Our Services

Preventative Care

In order to prevent dental problems, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than your child’s first birthday.

Routine Cleaning & Exams

Pediatric dental cleanings and exams are essential for preventing plaque, cavities, and gum disease, and for spotting early signs of dental issues such as weakened enamel or a misaligned bite. Regular six-month visits from the first tooth eruption promote good oral habits and prevent serious conditions. These routine check-ups are vital for a child’s long-term oral health.

Fluoride

The application of fluoride varnish is now considered the standard of care in pediatric primary care. It’s a safe and effective method for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Fluoride varnish has been shown to significantly reduce the prevalence of dental caries in both baby teeth and permanent teeth. The varnish works by penetrating the outer layers of tooth enamel and releasing fluoride ions. These ions help to remineralize and fortify the teeth, which is especially important for pediatric patients whose enamel may be thinner and more susceptible to decay. Fluoride varnish can help prevent tooth decay and even reverse early signs of decay in pediatric patients. When applied, it hardens quickly and allows for a longer contact time with the teeth, providing a sustained release of fluoride that strengthens tooth enamel.

In summary, fluoride varish is a critical component of pediatric dental care due to its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, strengthening enamel, and its role as a standard preventive treatment. It’s a simple yet powerful tool in maintaining the oral health of children.

Sealants

Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the deep grooves of teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and can effectively protect teeth for many years. Dietary habits such as chewing ice or hard candy can affect the longevity of sealants.

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are used when a primary tooth has been prematurely lost to hold space for the permanent tooth. If space is not maintained, teeth on either side of the extraction site can drift into the space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting normally.

Restorative Treatment

Fillings

A tooth filling may be needed if a tooth has decay or damage caused by cavities, trauma, or wear and tear. A tooth filling is a dental procedure that involves the removal of decayed or damaged tooth structure and its replacement with a filling material. The goal of a tooth filling is to restore the function and structure of a damaged tooth, prevent further decay or damage, and improve oral health. When decay is left untreated, it can spread deeper into the tooth and cause pain, sensitivity, or infection. A tooth filling can restore the function and structure of the tooth and prevent further decay or damage, although decay can reoccur around old fillings without proper care and maintenance. Delta Dental Tooth Filling Information.

Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid medication used in dentistry to prevent cavities from forming or progressing, and to relieve dentinal hypersensitivity. The silver in SDF has antibacterial properties that help kill the bacteria causing decay, while the fluoride helps remineralize and strengthen the tooth enamel. SDF is an effective, non-invasive method of treating and stopping the progression of cavities. It is particularly useful if the cavities are small, or for children that may not be able to sit still for a filling. SDF is brushed onto the teeth and will stain areas of decay black. This stain will remain on the tooth until a filling can be placed or the tooth is exfoliated.

Crowns

A stainless steel crown (SSC), also known as “caps,” are full coverage crowns that protect the entire tooth from further decay. SSCs are a superior restoration to fillings and they provide the greatest durability, longevity, and protection from future cavities. A dentist may choose to place a crown if a filling may not be sufficient to restore the tooth structure and function. If a pulpotomy is performed, a crown will be necessary to seal and protect the tooth. All white zirconia crowns are available if the SSC color is a concern. Sometimes zirconia crowns may not be a good fit for the child’s tooth, and many insurance companies will not cover any portion of payment for zirconia crowns. Speak to the dentist to see if zirconia crowns may be an option.

Pulpotomy

A pulpotomy is the surgical removal of an inflamed pulp chamber in a child’s tooth that has been compromised due to untreated cavities and decay. Bacteria must be removed from the pulp chamber inside the child’s tooth to prevent or alleviate an abscess or infection. A pulpotomy is commonly referred to as a “baby tooth root canal.” A healthy tooth has a space inside it called the “pulp space,” which is filled with soft tissues – nerves, blood vessels, and pink connective tissue. If a tooth gets a large cavity, the bacteria in the decay can damage the pulp, which is often what causes a toothache. Baby teeth are not as hard and strong as adult teeth, and the nerve inside a baby tooth is closer to the outside, which is why children are often more sensitive and susceptible to decay and tooth pain. If a pulpotomy is needed on a tooth, a crown (or “cap”) will be necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the tooth.

Sedation

Nitrous Oxide

Some children are anxious before dental appointments and are given nitrous oxide/oxygen, or what you may know as laughing gas, to help them relax for their dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a blend of two gases, oxygen and nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child’s nose, allowing them to relax, but without putting them to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective method to use for treating children’s dental needs. The gas is mild, easily taken, and quickly eliminated from the body. It is non-addictive, and while inhaling nitrous oxide/oxygen, your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes. For safety reasons, we will be unable to use nitrous oxide on children with severe respiratory disorders or concerns.

Hospital General Anesthesia

Outpatient General Anesthesia is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, children with many carious teeth, and children with special needs that would not work well under conscious sedation. Treatment is performed in a hospital operating room while they are completely asleep. This would be the same as if he/she was having their tonsils removed, ear tubes, hernia repaired, or any other surgical procedure. This is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting only. All of their dental treatment needs can be completed in one visit. Administrating general anesthesia has risks ranging from and including but not limited to sore throat, puffy lips, abnormal breathing, or even death. The rate of serious reactions is estimated to be between 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 200,000 in children managed with general anesthesia. Like oral sedation, your child will need a physical examination prior to treatment and you may need to meet with the anesthesiologist.

While the assumed risks are greater than that of other treatment options, if this is suggested for your child, the benefits of treatment this way have been deemed to outweigh the risks. The inherent risks if this is not chosen are multiple appointments, potential for physical restraint to complete treatment, and possible emotional and/or physical injury to your child in order to complete their dental treatment. The risks of no treatment include tooth pain, infection, swelling, the spread of new decay, and damage to their developing adult teeth and possible life threatening hospitalization from a dental infection.