Our kids dentist in Brighton is committed to helping families get access to early preventative dental care. When your child grows up with access to regular checkups and good oral hygiene, they’ll be more likely to enjoy a healthy smile for the rest of their life. Our Brighton kids dentist can help equip your family with the information and tips you need to minimize cavities, tooth loss, and preventable emergencies. Here are just a few ways to get started:

Encourage Children to Hydrate with Water 

Water is a natural cleanser and is completely sugar-free. Whereas juices and sports drinks can be bad for teeth and increase the risk of cavities. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluoridated tap water (bottled water may not have regulated fluoride levels). To make it more fun, consider getting some reusable or personalized water bottles for everyone in the family.

Floss…Every Day!

As your child grows and develops, you will notice that the teeth tend to get closer and closer together. It’s normal for them to have some space between baby teeth, but not their permanent ones. Help your child floss between every tooth, every day, especially until they’re old enough to have the dexterity to tie their own shoes.

If There’s a Cavity, Treat it ASAP

Children’s teeth can spread decay extremely quickly, as they’re less dense than permanent adult teeth. A small cavity could become an abscessed tooth in months. It is best to treat problems when they are smaller and more comfortable.

A family or pediatric dentist in Brighton can place a small filling inside of the decayed area, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

Plan a Checkup Twice Per Year 

No matter how young your child is, Kids City Dental recommends that they visit a family or pediatric dentist at least once every six months. Our children’s dentist in Brighton will work closely alongside your family to provide the necessary resources, preventative services, and therapeutic care as needed. To ensure that your child has a healthy smile for life, it’s important to access pediatric dentistry near you shortly after your child’s first tooth erupts.

Wear the Right Protective Equipment 

Are your children involved in any kind of athletic activity? Such as soccer, baseball, football, or any sport where their mouth could get injured? A sports mouthguard will significantly decrease the chances of your child breaking or knocking out teeth, as well as suffering from a concussion.

Screen for Orthodontic Needs by Age 7

Kids City Dental recommends screening for any bite problems or orthodontic concerns no later than age 7. At this point in your child’s development, we’ll have a good idea of the direction of your child’s tooth and bone growth, making it is easier to identify and correct any problems. Braces and growth modification encourage healthy tooth alignment before the permanent teeth erupt completely into place.

Set a Timer When Brushing

Always make sure your child brushes their teeth at least two minutes, two times each day. To make brushing more enjoyable and encourage proper brushing time, set a timer or play a song. Many of today’s electric brushes have built-in timers.

Use Fluoridated Toothpaste 

Dosage is important with any vitamin and mineral supplement. Fluoride, like calcium, is crucial for the development of teeth and minimizing cavities. The ADA recommends that young children use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a rice grain. Once they’re old enough to rinse well, they can increase the amount to a pea-sized amount.

Early Pediatric Dental Visits

The best pediatric dental tip is to schedule your child’s first dental checkup as soon as their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. These early visits allow your child’s dentist to detect potential health or developmental issues earlier when they’re easier to address. Positive and comfortable dental encounters at a young age will help minimize the risk of dental anxiety as your child gets older.

Is Your Child Due for a Checkup?

Looking for a pediatric dentist in Brighton? The general dentists at Kids City Dental focus specifically on children’s oral health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

It’s important to have a great oral care routine for kids during the holidays. After all, there’s a good chance that everyone in your family is snacking a little more than they normally do. With great hygiene and understanding the importance of healthy eating habits, you can avoid an emergency trip to your family or pediatric dentist in Brighton!

Here are 10 easy steps to help your child enjoy a healthy smile this holiday season:

1. Drink Lots of Extra Water

Did you know that most people statistically drink less water during winter months than they do the summer? Water is a natural cleanser and it also contains fluoride. Fluoride is important for strong teeth and bones. Encourage your child to make sure they’re drinking enough during the day. Tap water is best since it has regulated mineral levels (bonus: it’s also cheaper!)

