Children’s Dentist

Choosing a kid’s dentist

What to look for in a pediatric dentist

A good kid’s dentist is in tune with the needs of young children who may have dental anxieties and reservations about going in for checkups. When you pick a dentist for your child, look for one with a caring, gentle touch and an understanding nature. Here’s what to consider when looking for a pediatric dentist to treat and care for your child’s teeth.

Dentistry for children

Kids have a different set of dental needs compared to adults. Their teeth are more susceptible to damage and infection (cavities). Here are some of the dental treatments usually suggested for young children:

• Cavity fillings and regular cavity checks
• Dental sealants
• Fluoride treatments
• Orthodontics for pre-teens and older
• Dental bonding to fix cracks and chips from roughhousing or sports
• Crowns to reinforce damaged baby teeth
• Space maintainers to keep teeth from shifting while waiting for permanent teeth

Finding the ideal dentist for your child

When you’re looking for a quality kid’s dentist, keep these questions in mind:

• Is the dentist available after school hours for appointments?
• Is the dentist available for dental emergencies?
• What treatments are available?
• Is the dentist’s office inviting to children?
• Is your child’s dental insurance accepted?
• What sedation options are available for children who have dental anxiety?

Motivating your child to care about dental health

There are simple things you can do to motivate your child to care about their dental health. One idea is to go to the dentist yourself, with your child there — children learn and become more comfortable by watching you. Another is to brush and floss together each morning and before bed. Ask your kid’s dentist for literature that helps you have productive conversations about dental health with your son or daughter.

Visit a kids dentist soon

A commitment to good dental health should start early. Teach your child the importance of going to a caring, gentle dentist regularly. At General Dentistry 4 Kids, you can relax knowing you’re getting both.

Preventative dentistry

Preventative pediatric dentistry

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, all children should begin a dental routine around age 1, or six months after their baby teeth begin to erupt. At this point, you should start bringing them to General Dentistry 4 Kids for routine checkups and cleanings. The sooner you establish a dental routine, the easier it is to prevent decay and other problems from affecting your little one’s health. It is also great to start early with routine care so your little ones can become acclimated to the dentist and become more comfortable every visit.

Routine exams

One of the ways your pediatric dental team protects your child from cavities and other issues is by examining their teeth twice a year. During these visits, our team will clean their teeth, examine their mouth, and take x-rays to make sure your child’s oral health is maintained.

These checkups are often the only way to detect problems early, when they are much easier to treat. Once your child turns one year old, it’s time to schedule their first appointment at General Dentistry 4 Kids.

Dental sealants

Dental sealants are another way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. Since cavities are the most common dental condition to affect kids, our goal as your pediatric dentist is to provide the preventive care your child needs to ensure a happy and healthy smile.

Sealants are clear plastic coatings bonded to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to keep bacteria from harboring within the crevices and causing decay. They can be placed once the first set of molars erupt (usually around 6 or 7 years old).

Nitrous Oxide for Dental Treatment

Nitrous oxide, often called “laughing gas,” is a safe, low-risk way to help children feel relaxed during dental treatment visits. Administered through a scented nose mask, this standard-of-care method keeps your child calm, comfortable, and fully awake throughout the procedure. It works within minutes to ease anxiety and manage discomfort, safely mixed with oxygen without requiring general anesthesia or twilight sedation. Best of all, the effects clear completely before your child leaves the dental chair by breathing pure oxygen, so your little one can bounce right back to their normal day.

Restorative dentistry

Repairing and protecting your child’s smile

The objective of restorative treatment is to give your children the best dental care in order to maintain good oral hygiene. The goal is to repair and limit the damage of dental caries and to protect the remaining tooth structure for adequate function. Restoring primary teeth ensures that the natural spaces in the child’s dentition are retained for the developing permanent dentition.

With children, many factors determine the right choice of material in a given situation. Age, caries risk, and the cooperation of the child can all play important roles in determining the best treatment. Our team has experience with the full range of restorative dentistry treatments and will formulate an individualized treatment plan tailored to your child, with the goal of optimizing both the dental health and the aesthetic appearance of your child’s smile.

Dental fillings

Kids dental fillings

When you bring your child in twice a year for routine checkups, we examine their teeth and look for warning signs of decay or gum disease. If we do detect a cavity during the exam, don’t fret — this is an easy issue for the friendly dental team at General Dentistry 4 Kids to treat.

How is a cavity treated?

As long as the cavity isn’t too large, your pediatric dental team will be able to remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then place a dental filling to restore it (teeth with more extensive decay may require a crown). A dental filling is made of a durable, tooth-colored material designed to match the shade of your child’s teeth and restore strength back into the tooth.

Before removing the decay, your child’s dentist will administer a local anesthetic to the gums surrounding the tooth. This numbs the area to prevent any discomfort. Once your child’s mouth is fully numb, we remove the decay and then apply a very thin layer of the dental filling.

The material used to fill the tooth is a moldable resin that we place and shape over the affected areas. Each layer is hardened into place with a dental light before the next layer is applied.

Is a filling still necessary in baby teeth?

If your child still has their baby teeth, you may not think it’s important to have the tooth filled — after all, they won’t have these teeth forever. However, your child will keep their baby teeth for many years until their permanent teeth come in, so it’s important to keep these teeth healthy and strong. Losing baby teeth too early could negatively impact your child’s oral health.

This is why we remove cavities from baby teeth and place dental fillings. Even once the filling is placed, it’s imperative that your child maintains good oral hygiene to reduce the risk for cavities and to maintain their new filling.