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!

There’s nothing more important than the health of your child. So when you’re looking for a kids dentist for your little one, it’s important to work with someone that you and your child feel comfortable with. Keeping your child’s teeth healthy and strong is an important part of their development. By visiting the best kids dentist in Brighton we can help with your kids needs.

Many new parents are surprised to learn that they should take their child to see a dentist before they are one year old. This period is a crucial time for protecting your baby’s teeth as they begin appearing.

Establishing an oral care routine early is the key to developing strong, healthy teeth. Kids’ dentistry is designed to not only assess the health of your child’s teeth, but also to educate parents about techniques to protect teeth in between visits. The dentist will be able to help your child avoid tooth decay issues and maintain good oral health year-round. Also Fluoride Dental Treatments for Kids can help in a major way. 

Before you pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist, consider the following things that you should look for.

Understand the Difference Between a Pediatric Dentist and a Family Dentist

Family dentists provide general care for patients of all ages. However, pediatric dentists specialize in kids’ dentistry and are trained and certified by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Pediatric dentists work exclusively with children and are well-equipped to handle young patients.

Consider Professional Education and Experience

Choosing the right pediatric dentist for your child can seem overwhelming, but with a little research, you’ll be able to quickly narrow down your list. Perform a background check to learn where they went to school and what type of specialty training and education they have.

Before you schedule your appointment, make sure that your pediatric dentist is fully licensed and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means that he or she is up-to-date on the latest developments in kids’ dentistry and related clinical procedures.

Make Sure Your Child Feels Comfortable with the Provider

Taking your child to the dentist for the first time is a huge milestone. But it can also be intimidating for your little one. That’s why it is so important to make sure that your child’s pediatric dentist provides a fun, welcoming environment. You want your child to feel as comfortable as possible.

Make sure that the doctor has a pleasant chairside manner to help your child feel at ease. You’ll also want to work with a team that is friendly and helpful, while paying attention to your concerns.

When it comes to kids’ dentistry, you’ll want to take your child to a practice where the entire staff works to create an enjoyable atmosphere for patients! You can even check out our amazing dental services here in Brighton.

Make Sure the Dentist Emphasizes the Importance of Preventative Care

From your very first visit, your child’s dentist should educate you about preventative dental care methods. Don’t wait until your child has a cavity to make their oral hygiene a top priority. Make sure you take them to the dentist at least twice a year to protect their oral health.

During your appointment, an experienced dentist will perform a thorough examination to identify potential issues that could become problematic later on. If there are any issues, your child will receive a customized treatment plan to help protect tooth enamel and prevent decay.

You should note that even if your child is brushing their teeth twice a day, it can be difficult to remove all of the food particles that become trapped in the grooves of their teeth. That is why it is so important to take your child to the dentist regularly to receive proper dental cleanings and preventative care treatments.

Ask the Right Questions

No question is a bad question. During your initial consultation, make sure that you get the answers you need to make informed decisions. As a parent, it is your job to understand every aspect of your child’s health and development — and that includes their dental care.

The more you know about your child’s health and the treatment options that are available, the better you’ll feel about the decisions you make.

Other things you’ll want to consider include:

• How close is the dental office to your home or job? You’ll want to choose a location that is convenient to get to, keeping traffic in mind.
• Do they offer extended service hours? This is an important factor to consider if you need to make an appointment before work or after school.
• What insurance providers are accepted? It’s important to know what type of insurance the office will accept and what your financing options might be.
• Do the dentist and their staff make your family feel important? Make sure you work with a team that appreciates your business and goes above and beyond to ensure you are a satisfied customer.

Thinking through the questions upfront can make it easier to pick a high quality kids dentist.

Check Out the Online Reviews

Online reviews are a great way to gain insight into the type of experience that you can expect from a dental practice. Reviews provide you with valuable information about a dentist’s level of service, chairside manner, and how well they interact with children of all ages.

Choose the Best Candidate and Schedule Your Child for an Appointment

Once you’ve found a kids dentist in your area that you feel confident about, it’s time to move forward with scheduling an appointment! During your child’s initial visit, you can expect the dentist to perform a thorough cleaning and examination. From there, you’ll get a report on their oral health and learn what you need to do to keep their mouth healthy and strong.

Your child may be a little nervous at first, but a great kids dentist will make the experience as fun and stress-free as possible. Come visit us soon and feel free to contact us at  https://kidscitydental.com/contact/.

In every medical specialty, doctors find that certain parts of the body are misunderstood by members of the public. When it comes to the world of dentistry, there are plenty of misconceptions about baby teeth. One of the most widely-held myths is that rigorous dental hygiene and check-ups aren’t really necessary. After all, the baby teeth will fall out anyway, right?

The truth is that baby teeth play an important role in long-term oral health, and neglecting their care can have long-term consequences. Parents can and should try to educate themselves about dental care for kids. But it’s also the job of every pediatric dentist in Brighton and throughout the country to help educate parents and kids.

If you realize you don’t fully understand the value of baby teeth, here are the five of the most significant things you need to know.