2. Make Sure You Clean Between

With all of the extra sweets your family plans on eating over the holidays, make sure your kids are cleaning between their teeth each day. Floss picks are great to have on hand, so keep them in a jar on the bathroom counter or even in the car. As kids get older, you can start to transition them to traditional floss.

3. Pass on the Sticky Stuff

Choosing the lesser of two evils is sometimes the best thing for our teeth. Especially if you’re a child who wears braces or has dental sealants. Avoid peanut brittle, caramel, or other hard and sticky textures that might break or pull something off.

4. Make Fresh Fruits and Veggies Accessible

You probably have a lot of holiday treats sitting around this time of year, but stock up on some apples, carrot sticks, celery, and other fresh produce too. Encourage your child to eat crunchy fruits and veggies when they need an afternoon snack.

5. Stuff That Stocking with an Electric Toothbrush

Kids tend to clean their teeth better with an electric toothbrush than they do a manual one. Depending on your budget, you can spend anywhere from $5 and up for a kids’ electric toothbrush. Some of today’s models also have corresponding apps that show your child how and where to brush.

6. Set a Timer

Kids should be brushing their teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. A small timer is a great tool to have on hand. Otherwise, you could also play their favorite song on your phone or the radio (because it probably runs a little longer than two minutes!)

7. Squeeze in That Last Checkup

Your dental insurance usually covers two cleanings and checkups per year. If you haven’t gotten your family’s in yet, there’s still time.

8. Check Their Brushing Routine

When your kids are at home more during the holiday break, use that opportunity to check their brushing habits. Are they using their toothbrush correctly? Cleaning every tooth, especially along the gumlines? How quickly are they brushing? You might want to pick up some disclosing tablets to check that everyone is cleaning their smile well.

9. Add Fluoride Mouthwash

A great oral care routine for kids includes fluoride mouthwash at bedtime. Don’t eat or drink anything after, so that the minerals can stay on your teeth. Be sure to use the rinse after brushing and flossing, so that it can soak into the enamel as best as possible.

10. Enjoy in Moderation

Learning the importance of healthy eating habits includes when to eat “bad” snacks. To limit sugar exposure time on teeth, have dessert right after a meal. Try to avoid snacking on little bits here and there throughout the day, as it prolongs the length of time that sugar comes into contact with your child’s teeth.

Kids’ Dental Exams in Brighton

Looking for a pediatric dentist in Brighton? Kids City Dental is a kid-focused general dentistry office with in-house comprehensive pediatric dentistry and braces treatments. Contact our friendly team today to reserve your child’s next checkup!

Right now is a great time to go ahead and plan your child’s end-of-the-year dental appointment, before your family’s insurance coverage runs out. If you didn’t know already, most insurance plans run from January to December, with coverage expiring and resetting on New Year’s Day.

Should I Use or Lose My Dental Benefits?

Most dental insurance policies cover preventative services like cleanings and exams at 100% throughout the year. But basic or major restorative treatments tend to be capped at an allowance of $1,000-1,500, depending on your family’s coverage. What that means is that your insurance plan will pay up to that amount per year until it runs out. Anything you don’t use before December 31st simply goes away; you can’t roll it into next year.

If your child has a cavity that needs to be treated, right now is a great time to plan their appointment. Any remaining benefits can be applied to their procedure so that they don’t go to waste. And chances are you’ve already made some payments toward your child or family’s deductible, further reducing your overall out-of-pocket expenses. Whereas if you wait a few months, the deductible needs to be repaid and the cavity could be even worse (requiring additional treatment.)

Do I Need to Use the Benefits by the End of the Year?

If your child is caught up on dental cleanings and doesn’t have any active decay, then it’s best to keep on a six-month checkup schedule. But if you know there’s an area that needs to be addressed—or they’ve been complaining of a toothache—the smartest thing to do is plan a visit before the holidays get here. That way you can maximize your coverage allowance and limit any impact on your family’s holiday budget.

