It’s never too early to get your child started on the path toward a lifetime of good oral health, and there are many services we provide to do exactly that. Monitoring your child’s dental growth and development, and preventing and intercepting dental diseases along the way, is a primary focus of our practice. Learn more about Pediatric Dentistry.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child’s first checkup should occur by age 1. During this important visit, we will check the baby’s teeth for early cavities, show you how to care for a young child’s mouth properly, go over your child’s developmental milestones, and discuss the importance of good oral hygiene.
Fillings are used to seal a small hole (cavity) in your tooth that is caused by decay. This simple, painless procedure prevents decay bacteria from spreading further into your tooth, and possibly infecting the root canal. Both metal fillings and tooth-colored fillings are available.
Dental sealants are invisible plastic resin coatings that smooth out the chewing surfaces of the back teeth — the place where your child is most likely to get tooth decay. A sealed tooth is far less likely to develop a cavity, which could require expensive dental treatment and cause your child pain.
Cosmetic bonding uses tooth-colored materials to replace missing tooth structures or hide minor defects like chips, discoloration, or irregular spacing. It’s a great option for children and teens, who often need to wait for their teeth to mature before choosing a more permanent restoration.
Crowns are coverings placed over damaged teeth to strengthen them, and allow them to look and function normally again. Metal crowns are sometimes recommended as a temporary solution for damaged baby teeth, until the permanent teeth come in.
Fluoridated water has been called one of the most significant health achievements of the 20th century — but not every child gets enough fluoride. That’s one reason why a topical fluoride supplement, applied here in the dental office, may be recommended for your child.
If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, a “space maintainer” may be needed to hold the space open until the permanent tooth comes in to fill it. This appliance will help your child’s bite develop properly — and hopefully avoid the need for braces later on.
Besides being painful, a child’s sports-related dental injury can mean time lost from school and work, plus substantial cost. A properly fitted, comfortable mouthguard, worn at practice and games, can greatly reduce the likelihood of serious dental injury.
If you have a life-threatening or severe injury, call 911 or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. We can treat a variety of traumatic dental injuries, including teeth that have been chipped, moved, or knocked out entirely. Please call our office for assistance.
Some children are born with extra tissue called frenum under their tongue or upper lip. These are called tongue-ties and lip-ties and can cause difficulty with speech, breastfeeding, weight gain, and even dental decay. If not treated during childhood, the adverse effects of tongue and lip-ties can follow children into adulthood. Headaches, neck and shoulder pain, sleep issues, and speech problems are all signs of untreated tongue and lip-ties.
Laughing gas is the common term for Nitrous Oxide, a safe and mild method used during dental procedures. Your child will be awake and responsive throughout the procedure, in a more relaxed state.
Because this type of dentistry is short-lived with a gentle effect, it is often used for children. Nitrous oxide puts patients at ease to remain relaxed during dental procedures allowing the anxious child a more pleasant dental experience! We customize each case individually and will discuss sedation only if necessary.
Sometimes our patients need a little more help than the use of nitrous oxide. Feel free to call or speak with our team regarding Deep IV Sedation. We work with a pediatric anesthesiologist who comes to our office when it’s time to treat your child. We are able to comfortably sedate your child so that we can address his/her treatment needs – we will work to ensure your child is safely, comfortably sedated so that they can sleep through treatment and wake up with a healthy mouth. To find out more, please contact our office!
And sometimes, our patients have greater oral rehabilitative needs. In these situations, our doctors are available to treat your child under general anesthesia in an operating room setting. Our practice has operating room privileges at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton, MA. Our doctors are happy to speak with you regarding this option and to determine what is right for your child! Please contact us to learn more!