Baby Teeth Provide the Foundation for Future Smiles

Because adult teeth form just under the gums, poor dental hygiene can affect them before they’re even visible. Untreated cavities and decay can lead to issues like dental abscesses. Not only are abscesses painful, but they can also damage the still-developing adult teeth below.

If adult teeth aren’t affected by baby teeth mishaps, it is still important to establish good oral hygiene practices. It would be an epic struggle to introduce a child to toothbrushing for the first time at the age of six when permanent teeth usually first erupt. If kids have a steep learning curve or are resistant to the idea of brushing and flossing regularly and well, their new adult teeth could sustain some serious damage. And that’s nothing to smile about!

The Best Time To Start Brushing Baby Teeth? Before They Show Up

It’s logical to assume that you don’t need to brush your child’s teeth if they don’t yet have teeth. Until recently, it was widely agreed that you were safe to put off toothbrushing until that first tooth popped through the gums. But some experts now suggest establishing an oral hygiene routine much earlier.

That doesn’t mean that you should shove a pointy toothbrush into an infant’s mouth, though! Instead, gently wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, damp washcloth or some gauze around the same time every day as part of your normal routine. This will help your child to get settled into a positive habit. It will also clear bacteria out of your baby’s mouth, allowing them to avoid an infection risk once teeth erupt.

Baby Teeth are Integral to Proper Speech Development

Teeth can do a lot more than chew food. In fact, baby teeth play a critical role in helping children learn how to speak properly. Children’s teeth can start coming in as early as four months of age, and their full set of baby teeth has typically emerged by the age of three. Meanwhile, between the ages of two and five, most children will experience massive growth in their speech skills.

This timing isn’t coincidental. A child’s mouth, lips, and teeth all work in tandem to create clear speech. The teeth, in particular, are responsible for a child’s ability to make certain fricative sounds. Damaged or missing baby teeth can hinder proper language development.

Baby Teeth Hold Space for Permanent Teeth

Babies are born with twenty tooth buds already present underneath the gum line, which will eventually emerge. Adults, on the other hand, will end up with 32 permanent teeth. Why is there such a significant difference? Look at the size of a child’s mouth compared to the size of an adult’s mouth, and it will become clear.

Children have a limited amount of space to accommodate teeth, but as they get bigger, their palate will also expand. Baby teeth generally don’t fall out until permanent teeth are ready to push through. In fact, the loss of a baby tooth is often prompted by a permanent tooth pushing it out of the way and moving into the spot it left behind.

If a baby tooth falls out early due to improper care, the adult tooth that’s supposed to replace it may not be ready to grow. However, a nearby permanent tooth may be ready to make its entrance. If the other permanent tooth doesn’t have its own space available, it will move towards the gap. This leads to dental issues like overcrowding, crookedness, and even impaction.

Major Baby Teeth Problems Are Fixable Under Safe Pediatric Sedation Near You

Some parents already understand why baby teeth need daily care and regular check-ups. But unforeseen situations happen despite parental diligence, leading to things like a minor cavity or a chipped tooth.

Even if a parent is proactive about dental cleanings, they may hesitate to agree to a filling or a cap. In-depth procedures like these require sedation for pain management, which can make parents nervous.

It’s understandable to be anxious about the way that patients will respond to anesthesia at any age. But pediatric sedation in Brighton and beyond is incredibly safe. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) consistently updates their guidelines and communicates best practices to pediatric anesthesiologists.

There are also several types of sedation available, so kids can get the anesthesia that’s best suited for their needs. These include are:

· Nitrous oxide
· Mild sedation
· Moderate sedation
· Deep sedation
· General anesthesia

If you have still had reservations about sedation, communicate them to your child’s dentist. Having an open dialogue can provide valuable information and may even allay your fears.

Visit a Pediatric Dentist in Brighton

If you’re a parent who feels confused or uninformed about pediatric dentistry, that’s okay! Your child’s dentist spent a lot of time in school to gain their knowledge. While there are some great resources online to help demystify the topic, you may want to discuss concerns with someone you know and trust.

The team at Kids City Dental is always happy to share their knowledge and support. We’ll get you in touch with the best pediatric dentist 80601 has to offer!

Healthy teeth lead to a lifetime of bright, confident smiles. Every parent wants that for their child. Having dental insurance can make that much easier!

To help your child’s teeth stay cavity-free and to avoid other painful oral care issues, it’s important to have your child visit the dentist regularly so that they can implement a preventative care routine early on.

Dental Insurance for Kids Through Medicaid

A pediatric dentist in Brighton who accepts dental insurance for kids through Medicaid can often provide the following services:

• Exams and X-rays to identify potential issues with your child’s oral health
• Cavity prevention with fluoride treatments and sealants as needed
• Finding potential problems with your child’s bite, which may need to be corrected with braces or retainers
• Emergency care services for toothaches or accidents involving your child’s teeth
• Treatment for infections
• Tooth restorations (i.e., fillings and crowns)
• Advice and support on caring for your child’s teeth, including proper brushing, flossing, and nutrition

Dental services through Medicaid will vary from state to state. But if you’re looking for a pediatric dentist in Colorado, your child should have the above services covered at a minimum.