Depending on the care your child needs, some of the treatment could be completed now (before benefits expire) and then again later (when benefits reset.) This strategy keeps treatments minimally invasive to your child’s teeth while also limiting your portion of the treatment fees. It essentially allows you to split two years of coverage within the period of just 2-3 months.

When Should I Schedule an Appointment to Use My Remaining Benefits?

Today. End-of-the-year pediatric dental appointments tend to fill up quickly. Especially when the kids are out of school on Thanksgiving or Christmas Break. With all of the holiday festivities headed our direction, appointments tend to go fast. So, if you know your child needs dental attention or you’ve been waiting for the pandemic to die down before making an appointment, right now is one of the last opportunities you’ll have for using your 2021 dental benefits. And if you’ve been thinking about an orthodontic evaluation for your child, this is also a great time to reserve an exam.

Any treatment that’s initiated before December 31st will apply to the current year of coverage before this year’s benefits run out.

A Healthy Approach to Children’s Dentistry

Tooth decay can spread quite rapidly in children’s teeth. What only requires a small filling to repair today could easily evolve into a root canal or crown by next year. By treating dental issues early, you can prevent painful dental emergencies and extra treatment for your child.

Early intervention stops the spread of decay from tooth to tooth. It also promotes healthy tooth eruption patterns, as your child’s permanent smile is dependent upon healthy baby teeth to guide them into place. Stopping the cycle of decay is crucial, as it can spiral out of control if it’s not treated early.

Visit Our Kids Dentist in Brighton

Kids City Dental offers comprehensive pediatric dentistry and orthodontics services under one roof. Children of all ages are welcome here. Contact our kid’s dentist in Brighton today to reserve your child’s next appointment.

Have you ever wondered about the reasons to choose dental crowns for kids? After all, most of those teeth will fall out eventually…right? Would it just be easier to place a large filling or pull the tooth entirely?

Not exactly.

When Should I Choose Crowns for My Child?

Dental crowns (sometimes referred to as “caps”) are protective covers that go over the entire tooth, up to the gums. They’re used in situations where a fracture or cavity is too large to fill, or after a pulpotomy (pediatric root canal.)

A crown will essentially allow that tooth to continue functioning normally instead of breaking apart any further. Without a cap, your child’s tooth would eventually need to be extracted. Losing their tooth prematurely could lead to a laundry list of unwanted side effects, such as:

• Impacted teeth
• Orthodontic problems
• Speech delays
• Difficulty eating or malabsorption
• Changes in jaw growth or facial profile
• TMJ problems
• Increased risk of dental emergencies
• Tooth wear

Benefits of Children’s Dental Crowns

By preserving your child’s natural biting patterns with a dental crown, your family can enjoy a significantly lower risk of dental complications.

Crowning a weak baby tooth allows your child to keep their tooth for as long as possible, even if it’s just shy of the normal time for it to exfoliate (fall out) on its own. Without the crown, the tooth would be too brittle and gradually break apart or need to be extracted. And in that case, the extra space that’s created allows other teeth to drift out of alignment, potentially impacting the underlying adult tooth. With a crown, the tooth acts as a natural space maintainer and eruption guide until it’s closer to the time for the next tooth to come in.

Maintaining natural biting patterns isn’t just essential for managing crowding or impacted teeth. Tooth preservation also affects how your child’s jaw develops and the overall symmetry of their facial profile. Preserving a tooth with a crown could potentially eliminate the need for corrective surgeries when your child is a teen or adult.

Since crowns allow your child to bite, chew, and speak normally. You won’t have to worry about additional speech delays or problems with eating because a crown will fill in the gap.

But most importantly, a pediatric dental crown helps your child’s self-esteem during these important, formative years. Feeling embarrassed about a broken or missing tooth is more than enough reason for your child to avoid laughing or smiling around new friends, impacting peer relationships and social development. When your child doesn’t have to worry about an embarrassing dental issue, they’ll be free to be themselves.

…But Won’t the Tooth Fall Out Eventually?

