What if my child’s dental situation requires more intense treatment in a hospital setting?
To address these challenges and meet treatment needs effectively, pediatric dentists, like Dr. Taylor, have developed and employ a variety of management techniques, including accessing anesthesia services and/or the provision of dental care in a hospital setting with or without general anesthesia. Hospital dentistry is an integral part of what Dr. Taylor can offer to pediatric patients. Dr. Taylor is trained, experienced, and qualified to recognize the needs for such kind of care.
What kind of dental challenges, left untreated, may permanently affect my child’s development?
Pediatric dentists often treat patients who present special challenges related to their age, medical status, developmental disabilities, intellectual limitations, or special needs. Caries, periodontal disease, and other oral conditions, if left untreated, can lead to pain, infection, and loss of function. These undesirable outcomes can adversely affect learning, communication, nutrition, and other activities necessary for normal growth and development. Additionally, many medical conditions (such as treatment of blood disorders or tumors) are compounded by the presence of oral maladies and disease.
Will you use sedation on my child?
Our practice typically uses nitrous oxide (N20) for our in-office procedures. Nitrous oxide is a gas that children breathe in through a mask and has no color or scent. It offers relaxation in less than a minute, and pain- decreasing effects in 2-3 minutes. It has no negative long-term effects, and children should be able to resume their regular activities quickly.
Why does my child need a dental sealant?
Dental sealants help prevent tooth decay and cavities. Adults do not usually receive sealants because by the time a person reaches adulthood, they have ingested enough fluoride to help prevent cavities through water, toothpaste, and foods. Children are at a higher risk for cavities, and sealants have been shown to be highly effective in combating tooth decay.
A dental sealant provides a barrier against food and plaque. It is simply a protective coating that is applied to the grooves of the premolars and molars, the usual locations where cavities are found.
How can I prevent fluorosis?
Parents can take the following steps to decrease the risk of fluorosis:
- Check with your local water system to obtain fluoride levels and discuss with your pediatric dentist whether you should offer your child fluoride supplements.
- Use a baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush of a very young child. These non-fluoridated cleansers are more than adequate for babies with emerging teeth.
- When starting to brush with fluoride toothpaste, use only a pea-sized amount and supervise the child.
How do I get too much fluoride?
Young children (2-to-4-years-old) who are just learning to brush are often not able to rinse out their toothpaste thoroughly. Consequently, they ingest a good bit of toothpaste, and if the toothpaste contains fluoride, this can be harmful. This is a main contributor to developing fluorosis.
Fluoride supplements can also cause fluorosis if taken excessively. Fluoride drops and tablets should not be given to any children under the age of six months, and should only be given to older children upon the recommendation of your pediatric dentist.
Certain foods and beverages contain high levels of fluoride, so parents should monitor the amount that their child consumes. These are not “bad” items, but should be consumed moderately in young-age children. They include:
- Juice drinks
- Infant chicken products
- Creamed spinach
- Decaffeinated teas
- Powdered concentrate infant formula
Are x-rays harmful to my child?
X-rays are a crucial component of your child’s dental health management. They are a quick, simple, and effective way of detecting erupting teeth or bone diseases, and they provide an accurate picture when evaluating the results of an injury or planning orthodontic treatment. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends x-rays once a year for most children, and every six months for those who have shown a propensity for tooth decay. Pediatric dentists are very careful to minimize a patient’s exposure to radiation during these x-rays, using lead body aprons and highly focused equipment. The risk of having a severe dental problem greatly outweighs the risk that your child will receive any type of radiation damage from an x-ray.
What is a pediatric dentist?
A pediatric dentist has attended dental school to practice general dentistry, and has spent additional years of specialized training in pediatrics. Pediatric dentists are the best choice to treat children because of their additional training, knowledge, and experience with children. Pediatric dentists are trained in the growth and development of children’s teeth from infancy through their teen years.
What’s your strategy with fluoride?
Many parents are concerned about the use of fluoride for their children’s teeth, because they have read contradictory reports on whether it is helpful or harmful. What parents need to know is that fluoride is an element that has been proven beneficial to teeth when used in the right amounts. Too much or too little can both be problematic. Too little fluoride = weakens teeth creating the inability to resist cavities Too much fluoride = possible fluorosis, a discoloration of the teeth