Children's dental care in Holyoke

What Is Pediatric Dentistry?

Pediatric dentistry is a field that dentists can specialize in, and it requires an additional two or three years of education and training. As a result, pediatric dentists can provide the best care for children from infancy through adolescence. Also, a children’s dentist infuses their services with compassion and patience to ensure their smaller, more delicate patients feel comfortable at the dentist office.

When Should Kids Have Their First Dentist Visit?

If children don’t get regular dental care, then they could develop tooth decay or diseases that cause issues for the rest of their lives. For this reason, they need to start seeing a children’s dentist before they turn 1 year old. Then, they should see a dentist every six months for optimal health. Schedule your child’s first appointment today.

When Do Primary Teeth Come In and Fall Out?

People get two sets of teeth during their lives: primary teeth and permanent teeth. Pediatric dentists are trained to monitor the development of all teeth and treat problems that arise.

When babies turn about 6 months old, their primary teeth start to emerge. All of them erupt through the gums by the time that they turn 3 years old. These teeth may not seem important because they eventually fall out. However, they’re essential for helping kids learn how to speak and chew food. They’re also instrumental in guiding adult teeth into the right place.

Primary teeth begin to fall out by the age of 7, and the first adult teeth that come in are typically molars. By the time that kids turn 12, they will have lost all of their baby teeth. Ask our dentist for more information.

Pediatric Dental Visits: What Happens?

During a visit, a children’s dentist performs an oral exam to see if there’s any decay present. If cavities or other problems are discovered, we recommend that they be addressed as soon as possible.

For babies, we perform a visual assessment. X-rays aren’t necessary until children are older and more of their teeth have developed. In addition, we start teaching them how to practice good oral hygiene at home.

What Services Are Included in Child Dentistry?

In order to protect children’s dental health, our kid’s dentist provides a range of services. Take a look at them below.

Teeth Cleanings

For a kids teeth cleaning, our dentist uses a tooth scraper to take plaque off of the teeth. Then, a hygienist thoroughly removes any excess buildup by brushing and flossing. Doing this fights bacterial growth to protect the gums and teeth.

Fluoride

Kid’s dental care requires fluoride, a natural mineral that fights cavities by strengthening tooth enamel. Fluoride also prevents early stage decay from getting worse. It’s present in water and certain foods, and it’s added to toothpaste. When kids don’t get enough fluoride, they might need special supplements.

Dental Sealants

A dental sealant is a filling for the spaces or cracks in teeth. It keeps food from getting stuck in these spaces and can effectively protect your kid’s teeth for years. Our dentist can apply a sealant for children’s teeth quickly and without causing discomfort.

Fillings

Fillings are commonly used for dentistry for kids. They’re designed to fill in the gaps that cavities or dental decay leave in teeth. If your child doesn’t get a filling after cleaning a cavity, then bacteria and plaque can cause more damage and pain. Before removing the cavity and filling the leftover gap, our dentist applies a local anesthetic to numb the area.

Pediatric Crowns

To cover a whole tooth, a pediatric dentist will apply a dental crown. It’s beneficial when a filling can’t sufficiently protect the tooth from decay and further damage. Baby teeth crowns can restore the function of primary teeth until they fall out. Porcelain and stainless steel varieties are available.

Mouth Guards

As soft, plastic devices, mouth guards protect kids’ lips, teeth, cheeks and gums from injuries that occur during recreational activities. Football, gymnastics, boxing and skating are a few sports with a risk for head and face injuries. Mouth guards can also be used in dentistry for children to prevent teeth grinding at night.

What Are the Causes of Pediatric Tooth Pain?

While cavities are a common cause of tooth pain in children, there are many other potential causes. Some examples include emerging teeth, sinus infections, earaches and mouth sores. Schedule an appointment with our children’s dentist in Holyoke if your child is suffering from oral pain.