What is a pediatric dentist?
A pediatric
dentist has two years of specialized training beyond dental school dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through
the adolescent years. Different age groups require various treatment approaches in dealing with their behavior,
helping them prevent future dental issues, and guiding their dental growth and development. Dr. Charlie
and Dr. Kellie are specially trained to treat children who may also present with any physical or medical special needs. Their
goal is strictly to make the dental experience exciting, fun, and without any fear at all.
Your child’s first visit: The American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child’s first visit to the dentist should occur by 12 months of age.
This first visit will enable Dr. Charlie or Dr. Kellie to evaluate your child’s dental development and introduce you
to proper oral hygiene techniques. Diet, fluoride, finger and pacifier habits, and tooth eruption will be discussed to insure
optimal oral health. At approximately 2-3 years of age, if the child is receptive to treatment, a complete
oral examination, cleaning, and fluoride treatment will be administered to the existing dentition. Dr. Charlie and Dr. Kellie’s
goal is to make the visit as pleasant and stress free as possible for the child as well as for the rest of the family.
To avoid separation anxiety, our office philosophy has always been to allow the parent in the operatory at EVERY visit.
A more comfortable situation is created because the treatment triangle is complete with dentist, parent, and patient at all
times.
What is
a sealant? A sealant is a clear or opaque (white) plastic material that is applied to the
chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where most cavities in children are found. The sealant
is applied in liquid form, painted on the tooth, and will bond when it hardens with a special light. The
procedure is painless and drill-free. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, which protects the decay-prone
areas of the teeth. A sealant does not protect the tooth from decay that forms between the teeth, where
only flossing can adequately clean. A sealant can last many years as long as it is placed on a clean, dry
tooth and the patient avoids sticky foods/candy, constant gum chewing, and chewing ice. These should
be checked regularly and can be replaced at any time.
What is Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen?
Nitrous Oxide
can be used when a child presents for a dental procedure and exhibits anxious behavior. This is very safe
and effective. The child is awake at all times and able to communicate to the dentist how he/she feels.
Before the child leaves the operatory after a procedure, he/she will breathe 100% oxygen for a few minutes so that
the nitrous oxide is completely gone from their system.
What are Space Maintainers?
They are used
when a baby tooth has been prematurely lost to hold space for the permanent tooth. If space is not maintained in certain areas,
teeth on either side of the extraction site can drift into the now vacated space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting
properly.
Avoiding post anesthesia trauma:
When a restorative procedure requires local anesthesia, please
refrain from frightening your child by telling them they will get a “needle” or that “this will hurt”.
We have special techniques that help make this procedure more tolerable. When the patient leaves our office “numb”,
it is up to parent to watch them closely for the next two hours to avoid post-anesthesia injuries. Dr.
Charlie and Dr. Kellie have fabricated a “cotton bunny”, which is a cotton roll with a long piece of floss on
the end, that a child will bite on the “numb” side to remind them to bite the cotton and not their lip or tongue.
Please do not allow your child to suck or bite on the “sleepy” portion of their lip, cheek, or tongue and
remind them that this is temporary. Please call our office if the child has become swollen or injured due
to persistent biting or sucking.
How do I prevent
cavities? A healthy diet can help keep your child’s teeth healthy. Though a balanced diet is important in preventing cavities, it has been proved
that cavities are not only formed due to what children eat, but also how often they eat. Frequent snacking without brushing
leaves food on the teeth longer and can cause tooth decay. Practice good hygiene with your child.
Set an example and make oral health a family effort!
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises:
• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. (When the child is old enough to rinse and expectorate)
• Floss children’s teeth once a day.
• Visit your pediatric or general dentist regularly, usually every
6 months.
• Get enough fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products and, when indicated, through fluoride
supplements. Since Long Island does not have fluoride in the tap water, fluoride will have to be obtained
through other means.
• Have sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth or molars soon after
they come in.
• Snack moderately—no more than twice a day.
When is the best time to
receive orthodontic treatment (braces)? The
American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of
orthodontic problems or no later than the age of 7. By the age of 7, the first adult molars should have
erupted, establishing the back bite. The presence of erupting incisors can indicate a possible overbite, cross bite, crowding,
and other problems. If treatment may not be necessary at this early age, a thorough examination can guide you as to when the
most advantageous time is to actually start treatment. Some children may not be candidates for braces until
all baby teeth are lost, however, this may not be the case for everyone. Treating malpositioned teeth can
help the patient clean their teeth properly, improve speech, correct function, and create a healthier, more attractive smile.
