Keep Your Kids Healthy With Help From a Pediatric Dentistry

The biggest challenge a pediatric dentistry faces does not come in the form of cavities, but in parents who do not realize how prevalent pediatric dental disease is. When you start to look at the number of children who have a pediatric dental disease, also known as childhood tooth decay, it is quite alarming. Over 25 percent of children between the ages two and five experience tooth decay, and when you look at data for children between the ages of 12 and 15, that number jumps to 50 percent. Essentially, this means that one in two preteens and young teens have tooth decay. Childhood tooth decay is a problem far more prevalent than other diseases we pay more attention to, like asthma and hay fever. Comparatively, five children will have tooth decay versus asthma, and seven will have tooth decay versus hay fever. If you were to ask a pediatric dentistry, you would find that most of this decay sets in at an early age, mostly because parents do not bring their children in for early childhood checkups with the dentist like they do with a pediatrician. Eighty-nine percent of children will have seen their pediatrician before their second birthday while only 1.5 percent of children in the same age category will have seen a pediatric dentistry. Part of the reason for this problem is that over 20 million children in the US do not have the proper dental coverage, leading to parents who simply are unable bring their children in to see their dentist.

For a pediatric dentist, it can be slightly frustrating to see children who are not receiving the care they need at an early age. This is because early prevention will not only save your children discomfort, but it is also far more cost-effective. For every $1 you spend with your pediatric dentist on preventative medicine, studies have shown you can save up to $50 on future emergency dental situations and the need for restorative procedures. Unfortunately, children also lose a great deal of productivity due to their needing to have restorations and finding themselves in emergency dental situations. In fact, over 2.26 million school days will be missed each year by children spending time in the dentist chair for non-maintenance related care. This is extremely unfortunate since it doesn't take much for you to keep your children out of this kind of situation. Simple rules like the 2-2-2 rule can help your child avoid future problems.

The 2-2-2 rule consists of three simple steps. Step one is to make sure your child is brushing their teeth at least twice per day. This is a standard rule for anyone brushing your teeth, and one all children should be taught how to follow. In addition, you must make sure your children are brushing their teeth for at least two minutes to get them properly clean. Finally, you must take your child in to see their pediatric dentist at least twice per year.

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The Role of Antibiotics in Pediatric Dentistry and Our Dentist Office

With pediatric dentistry, perhaps more than any other form of dentistry, we are always looking for the easiest and fastest way to relieve the discomfort of patients that visit our dentist office. This is especially true because, with pediatric dentistry, we are dealing with children who do not understand their discomfort and want it gone quickly. In a sense, the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 was a blessing for the entire profession. Antibiotics have given modern medicine the opportunity to take away most infections very quickly and effectively. This was a huge leap that allowed us to take on even the most stubborn bacterial infections and cure them, which led to other advancements and the ability to treat even more difficult problems. Naturally, as with any great discovery, there are cautions as well. At our practice, we believe in a more holistic form of treating our patients, which means that while antibiotics are on the table, they are not the option we jump to quickly. In fact, the question we often ask is not what antibiotic to use, but rather, if we actually need to use an antibiotic at all. In this regard, we prefer a much more measured and scientific approach to prescribing treatment. There are reasons for our caution.

As a dentist, we have watched the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry has issued a caution about antibiotics. Their overuse by the medical profession as a whole has literally given rise to strains of bacteria that are completely resistant to antibiotics, and this is not something a pediatric dentist wants to risk. So you will find that there are always alternatives we want to explore before going to an antibiotic treatment. With this approach for when we do prescribe them, the antibiotics are highly targeted and usually extremely effective. Being involved in pediatric dentistry, we completely understand a parent's desire to go quickly to antibiotics as a treatment. The results often speak for themselves. If your child has an infection that is causing them discomfort, giving them a fever, or even has swelling at the site of the infection, it is understandable that you would want to do whatever is necessary to eliminate this, and with an antibiotic, many parents will see an almost instantaneous result.