Ultimately, yes. Once your child’s tooth is closer to the natural exfoliation cycle, the entire baby tooth should fall out like its neighboring teeth. If it doesn’t, we can help wiggle it a little bit for some extra encouragement. But if it’s a permanent tooth that needs a crown, the temporary version that we put on while your child is young will eventually need to be updated with a more long-term restoration after your child’s mouth is fully developed.

Children’s Dental Crowns in Brighton

If your child has a cavity or broken tooth, our children’s dentist in Brighton will do everything possible to help save their smile. By addressing infection or dental emergencies early, we can provide your child with fast pain relief and prevent common conditions from becoming major issues that alter their permanent adult teeth.

At Kids City Dental, we tailor our care to pediatric patients. So, whether your little one is due for a checkup or crown, we’ll provide them with a positive experience that your family can feel great about.

Contact us today to schedule!

Does your child need braces? One of the best ways to know if they do or not is to schedule an orthodontic evaluation with our kids dentist in Brighton.

What is the Best Age for Orthodontic Treatment?

At what age should a child be referred for an orthodontic examination? Pediatric dentists and orthodontic experts recommend that all children have an orthodontic screening by age 7.

Why 7 years old? Because at this point in your child’s oral development, they have a healthy mix of both primary (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth. Anything that needs attention that early on can be guided into a healthier position as the jaws and teeth are continuing to develop.

When we evaluate a child’s smile this early on, we can potentially intercept major growth issues before they evolve into serious bite problems. For instance, impacted adult teeth, severe crowding, TMJ problems, or serious overbites. Modifying the growth patterns can encourage a more balanced facial profile while the bone and teeth fall into a healthier, more functional alignment.

While getting braces as an older teen or adult is doable, it’s optimal to start them while children are still growing and their bones are not fully developed just yet. Since we can use orthodontic appliances to adjust anatomical features, early braces can essentially bypass the need for surgical corrections or more intensive therapies at a later stage in life. Fortunately, a lot of children today have access to braces when their parents may have not.

What is Orthodontic Screening?

A pediatric orthodontic screening is part of your child’s dental exam—or a stand-alone dental assessment—where we evaluate the growth patterns and anatomy of their teeth and jaws. We will also look at eruption patterns (including unerupted adult teeth) and swallowing patterns since your child’s tongue movements can guide tooth positioning.

During an orthodontic evaluation, we might also take a full-mouth X-ray to evaluate the growth of the jaws and tooth development.

Parents can ask a pediatric dentist to conduct an orthodontic assessment, or they can bring their child to an orthodontist. Fortunately, at Kids City Dental, we offer complete kids dentistry and braces under one roof! There’s no need to ask for a separate referral.

Will My Child Need Braces?

Not every child needs braces. Early pediatric orthodontic screenings allow us to keep an eye on things or monitor oral development as your child grows. It might be that we only need to assess certain growth patterns at their routine checkup, instead of going straight into braces. If that’s the case, we will check your child’s occlusion (the way the teeth bite together) at every six-month checkup and compare it to their previous visit.

For kids who do need braces, early treatment usually consists of “Phase I” or “early intervention.” This type of orthodontic therapy is used for modifying growth patterns and tooth positioning as your child grows. Essentially, it sets your child’s mouth up for balanced, healthier anatomy that will function at an optimal level. Usually, we fine-tune their final tooth alignment with “Phase II” or traditional braces a few years later.

When children don’t need early intervention but still need to straighten their teeth, traditional orthodontics are usually put on when they’re closer to 13-14 years old. Just be sure to go ahead and have them screened early, even if things seem completely fine.

Pediatric Orthodontic Screenings Near You

At Kids City Dental, our office provides in-house orthodontic exams and pediatric dentistry services for children of all ages. If you’re searching for an orthodontist or pediatric dentist in Brighton, our kid-focused general practice is exactly what you’ve been looking for! Contact us today to reserve your child’s next appointment.

Did you know that tooth decay is one of the top reasons why children miss school days? Our Kids dentist in Brighton is committed to helping families enjoy healthier teeth through proven preventative strategies. But even if they do need care, we can intercept it while it’s small (reducing the need for pediatric sedation Brighton.)

