Pediatric Common Dental Procedures

Traditional dental restorations or fillings are done with a white, tooth-colored resin. Certain fillings can now be done without injections/local anesthetic or a drill, with our Solea* dental laser. When we can, there is no reason for your child to get a shot and be numb for hours anymore! This is particularly helpful for young children who tend to bite on their lips or tongue after leaving the office.

Crowns can sometimes be necessary to restore a tooth when the decay is too extensive to hold a filling or the enamel is weak due to hypoplasia.
 

A crown is a “cap” cemented onto an existing tooth. It usually covers the portion of the tooth above the gumline. In effect, the crown becomes the tooth’s new outer surface and is very strong.
 

The materials used include stainless steel, zirconium, and white resin, and are performed on primary teeth. When the tooth is ready to exfoliate, the crown and tooth will come out as one unit.

There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth due excessive decay, infection, orthodontic correction, or problems with a wisdom tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth does not fall out as it should. This can prevent the permanent teeth from erupting in the proper position.

When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer may be recommended to hold the space where the permanent tooth will eventually erupt.

When a primary tooth is lost prematurely, space maintenance may be required to hold the space for the permanent tooth to erupt in the proper position. Without a space maintainer appliance, the teeth can drift and reduce the spacing for the permanent tooth or even block it from erupting. If the permanent tooth is close to erupting, a space maintainer may not be needed. The dentist will make that determination. Your child will wear the appliance until the permanent tooth begins to erupt. It is a simple procedure to remove it.

When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp tissue and germs cause an infection inside the tooth. When this occurs, a pulpotomy “baby root canal treatment” is necessary to save the tooth.

A restoration, frequently a crown, will be placed over the treated tooth. If left untreated, an abscess may form. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This cannot only injure your child’s jawbones, but it is also detrimental to his or her overall health.

Whether your child wears braces or not, protecting his or her smile while playing sports is essential. Mouthguards help protect the teeth and gums from injury. If your child participates in any kind of full-contact sport, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that he or she wear a mouthguard.

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Choosing the right mouthguard is essential. There are three basic types of mouthguards: the pre-made mouthguard, the “boil-and-bite” fitted mouthguard, and a custom-made mouthguard from a dentist. When you choose a mouthguard, be sure to pick one that is tear-resistant, comfortable and well-fitted for your child’s mouth, easy to keep clean, and does not prevent your child from breathing properly.

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We can show your little athlete how to wear a mouthguard properly and how to choose the right mouthguard to protect his or her smile.

You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your little one chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods.

Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.

If your child often wakes up with jaw pain, jaw tension or headaches, or you see your youngster clenching or grinding his or her teeth, your child may have a common condition called “bruxism.” Many people do not know they grind their teeth, because it often occurs during sleep. If not corrected, bruxism can lead to broken teeth, cracked teeth, or excessive tooth wear.

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There is an easy, non-invasive treatment for bruxism, normally done when the patient is a teenager. Nightguards are an easy way to prevent the wear and damage that teeth-grinding causes over time. Custom-made by our team from acrylic molded to fit the teeth, a nightguard is inserted over the top or bottom arch and prevents contact with the opposing teeth.

Wisdom teeth are molars found in the very back of your child’s mouth. They usually appear in late teens or early 20s, but they may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry.
 

When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not, your youngster may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease.
 

Wisdom teeth are typically removed by an oral surgeon. Timing can be in the late teens or early twenties because there is a greater chance that the roots have not fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense. These two factors can make extraction easier as well as shorten the recovery time.

There are excellent oral surgeons in our community. We will make a referral, if needed, at the appropriate time.