Learn More:
While it is the goal of our practice to maintain the oral health of our pediatric patients, we do understand that cavities can develop on children’s dentition and therefore we have many ways to personalize treatment options for our patients depending on the patient’s needs.
Did you know:
That cosmetic dentistry is more than just teeth whitening? Your cosmetic dentist is also capable of transforming your smile’s shape, color, alignment, as well as filling in gaps and discreetly restoring decayed or damaged teeth with tooth-colored fillings. In fact, modern advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made it possible for patients to achieve nearly perfect teeth with cosmetic enhancements and restorations that are virtually undetectable to friends, family and peers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why does baby teeth need to be treated? Can’t we just wait and let them fall off naturally?
There are many reasons to treat cavities even on baby teeth:
-Baby teeth are important in maintaining the spaces required for adult teeth to emerge without complications or obstructions.
-Infections of baby teeth can affect the enamel development of adult teeth, and such infections in some cases can spread beyond the oral cavity.
-Pain and infections caused by untreated cavities are some of of the most common causes for pain in mouth and can lead to missed school time.
-Baby teeth in the front do not naturally fall out until at least 6 years old, and some baby molars do not shed until 11-13 years old.
What should I expect from my child’s treatment appointment?
Our friendly assistant will escort your child and the parent into our private treatment room, where he or she will gently begin introducing some of the commonly used items to the child to gain familiarity to this new setting. N2O (laughing gas) if selected will begin administration, and when necessary local anesthesia (numbing agent) will be administered to the area of the mouth where the treatment will be performed. Upon verifying that the patient is adequately numb, treatment will proceed.
What types of treatments are available to my patients?
Treatments largely depend on the size of the decay on the tooth. These treatments can range from white filling, crown treatment, nerve treatment, or extraction. With that being said, we try our best to be as conservative yet as thorough as possible to address your child’s overall treatment needs.
What should I expect after my child’s appointment?
Depending on the area where local anesthesia (numbing) was administered, the numbness can persist for another 2-3 hours after the end of the appointment. It is generally recommended that the child should refrain from eating during this time period, but drinking is allowed (we often recommend smoothie or a milkshake in case the child is hungry). If the patient does have mild discomfort after the numbness wears off, generally over-the-counter pain medication appropriate for the child’s age and weight is usually effective in alleviating the patient’s discomfort. In general, a thorough list of post-op instruction will be given to parents before the patient is discharged from the appointment.