As your family prepares for back to school, here are some important tips on enjoying a healthy smile through the upcoming months:

1. Re-Vamp Everyone’s Brushing Routine

Now that your family is transitioning from the “lazy” days of summer, toothbrushing may be the last thing on kids’ minds before they head out the door for school. But ideally, you want to be brushing twice a day for a minimum of two minutes at a time.

Make sure you establish a great brushing routine after breakfast before your child grabs their backpack. Those two minutes are priceless. And after the day is over and the homework is complete, have them brush again before they head to bed. It’s only four minutes total of their day, but the payoff is crucial when it comes to avoiding preventable dental disease. While you’re at it, make sure their toothpaste contains fluoride.

2. Have Healthy Snacks on Hand

Just like the rest of your body, your smile is what you eat. Diets high in processed foods and artificial sweeteners are more likely to involve cavities. But fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and certain dairy products help you have healthy teeth.

Here are just a few smart snacks to get you started:

• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Carrot sticks
• Celery and hummus
• Whole-grain crackers
• Apple slices
• Air-popped popcorn
• Roasted nuts

While we’re talking about snacking, try to have your child eat at specific times in the day. Each time they snack, bacteria produce acids on their teeth for about 30 minutes. More frequent snacking means more acid exposure, which increases their cavity risk.

3. Stock Up on Floss Picks

Brushing only cleans about 60% of tooth surfaces. You also need to clean in-between! Our kids dentist in Brighton recommends keeping plenty of disposable floss picks in the bathroom, car, or even in your child’s backpack for them to use after they eat. A great flossing routine will lower your child’s cavity risk and the need for complex procedures that require pediatric sedation (Brighton.)

4. Opt for a Refillable Water Bottle

Your municipal water supply has regulated fluoride levels. And fluoride—like calcium—is essential for strong bones and teeth as your child grows. Our kids dentist in Brighton recommends drinking tap water over commercial bottled waters because of the monitored mineral content. So, if your child likes to have water bottles in their backpack or for extracurricular activities, invest in a nice reusable bottle instead.

5. Send a Toothbrush to School

Having an extra toothbrush tucked away in your child’s backpack is a great idea. Especially if they’re in braces. Keep a travel-sized bag with a toothbrush and toothpaste for them to clean their teeth after lunch or whenever they get a break. This step isn’t a must, but it’s extremely beneficial.

6. Schedule a Checkup ASAP

“Routine” checkups with a kids dentist in Brighton make it easier for your family to get ahead of cavities and dental infections. Plan to schedule an exam and cleaning for your child every six months. We’ll evaluate their teeth, seal permanent molars, apply fluoride, and perform professional cleanings to help keep their enamel strong between checkups.

If your child needs treatment, we offer pediatric sedation (Brighton) to ensure a comfortable and efficient experience. They’ll be back to smiling again in no time!

Is your child due for a checkup? Are you ready to plan your family’s toddler or baby dental exams in Brighton? Contact Kids City Dental today to get started!

As a parent, you try to do everything you can to help your child stay healthy. From eating a balanced diet and brushing their teeth twice a day to getting enough sunshine and exercise, there’s a lot to keep up with. But your pediatric dentist in Brighton wants you to know something important: those sports drinks your child is using to stay hydrated all summer could be worse on their teeth than soda.

Do Sports Drinks Cause Cavities?

Most of us think “healthy” when we see sports drinks. The surprising news is that a lot of sports drinks are some of the worst beverages for teeth. They’re even harsher on your tooth enamel than soda, diet soda, juice, etc. Unfortunately, a lot of elite and professional athletes suffer from dental decay simply because of what they’re putting into their bodies to stay hydrated: such as sports drinks.

Risk Factors of Pediatric Tooth Decay

Drinking a sports drink every now and then—like when it’s especially hot and your child needs electrolytes—isn’t going to be a deal-breaker. But liquids that contain high amounts of sugar such as sports drinks, juices, etc., and the frequency in which they’re consumed, do play a key role in your child’s cavity risk.

