Pediatric Dentistry – The Specialty of Oral Care for Infants, Children and Teenagers

Pediatric dentistry is the specialty that deals with the dental problems of infants, children and adolescents including those with special needs. It incorporates many disciplines of dentistry and medicine, including behavior guidance, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention, sedation and hospital dentistry.

韓国ホワイトニング

Regular visits to a Dana Point Pediatric Dentist will allow for monitoring of your child’s dental development, ensuring their baby teeth are coming in properly and that their adult teeth are growing in straight. This will help reduce dental anxiety in children later in life.

Oral Hygiene

Providing children with proper oral hygiene is an important aspect of pediatric dentistry. This helps prevent tooth decay and other dental problems in the future. It is also vital for overall health. Poor oral health can lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other serious conditions.

One of the primary goals of pediatric dentistry is educating children and their parents on proper oral hygiene practices. This includes brushing, flossing, and a healthy diet. It is also crucial to limit sugary foods and drinks, as these can cause cavities and other dental problems.

It is not always easy to get children of all ages to brush and floss their teeth regularly. However, it is important to establish good habits early on that will last a lifetime.

Tooth Decay

As children grow and develop their adult teeth, they are prone to developing tooth decay due to their constant exposure to sugary foods and liquids. When a tooth becomes decayed it exposes the inner dental pulp to bacteria and causes toothaches.

Pediatric dentists focus on preventing and treating tooth decay (cavities) in children. This includes educating children and parents on proper oral hygiene, diet, fluoride use, and oral health habits.

Pediatric dentists also treat dental problems like broken and chipped teeth, gum disease (gingivitis), thumb sucking and pacifier use beyond age 2, and malocclusion (abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaws). By correcting these issues early, pediatric dentists help children enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Tooth Sealants

Children can be prone to cavities, and it can be difficult for them to develop good oral hygiene habits. A pediatric dentist can help teach children and parents good brushing and flossing techniques, helpful diet information and fluoride treatments.

Dental sealants are plastic resins that fill and protect the grooved areas of a child’s permanent teeth (molars and premolars). This helps prevent food from getting trapped, which can lead to decay. The process is quick, painless and effective. Sealants should be applied as soon as the molars and premolars have erupted, in order to protect them from plaque. It is more effective than brushing alone, and will decrease the chance of future tooth decay. If properly cared for, sealants can last up to 10 years.

Dental Exams

Pediatric dentists provide specialized oral care for infants, children through teenagers and those with special needs. During a dental exam, they can identify potential issues such as tooth decay or misalignment and address them early on to save time and money in the future.

They also educate kids about proper oral hygiene, helping them develop good habits that last a lifetime. This includes teaching kids the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth, as well as advising them on eating and drinking behaviors to ensure healthy growth.

When choosing a pediatric dental office for your kids, look for an environment that is child-friendly with amenities and decorations to make the visit more enjoyable. Often, these offices are more flexible with scheduling and may offer child-specific appointment hours.

Dental Cleanings

During dental exams and teeth cleanings, pediatric dentists make sure your child’s mouth is healthy. They also teach your kids good habits that will last a lifetime.

Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent serious problems, such as tooth decay. They can also find and treat problems in their earliest stages, when they are easier and more affordable to treat.

RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry has the experience and training to care for children of all ages. Their team is committed to making each visit as comfortable as possible for their patients. They use special equipment in offices that are arranged and decorated with children in mind. They offer dental emergency services, including sedation. They also provide a variety of treatments, such as pulpectomies and fillings.

Fluoride Treatments

A mineral called fluoride strengthens the outer coating of teeth (enamel). This prevents tooth decay and cavities. Topical fluoride treatments are gels, solutions or varnishes that dentists apply to teeth in a dental office. Unlike toothpaste and mouthwash, these products have much higher concentrations of fluoride.

Hurtful acids form from bacteria and sugars that attack the enamel of the teeth. On a daily basis, minerals like calcium, phosphate and fluoride are added back to the enamel (remineralization), helping to protect against tooth decay.

Pediatric dentists are trained to give children safe and effective fluoride treatments. These professional treatments prevent and treat tooth decay, even in baby teeth. They also help parents and kids create healthy habits that last a lifetime. They can also correct tongue ties and cleft palates, and place space maintainers for prematurely lost baby teeth.

Braces

Many kids have teeth misalignment issues which can lead to future problems if left untreated. This is why it’s important to see a pediatric dentist for regular checkups and to get them into orthodontic care by the time they are seven years old.

Getting braces early can help fix teeth that are overcrowded or misaligned. This can prevent future dental issues and can also give them a better smile as they get older.

Usually, dental braces consist of metal brackets with wires and rubber bands. These are tightened bit by bit over time to slowly shift the teeth into the correct positions. There are also newer braces that don’t require the use of ligatures, such as self-ligating braces. There are also other orthodontic appliances, such as headgear which uses a neck strap to correct bite problems.