What is Your Dentist Looking for During a Checkup?

Every six months (and for some patients, more often), children and adults alike should attend a dental checkup and cleaning appointment. Besides removing plaque and tartar from your teeth, the visit allows your dentist to thoroughly examine your oral tissues to make sure they don’t exhibit signs of issues that may require treatment.

However, a dental checkup involves more than just a cursory glance into your mouth. The examination includes a visual inspection of the hard-to-see areas of your mouth and throat, as well as every surface of your teeth, the soft tissues at the root and floor of your mouth, and more. (more…)

Got Questions? Ask a Pediatric Dentist: Part One

Is your child is facing a dental problem? Is that causing you stress because you are not sure what to do about it? Or, do you struggle with knowing just how to best care for your children’s smiles as they begin to grow? If so, don’t be afraid to speak with your pediatric dentist. He or she is a great asset when it comes to helping your kids develop great dental habits, and maintaining healthy teeth and gums. A little knowledge goes a long way, especially when it comes to preventive care! (more…)

Does Your Child Need a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are frequently used as restorative treatment. That’s because they are versatile and strong ways to deal with many dental issues, including chips, cracks, deep cavities or even to seal and protect a tooth after root canal treatment. Yet many parents don’t realize that dental crowns are sometimes the best restorative treatment for their children. If your child has been struggling with a dental issue, or is overdue for restorative treatment, ask your pediatric dentist if a dental crown could help him or her smile and chew more comfortably and confidently, without fear of losing a tooth due to dental decay or another issue. (more…)

Fact or Fiction: Learning About Your Family’s Smiles: Part Two

All parents wants to help keep their kids healthy, including the precious smiles they have come to love. Unfortunately, not all parents understand what it really takes to maintain great oral health, either in their own adulthood or for their children. If you want to teach your kids how to have beautiful and healthy smiles as they grow up, you must first know what that requires, yourself. Your children’s pediatric dentist can help lead the way, educating you about all that can be done to ensure you and your entire family enjoy great oral health. (more…)

Fact or Fiction: Learning About Your Family’s Smiles: Part One

Before you can effectively help keep your kids’ smiles healthy, you first need to understand what it takes to develop and maintain oral health. Sure, you probably already know it means daily tooth brushing and regular dental checkups. But what else is necessary to keep your family’s smiles healthy? Many people don’t realize all that effective preventive care entails. Fortunately many of the key steps in preventing dental issues like cavities and gum disease are simple. You can learn more about the oral health initiatives you can take from your children’s pediatric dentist. These steps can help you take better care of your own smile, but they are also critical if you want to be an even better ally for your kids’ oral health. (more…)

My Kid Has a Cavity; Now What?

As a parent, it can be frustrating and sometimes frightening to learn that your child has a dental issue like a cavity. Your first reaction may be to worry what restorative treatment will entail, followed quickly by questions about how his or her smile will be affected cosmetically. You may also be wondering what can be done to prevent future cavities. Pediatric dentists offer ways to address cavities that can improve your child’s comfort while chewing, and his or her confidence. Plus, the dentist can help teach you and your child how to prevent dental decay in the future. (more…)

What Makes Pediatric Dentists Special?

Do you sometimes wonder if you should simply take your children to a general dentist, who can also care for you and your spouse’s smiles? The idea might at first seem like an easy and harmless way to streamline your oral care. After all, how much difference can it really make? There are actually several compelling reasons to take your kids to a dentist who specializes in pediatric dentistry!

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Are Your Kids Really Caring for Their Smiles? Part Two

As a parent, you care a great deal about your kids’ health, and that certainly extends to their smiles. That’s why you struggle to get green vegetables off their plates and into their bodies, and why you consistently make sure they’re brushing their teeth. But do you sometimes worry that you should be doing more, to make sure their teeth and gums stay healthy? Oral health can affect a person’s overall wellbeing as well as his or her smile, since the gums and nerves carry blood from the mouth throughout the body. To keep your kids’ smiles and bodies healthy, it’s important to combine great dental hygiene with preventive dentistry and a proper diet. That way they can smile happily and healthily as they grow. (more…)

Are Your Kids Really Caring for Their Smiles? Part One

Every parent knows the basic tricks to monitoring their kids’ dental hygiene, like checking to make sure the toothbrushes are wet, before trusting that their kids actually brushed their teeth when they said they did. Still many parents wonder what else they could do to ensure their kids’ smiles are getting the oral care they need. If you are one of those concerned parents, your pediatric dentist has a number of tips for making sure the smiles you love stay healthy for many years to come.

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A Root Canal Doesn’t Have to Be Scary for You or Your Kid

For many people, “root canal” has long been a term that strikes fear in their hearts, often without them even understanding why. In actuality, the term root canal is simply a reference to a part of the tooth, not a dental procedure, much less a frightening one. Yet many patients still feel fear when told they need root canal treatment, and many parents are particularly nervous when they learn their children might need it. Fortunately, your pediatric dentist may offer a less invasive version of a traditional root canal treatment, particularly for young patients. It’s called a pulpotomy. (more…)