For example, if your child is drinking a sports drink 3x a week at practice and then 1-2 of them on the weekend while they’re at a game, they’re at a fairly high risk of dental side-effects from all of that sugar. But if you’re encouraging your child to hydrate with water and they’re only drinking a sports drink on the really hot days or extra-long workouts, the risk isn’t as severe.

Screening for Cavities in Children

Not all cavities hurt. If your child is developing tooth decay, you may never see the signs until the cavity is extremely large. Most liquid-induced cavities tend to start between the teeth or just below the chewing surfaces, at the narrowest points of those deep grooves.

Routine dental exams and periodic digital X-rays will help us screen for tooth decay in its earliest stages. If a cavity is noted, our pediatric dentist in Brighton will discuss which steps to take next. In most situations, it will be a small filling. Otherwise, we might recommend fluoride dental treatments for kids who are on the cusp of needing treatment, but the demineralization is still early.

Kids Tooth Decay Treatments in Brighton

The first treatment for tooth decay is prevention. Drinking plenty of water and scheduling fluoride dental treatments for kids twice a year is most important. But if your child drinks a lot of sports drinks, they may still need a dental filling.

Pediatric dental fillings are small and minimally invasive in most cases. They can comfortably be completed without any sedation, but that’s always available should your child need it.

Unfortunately, tooth decay that isn’t intercepted early enough can spread into the nerve of the tooth, causing an abscess. At that point, the only way to eliminate pain and preserve the tooth is to perform a pulpotomy and crown. If you have any questions about this unique treatment, we’ll be happy to answer them for you.

 Preventative Kids Dentist in Brighton

Looking for a pediatric dentist in Brighton? Contact Kids City Dental to reserve a checkup for your child. We love seeing kids of all ages and backgrounds and are committed to helping your child experience gentle dentistry in a positive light.

Even if you didn’t know about the dangers of sports drinks until now, that’s ok. Our preventative services and fluoride dental treatments for kids can help you get things back on the right track for your family.

Call Kids City Dental today to make an appointment.

Pediatric dental sedation (Brighton) makes it easier and safer for kids to access the oral care they need. When a child is too young or wiggly to sit through a dental procedure, dental sedation treatment near you makes visits to the dentist simpler for your family.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation (Laughing Gas)

Our dental office for kids (in Brighton) frequently uses nitrous oxide to help children feel comfortable and relaxed during basic treatments. Nitrous oxide is also called “laughing gas” since it can occasionally give kids a case of the giggles. Others might even fall asleep.

Nitrous oxide sedation uses medical-grade gas that’s combined with pure oxygen and inhaled through a soft, scented nosepiece. Within just a few minutes, your child will feel a little bit of a “buzz” along with tingly fingers and toes. It’s common for a warm sensation to accompany the gas.

After a nitrous oxide sedation procedure is complete, we place your child back onto 100% pure oxygen for several minutes. By then, all the effects of the sedative are reversed. Since it’s quickly reversible, your child won’t have any lingering drowsiness afterward. However, their mouth will still be a bit numb because of the local anesthetic, which can take a few hours to wear off.

Laughing gas provides light sedation that’s excellent for children in need of basic restorative treatment, such as fillings, extractions, or crowns. The fast-acting analgesic is ideal for helping children relax during their procedure so that we can complete treatment more efficiently. That means briefer visits and less anxiety for your child.

Oral Pediatric Dental Sedation | Brighton

Oral sedation uses a type of sedative medication that’s taken by mouth just before the planned dental procedure. Our kids dentist (Brighton) typically pairs oral sedation with nitrous oxide for maximum comfort and relaxation.

With oral sedation, the effects of the sedative are much deeper than laughing gas. Although your child is still conscious, they are drowsier and sometimes feel like they’re in a dream-like state. The amnesic effects of the medication often mean that most children won’t remember much — if anything — about the appointment.