On the other hand, pediatric dentistry knows it is not the antibiotics that kill the bacterial infection. When your child is infected with foreign microorganisms, their immune system goes to war with these invaders. The antibiotics merely provide a way for the body to have balance, giving it a much-needed opportunity to recoup. Once this happens, your body will quickly and effectively neutralize the infection and kill whatever microorganisms are causing the problem. In addition, your child's body will learn what makes this infection tick, so should any similar infection ever appear, their body can very quickly create the solution for it. At the end of day, it is the body that is an ace infection fighter, so our job as a dentist is to provide it with whatever tools it need to fight this, or any infection effectively, even if not in the form of antibiotics.

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We Keep Children Healthy in Our Pediatric Dentistry Office

As a specialist in pediatric dentistry, we treat many of the same problems that plague adults. In that regard, we are very much like a regular dentist. The biggest difference, as you can imagine, is the age of our patients.  While the challenges that face adults and children are often the same. Addressing these challenges can be more difficult when dealing with children. For an adult, it is usually pretty simple to determine what is going on, for example where they are experiencing discomfort. A child may not be able to communicate this as effectively, sometimes pointing to a region of their mouth instead of a specific tooth or part of the gum. In addition to this we have the challenge that children are typically more nervous of the experience. They are already intimidated coming in to see a dentist, and then there is the chair, all the equipment, and people in white coats. An important part of being a pediatric dentist is learning to pace the child so that we can get all the work that needs to be done completed, without completely overwhelming them. Talking them through various steps, allowing them to pre-touch the equipment, and working at a slower pace are all vital to achieving this goal.

In pediatric dentistry, there are a number of more common problems that we deal with in children. The most common, as many parents can attest to, is the occurrence of cavities. Cavities are also known as tooth decay. For children, and for adults, untreated cavities can cause discomfort and spread to other areas of the mouth. Luckily decay is one of the easier things to prevent, and when it does occur we can fill cavities very easily as well. Decay in teeth is caused by a natural occurrence of bacteria. This bacteria tends to colonize parts of the teeth, and when they are given food they secret acid. The bacteria are particularly partial to foods high in sugar and starch content. The acid secreted will damage the enamel and eventually cause a small hole to appear. The easiest way to avoid cavities is to teach your children great oral health habits so that they never allow the bacteria to build up to damage causing levels. Great oral habits include brushing twice per day, using floss on a regular basis, rinsing after meals and also after snacks, and making it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice a year. For children, this regiment is critical.

Some of the other things we find common to pediatric dentistry and regular dentistry are things like canker sores. Caused by a number of different factors, canker sores are painful for children. They can very easily be dealt with by using an anti-microbial mouthwash. Also, one sure way to tell if you child is having a dental issue is tooth sensitivity. Children will frequently complain of discomfort when they eat something hot, cold, or sweet. This sensitivity can be a parent's best friend as it alerts you to the fact that you need to come in and visit our pediatric dentistry office.

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Common Problems Treated in a Pediatric Dentistry Office

As a provider of pediatric dentistry, we get to see all kind of dental challenges that children face. As teeth develop, so too do children develop habits that may be detrimental to their teeth and long-term oral health. Childhood is a time for experimenting with many new things, like new snacks and playing sports, some of which could end up damaging a child's teeth. As such we have the ability to work with your child from a young age to help reinforce some of the good behaviors you are teaching them, while also identifying possible problems early on and working proactively to fix them. Kids' dental care is much different from adult dental care since it involves a mouth that is growing, developing, and constantly changing. While more challenging, working with a child's teeth also gives us the opportunity to put them on a path to strong, healthy, and positive oral habits.
As a kids dental care provider, the most common problem we see are children that come in with cavities, or decay that is threatening to become a cavity. Given how much most children love to eat sweets, especially the sticky kind that does so much damage to the enamel, most kid's dental care providers anticipate that children will develop some cavities. The important thing for parents to note is that cavities and decay can be avoided with the right kind of supervision and by teaching your children good habits. Candy, while delicious, is no friend to the teeth and should be restricted as much as possible. Also getting your children into the habit, which may be enforced by you at first, of rinsing their mouth after meals and particularly after eating something high in sugar, can help reduce the occurrence of decay and cavities.
Some of the most common pediatric dental problems that we see on a regular basis are:

