown options:
- Stainless Steel Crowns “Silver caps”
- Pre-veneered Crowns “White crowns with hidden silver”
- Composite (tooth-colored filling) crowns
Extractions
Extraction becomes the only option when a tooth cannot be restored or a severe systemic infection develops from decay or trauma to a tooth. At times a healthy tooth may be recommended for extraction. Sometimes there is a limited amount of space in the mouth to accommodate all of the teeth. The orthodontist (braces specialist) may recommend extraction of permanent teeth as part of their treatment plan.
Pulp Therapy
Decay that extends inside the tooth near or into the pulp can affect the nerve and blood vessels. This diagnosis may require a pulpotomy or pulpectomy in order to save the tooth. If no treatment is completed, it could lead to severe pain, swelling, and tooth loss.
The treatment can range from placing medicament over the area or removing all tissue and placing a filling material and crown over the tooth to seal and protect from further bacteria.
The treatment can range from placing medicament over the area or removing all tissue and placing a filling material and crown over the tooth to seal and protect from further bacteria.
Baby partial
If the removal of front teeth is required, a space maintainer is typically not recommended due to the insignificant space loss that could occur before eruption of permanent teeth. If there is a concern that speech may be affected or you do not like the esthetics of missing teeth, a fixed partial can be fabricated to replace the missing teeth. This will need to be closely monitored and removed when the permanent teeth start to erupt.
Tooth Emergency
Please take your child to the ER or call 911 for all serious injuries such as loss of consciousness, significant swelling of neck or face, or difficulty breathing.
Dental emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and we are here to help during regular office hours. For urgent dental concerns after hours, please call or text the office number and leave a detailed message. A member of our team will return your message as soon as possible
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide
This medicine is better known as “laughing gas”. This gas is used to help your child with mild anxiety or difficulty sitting still get through the dental appointment. This does not replace local anesthesia. Although sometimes anesthesia may not be necessary depending on the extent of the decay.
Your child will be given a percent of nitrous oxide and a higher percentage of oxygen. It will make your child feel at ease or some kids get a little silly. One of the main side effects of this medicine is nausea and vomiting so make sure they don’t eat anything heavy two hours before their scheduled restorative appointment.
Your child will be given a percent of nitrous oxide and a higher percentage of oxygen. It will make your child feel at ease or some kids get a little silly. One of the main side effects of this medicine is nausea and vomiting so make sure they don’t eat anything heavy two hours before their scheduled restorative appointment.
Oral Sedation
Some children are very afraid at the dentist’s office. Oral sedation can be used to help these children have a comfortable visit and receive quality dental care. This is a moderate sedation so your child will be awake during the procedure. They will drink medicine that will make them feel drowsy and calm. It is a safe procedure that we offer for those patients who have high anxiety in the dental environment.
General Anesthesia
There are times when treatment cannot be treated safely and with the highest quality in the dental office. It could be due to a medical condition, child’s young age, extent of treatment, or a rare allergy to the local anesthesia needed to numb your child in the office.
This option will require a visit to the surgery center or hospital where your child will be put under general anesthesia by the anesthesiologist and team and all dental treatment will be completed while your child is asleep.
This option will require a visit to the surgery center or hospital where your child will be put under general anesthesia by the anesthesiologist and team and all dental treatment will be completed while your child is asleep.
Desensitization Program
Some patients have high anxiety the moment they step into the dental office or they may have sensory issues that make the dental experience unpleasant. To help make your child more comfortable with dental visits, we offer a desensitization program that will allow multiple office visits to slowly introduce all aspects of the dental office to your child.
An example of the program: One visit may consist of a tour of the office so your child can become comfortable with the environment and the team.
An example of the program: One visit may consist of a tour of the office so your child can become comfortable with the environment and the team.