Since oral sedation lasts for a few hours, your child will have some lingering drowsiness following the procedure. We typically book these procedures first thing in the morning and ask that your child not eat or drink anything beforehand.

Oral sedation is ideal for instances involving:

• Complex treatment needs
• Multiple procedures in one visit
• Extractions or pulpotomies
• Children with special needs
• Moderate to severe anxiety and phobia
• Concerns about your child’s cooperation

Should My Child Get Sedation?

Our dental office for kids (in Brighton) offers different levels of sedation to fit the diverse needs of our patients. We typically don’t recommend sedation during basic preventative cleanings and exams. But if a child needs to have their mouth numbed for a dental filling or other restorative treatment, a light sedative can ensure the most comfortable experience.

We typically use nitrous oxide (the lightest form of dental sedation) on all restorative treatments. Most children feel relaxed and carefree, without worrying about everything else going on around them. But if your child needs multiple treatments or might be unable to sit through treatment on their own, deeper dental sedation might be the only way to facilitate the care that they need.

At Kids City Dental we’re happy to discuss the advantages of the different types of sedation dentistry that we offer. Together, we can find the best care option for your child.

Dental Office for Kids in Brighton

Kids City Dental offers children’s dentistry for all ages. By intercepting issues early, our kids dentist (Brighton) can help your child enjoy dental care in a positive, comfortable atmosphere. If you’re looking for dental sedation treatment near you, you’ve come to the right place! Call us today to reserve an appointment.

Regular checkups with a family or pediatric dentist in Brighton will help your child stay ahead of preventable dental problems. From gentle professional cleanings to thorough dental exams, routinely monitoring your child’s oral development makes it simpler to intercept possible issues while they’re still small (and well before they become big issues.) A child teeth X-ray is an integral piece of this puzzle and an essential tool in your child’s “routine” checkup.

Importance of Child Dental X-rays

Digital child teeth X-rays make it possible to see areas that aren’t visible during a clinical exam. From areas between the teeth, just inside of the tooth enamel, and around the roots of teeth, each of these spaces are common areas that can become infected.

With a child teeth X-ray, we can spot problems like:

• Impacted adult teeth
• Cysts within the bone
• Abscessed teeth
• Tooth decay
• Missing teeth
• Pathology/cancer
• Atypical tooth development

 

Are Dental X-rays Safe for Children?

Absolutely. Today’s digital X-rays use up to 90% less radiation than the X-rays most of us received as children a few decades ago. The equipment today exposes patients to less radiation than what you would get from spending a day out in the sun, or taking an airplane flight from coast to coast. It’s that low.

You might ask, “Well then why all of the precautions?” It’s simple. We want to keep your child’s (and our staff’s) exposure as low as reasonably possible. So, we use lead aprons to any block scatter radiation to organs like their thyroid gland and reproductive tissues, as those are the ones that are generally more susceptible to any type of secondary exposure.

Types of X-rays

Depending on your child’s age, we use different types of children’s X-rays to assess various areas of their oral anatomy. Here are just a few examples:

Occlusal Films — One of the first X-rays we’ll take on your child once they’re ready, is an occlusal film. These small X-rays allow us to monitor the eruption and placement of their front teeth, early on during development.

Periapicals (PAs) — Any time we need to see the entire length of a specific tooth, we will need to take a PA X-ray. This film will capture the full tooth anatomy and immediate surrounding areas so that we can determine if there is an abscess, resorbing root, or some type of cyst affecting the root area of certain teeth. PAs are taken on a case-by-case basis when there is a concern.

Bitewings — Most cavities form between back teeth or in the deep chewing surfaces of your child’s molars. We use bitewing X-rays to quickly capture all of the cavity-prone back teeth at one time. These X-rays only show the areas above the gumline on the upper and lower teeth.

Panoramics (Pano) — This full-mouth film shows your child’s entire jaw, all of the teeth, and even their TMJ joints. We typically use it to evaluate tooth eruption patterns, impacted teeth, and pre-screen for orthodontic complications. It’s common to have one taken around age 7 when there’s a combination of adult and baby teeth in your child’s mouth, then once every 3-5 years thereafter.