• Tooth Decay: Caused by leftover deposits of food in the mouth, tooth decay is one of the easiest problems to curtail. Carbohydrate-rich foods like candy and cookies, which children are so fond of, form a buildup of plaque on the teeth. This plaque releases acid, which in turn attacks the child's enamel and ultimately results in tooth decay. In our pediatric dentistry office, we can give your kids a fluoride treatment to help protect their teeth from decay.
• Sensitive Teeth: Just like adult providers, kids dental care providers find that children too can develop tooth sensitivity. Hot and cold food or drinks can cause a child to wince in pain if they have a sensitive tooth. Often time's sensitive teeth are caused by the wearing down of tooth enamel or the occurrence of microscopic cracks. 
• Grinding: Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is very common among children. This can be especially prevalent at night. Typically, children will outgrow this habit as they get older, but in order to protect the permanent teeth it may be necessary to prescribe a night guard for the child. Grinding can, and usually does, wear away the enamel on the teeth causing a lot of pain and may even lead to sensitivity in the teeth. 

In our pediatric dentistry office, we can help your child to feel comfortable and stay in excellent health through regular teeth cleanings and exams.

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Our Pediatric Dentistry Office Talks About a Common Cause For Braces

In our pediatric dentistry office, parents frequently ask us about braces and whether or not their child will need them. While it is impossible to say for certain, start by looking in the mirror.  If you or your spouse have crooked teeth or ever needed braces in order to straighten them, there is a higher likelihood that your child will as well.  We understand that it is normal to want to know so that you can start saving up for braces early on.  Still, it is impossible to know 100 percent if it will be necessary. With that in mind we suggest that you take the time to understand why kids need them in the first place. 

Overcrowding is a major concern and one reason that patients end up needing braces.  Teeth can become overcrowded when baby teeth fall out too soon. Take a look at a young child.  It is very rare that you will ever see one with a crooked smile.  Baby teeth are generally straight with the occasional gap here and there. Otherwise, they look good.  The problem is that if your child gets into an accident, knocks out a tooth on the playground or gets a major infection; their baby teeth may fall out suddenly and before their time.  With this happens, the surrounding teeth start to move out of their position, crowding out the space that was left for the new adult tooth to come in.  As a result, the adult tooth can come in behind or in front of another tooth or sideways.  

In our pediatric dentistry office, we can help to prevent overcrowding by decreasing the chance of a baby tooth falling out too soon.  For this reason, we recommend visiting our office twice a year for a thorough teeth cleaning. We can remove harmful plaque and treat cavities and infections before they can spread.  By doing so, we keep teeth both healthy and strong.  Teeth that are free from infections are less likely to crack or chip upon impact.  Infected teeth, however, are likely to sustain damage during a simple accident.  This makes preventative care extremely important. We can also help by creating a mouth guard that your child can wear while practicing or playing sports. Doing so prevents hundreds of thousands of tooth injuries every year and can prevent your child’s tooth from being knocked out before it is supposed to fall out naturally.  

By keeping teeth clean, healthy and away from accidents, we can decrease the likelihood that they will ever need braces to majorly straighten their teeth.  In some cases, this requires simple preventative care while other times the intervention needs to be more active. If, for some reason, your child does end up needing braces, there are several options to straighten their teeth.  For example, some children start with an expander that widens the pallet in order to make room for their adult teeth while others use a spacer to accomplish a similar goal.  If braces, are necessary we can make recommendations and supervise the care of your child to ensure that their teeth remain in excellent health. To learn more, call our pediatric dentistry office.