Pediatric Dentistry

One of the joys of practicing family dentistry is getting to know entire families and seeing children grow into adults. Dr. Phillip has seen three and even four generations of families among her patients, often beginning during a patient’s childhood.

We offer a variety of dental services for children and their families, and we make great effort to ensure that each appointment is happy and comfortable for your child. We will not only help your child learn to brush properly and take care of their new teeth, but we’ll also help you, as the parent or guardian, better understand the development process, when to expect certain changes, and things to watch for that may indicate a need for further intervention. And, of course, we’ll help make it fun, too! If you have any questions regarding your child's dental needs, please contact us.

Sealants help Prevent cavities and primary tooth loss

One misconception regarding “baby teeth” is that there is really no need to care for them because they will be replaced soon enough by permanent teeth.

For children and their families, we focus much effort on dental health and prevention.  Good oral hygiene habits learned and practiced as a child will greatly improve chances of having a healthy smile as an adult.  Primary “baby teeth” have great importance even though they will eventually be lost. 

Along with providing the child the ability to chew and mill food, these teeth also maintain the proper spacing to allow the permanent adult teeth to erupt into their proper positions.  If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the space can close and the permanent tooth may not have room to grow in, creating other issues to be dealt with at a later time, potentially including more complicated orthodontics.  Treatments are always intentionally conservative and proactive.  It is advised to treat caries early to help contain the decay and to maintain the integrity and strength of the tooth.  It also helps to slow down the rate of cavities that may otherwise continue to form.

Through regular professional cleanings and exams, we can generally identify high-risk situations and take proactive measures to minimize risks. One such proactive step is the use of sealants, which help seal the grooves on the chewing surfaces of teeth. Though sealants will not prevent cavities between teeth, when accompanied by regular cleanings and good home care they are highly effective at reducing the rate of cavities in children.

There are several stages of development we monitor with regards to your child’s teeth. The chart below offers some general guidelines as to when primary and permanent teeth typically “erupt” (e.g. when new teeth appear in the mouth). Of course, anywhere from a few days to several weeks before a permanent tooth erupts there is often the loss of a primary tooth (and maybe even a nocturnal visit from a winged bearer of coins or gifts!)

Occlusion and Growth

Proper growth and development is one of the primary objectives of pediatric dentistry. There are many forces that can play a role in the growth and development of a child’s mouth.

Some, such as monitoring whether there is adequate space for permanent adult teeth to come in (“erupt”) appropriately, are directly related to the health of future teeth. Other pediatric dental issues are less obvious, however. For example, did you know that chronically swollen tonsils can obstruct the airway of a child, leading him or her to breathe through their mouth? The long term effect of mouth breathing applies pressure to the bones, causing a constricted, more narrow palate, and potentially leads to more airway problems as an adult.  Another common issue with children, referred to as non-nutritive sucking habits (e.g. “thumb sucking” or “finger sucking”), can also lead to formation of a constricted palate in the mouth and cause future problems with occlusion (“bite”) and spacing for permanent adult teeth.

If these conditions are discovered and addressed while the child is growing, we can greatly improve their ability to breathe.  Such issues affect far more than just the health of the mouth and position of teeth.  Proper breathing can positively impact their ability to think and mentally process information as well as improve oxygenation and circulation.

Whatever your needs or questions may be, it would our privilege to partner with you to help ensure a healthy smile for your child!