The Danger of Skipping X-rays

X-rays provide us with the tools to intercept issues early. Without them, common problems can evolve into complex treatment needs. For example, a small cavity can easily be filled. But waiting to take an X-ray until the tooth hurts may mean the tooth has already abscessed. It would be like seeing your medical doctor for a routine physical without running any bloodwork or labs. Dental X-rays provide us with a whole picture for better long-term preventative care.

Looking for a Pediatric Dentist in Brighton?

Our kids dentist near you makes it simple to access comprehensive children’s dentistry in a fun, friendly atmosphere. At Kids City Dental, our kid-focused general dentists are committed to ensuring that every child has the chance to enjoy healthy teeth for life. Contact us today to reserve an appointment.

Orthodontic experts, pediatric dentists, and general family dental providers all recommend that children get their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. The reason for this specific age is because most children will have a combination of primary (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth, which essentially allows for a preview of what’s to come in your child’s oral development.

That being said, not all kids need braces at such a young age. But if your child does have some significant bite concerns – such as crowding, overbites, or a narrow jaw – they may be more at risk for problems in their developing bite. Early intervention (such as “phase 1 braces” near you) can minimize the extent of their orthodontic needs in the future.

Orthodontic Consultations and Braces in Brighton

The easiest way to determine if your child needs braces (near you) is to simply have them see our dentist every six months. During these periodic visits, your child’s tooth eruption patterns, jaw alignment, facial development, and other growth factors are monitored. If at any point certain concerns arise, our Brighton dentist will discuss them with you.

In some cases, your family or another pediatric dentist may recommend an orthodontic consultation after watching your child’s oral and facial development over time. When that’s the case, you’ll want to see a specialist just to get a general idea as to whether or not your child needs braces.

An orthodontic consultation can take place as early as 7-8 years of age, or as late as high school. But the earlier, the better. Especially since it’s easier to modify growth patterns of the facial bones while your child is still young. Waiting until they’re a teen and the bones are already far along in development leaves less room to intercept growth patterns and tooth placement.

Consultation for Braces (Near You)

For braces in Brighton, Kids City Dental begins with an exam and consultation. During this visit we’ll:

• Evaluate your child’s facial skeletal patterns
• Check the biting relationship between the upper and lower teeth (occlusion)
• Screen for impacted teeth, crowding, or congenitally missing teeth
• Assess the development of unerupted molars or wisdom teeth
• Discuss concerns such as thumb and finger sucking, or tongue thrusting
• Take a series of photographs, scans, and X-rays

Once all of this information is gathered, we can determine if your child will need any type of orthodontic therapy, be it braces or some type of growth modification appliance. Again, the earlier we’re able to intercept the alignment of bone and tooth placement, the more successful and efficient their orthodontic care can be.

Paying for Braces in Brighton

Let’s say you’re certain that your child requires orthodontic treatment. How can you make sure you’re getting quality, yet affordable braces near you? At Kids City Dental, we work closely with families to make orthodontic therapy as affordable as possible.

First, our financial coordinators will connect with your insurance carrier — if applicable — to determine what orthodontic benefits are included in your plan. Sometimes there are age requirements or other criteria. Next, they take our recommended treatment plan and incorporate your benefits into the fee breakdown. From there, you’re able to see the total remaining fee after your estimated insurance payment.

Although the cost of braces varies from one child to the next, the remaining balance can easily be paid on a month-to-month basis throughout the duration of your child’s treatment. This option ensures that our Brighton braces are as affordable and accessible as possible to the children who need them.

Find Braces and a Pediatric Dentist Near Me

Kids City Dental offers braces near you with a friendly team your kids will love to visit! Our in-house orthodontic options make comprehensive pediatric dentistry accessible to children of all ages.

To find out whether your child needs braces or how much the process will cost, we encourage you to schedule a no-fuss consultation at our practice in Brighton. New patients are always welcome!