When is early treatment (interceptive
orthodontics) indicated? Dr. Charlie and Dr. Kellie are trained to evaluate your child’s
smile for possible intervention to correct early problems. Early treatment may include palatal expanders,
retainers, space maintainers, etc. If appropriate, this treatment can create room or preserve space for unerupted/crowded teeth, influence proper jaw growth, reduce the risk of trauma to
protruding incisors, correct cross bites, and reduce the time the patient may need to wear braces in the future.
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Why are baby teeth
so important? Primary teeth are also known as "baby teeth.”
The first tooth usually isn’t lost until 6 years of age and some primary molars must function
until 12 or 13 years of age before they are replaced. Primary teeth are necessary for proper chewing, proper speech, the proper
development of the jaws, and for esthetics. Care of the primary teeth is important not only for
proper function, but also to avoid the spread of infection and damage to the underlying permanent teeth that result from their
neglect.
Baby bottle tooth decay Babies who go to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice are more likely to get tooth decay. This
is due to the fact that the sugar in formula, milk, or juice remains in contact with the teeth for a long time during the
night and the teeth can decay quickly. There is also a decrease in saliva production while your child is
sleeping, which contributes to an increase in decay.
To prevent baby bottle tooth decay: - Only put your
child to bed with a bottle of plain water, not milk or juice.
- Stop nursing when your child is
asleep or has stopped sucking on the bottle.
- Try not to let your child walk around using a bottle of milk
or juice as a pacifier.
- Start to teach your child to drink from a cup at about six months of age.
- Plan to stop using a bottle by 12 months.
- Do not coat your child's pacifier in anything sweet.
What
are the possible restorative procedures my dentist may use on my child?
Composite resins: These are tooth colored fillings that are the most common restoration we use on a daily basis. Composites
are not only used to restore decayed areas, but are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color
or shape of teeth and repair fractures. A tooth colored filling that covers the entire tooth is called a strip crown. Composites
are specially bonded to the tooth to help prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from temperature changes. Following
preparation, the dentist places the resin in layers, using a light to harden each layer. When finished, the dentist will polish
and shape the restoration. After receiving a composite resin filling, it is common to have some mild
post-operative sensitivity for a limited time.
Stainless Steel crowns: These are metal crowns
that cover the entire tooth, usually the back teeth, when they are severely decayed and cannot hold regular fillings.
The tooth is reduced in size so that the crown will fit properly. The crown will remain until the tooth falls out naturally.
Avoiding sticky foods and candies will allow the crown to last. In the event that the crown dislodges,
call the dentist and bring the crown to the office as soon as possible so that space does not close and the crown can be re-cemented
with ease.
Pulpotomy: When the cavity in a baby tooth is very close to the nerve and/or part of the
nerve is affected, the tooth may be saved by cleaning out the affected portion of the nerve and placing a medicament before
restoring the tooth.
Extraction: If a tooth is abscessed/infected, the tooth cannot be saved with a
pulpotomy and must be removed so that the infection does not spread and the permanent tooth underneath can develop normally.
Dental Surgery Post Operative Instructions:
In
order for the area to heal where the tooth was removed, please make sure your child complies with the following instructions: Bite on the gauze until bleeding has stopped. Do not rinse the mouth for the remainder
of the day. Eat a soft diet and drink fluids for the remainder
of the day. Avoid very hot or very cold fluids. Do not drink through a straw. Children’s
Motrin or Tylenol can be given just before the anesthesia
wears off (1-2 hours) to prevent discomfort.
Oral habits
(thumb sucking/grinding)
Finger, thumb, pacifier sucking is completely normal for babies and young children. It is
an emotional habit that provides security. For young babies, it is a way to make contact with and learn about the world.
Most children stop sucking habits on their own between 2 and 4 years of age. However, some children continue these
habits over long periods of time. In these children, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip or not come in properly.
Frequent or intense habits over a long period of time can affect the way the child’s teeth bite together, as well as
the growth of the jaws and bones that support the teeth. Thumb, finger and pacifier sucking affect the teeth and jaws in essentially
the same way. However, a pacifier habit often is easier to break.We will carefully watch the way your child’s teeth erupt and jaws develop.
Because these habits may cause long term problems, intervention may be recommended for children beyond 3 years of age.
What can I do to stop my child's habit? Most children stop sucking
habits on their own, but some children need the help of their parents and their pediatric dentist. When your child is old
enough to understand the possible results of their habit, your pediatric dentist can encourage your child to stop, as well
as talk about what happens to the teeth and jaws if your child does not stop. This advice, coupled with support from parents,
helps most children quit. If this approach does not work, there are mouth appliances and other products that can assist in
discontinuing sucking habits.
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