There’s no question that having dental insurance for your children is the best way to ensure that they have access to the professional care they need when they need it. Dental insurance can help to make the costs for these services even more affordable.

What is Medicaid Exactly?

Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program that provides coverage for low-income children, adults, pregnant women, and elderly adults with disabilities.

Who is Eligible for Medicaid?

People who are deemed eligible for Medicaid can access various healthcare services either free of charge or for a minimal fee. Federal and state governments work together to provide Medicaid services. While the state is responsible to run the program and decide what benefits they will cover, the federal government provides the necessary funding and regulates program guidelines.

Dental care for children is required by law to be included in Medicaid coverage. The program provides comprehensive services, including early screening, diagnosis, and treatment. However, coverage is optional for adults over the age of 21.

The state will conduct Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) for Medicaid program recipients in all cases where it is determined to be medically necessary. If a condition is found during the examination that requires treatment, the state is obligated to cover all services necessary for treatment (even if those services are not included in the state’s Medicaid plan).

What Services are Considered Medically Necessary?

The state defines which services will be deemed medically necessary. Medicaid is technically a comprehensive health insurance program, therefore treatment options for certain oral diseases will include those related to other medical services covered by the program.

How to Determine if Medicaid is the Right Option for You and Your Children

Each state creates a periodic schedule whereby children are directly referred to the program. If you believe that your family qualifies for Medicaid services, you can either complete an online application or apply by phone or at a local Medicaid office. Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility.

Once approved, your local Medicaid office will also be able to tell you exactly what dental services are covered and to provide you with a complete list of the dental offices that accept Medicaid insurance.

How Oral Health Impacts Overall Health

Maintaining good oral health is about more than just having a great-looking smile. You may be surprised to learn that poor oral health can affect other parts of your body and lead to many other conditions and diseases.

Here are a few of the ways that your child’s health may be impacted by their oral health:

• Impaired Speech: Advanced tooth decay can cause early tooth loss, which can in turn impair speech development.
• Difficulty Sleeping: Severe oral disease can cause chronic dental pain, which may impact your child’s ability to sleep comfortably.
• Low Self-Esteem: Severe oral disease can cause children to feel less confident or even embarrassed by the appearance of their teeth.
• Poor Nutrition: Poor oral health in children is often linked to poor diet. Oral disease can result in painful problems for the teeth, making it difficult to chew. As a result, this may cause children to avoid eating certain foods.
• Lower Educational Performance: Chronic dental pain can make it difficult for children to focus at school and may even cause them to miss classes. Absences from school or early childhood development programs can cause kids to fall behind their peers, making it difficult to get homework completed.
• Diabetes: Studies show that people with gum disease may have more difficulty keeping their blood sugar under control. This also leaves diabetics more susceptible to gum disease, as their bodies have a harder time resisting infection. When periodontal disease is properly treated, there is often less of a need for insulin.

Dental Coverage Through SCHIP

There are some families whose total household income disqualifies them from Medicaid, yet they still do not earn enough to use other forms of insurance. For people who fall into this category, Medicare and Medicaid Services offer State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) services.

Who is Eligible for This Program?

SCHIP offers health and dental coverage for low-income children across the country.

Guidelines vary from state to state, depending on the age, annual income, and family size of the participants. The state provides coverage through its network of private sector healthcare providers, including dentists.

SCHIP is not accepted by all dentists, and not all dentists participate in the program. You should consult with your local health department for details on eligible providers.

Kids City Dental accepts dental insurance for kids through Medicaid. Don’t delay! Schedule an appointment for an oral examination so that your child can have a healthier, brighter smile!

Injury. Tooth decay. Overcrowding. These are just a few of the reasons that may find yourself researching more about your child’s tooth extraction.

Adults aren’t the only ones who sometimes need a tooth removed. If your dentist recommends a pediatric tooth extraction for your child, here’s everything you should know about the process.

The Top 3 Reasons for Pediatric Tooth Extraction

Tooth Decay

You hope that your young child won’t endure tooth decay, but it’s a common problem in primary teeth. 

The enamel on baby teeth is very fragile, so it doesn’t offer the same protection as the enamel on adult teeth. Children are also more likely to skip brushing or brush with incorrect form, which makes their mouth even more prone to cavities and decay. 

Cavities are easy to treat, but if left untreated for too long they can cause serious oral health issues. For example, an infection may develop, or bacteria can spread to other areas of the mouth and affect the development of permanent teeth. 

When your child’s decaying tooth becomes too severe to treat, your dentist may recommend extraction as the best solution. 

Trauma or Injury

Children are naturally active and excited, so accidents and injuries are expected. Unfortunately, these accidents sometimes involve the teeth and mouth as well. 

A pediatric root canal or dental crown can sometimes fix the damage and save the tooth, but in severe cases, only extraction is the only option. 

Overcrowding

Baby teeth don’t always grow into the mouth in perfect alignment. It’s common for baby teeth to sit too close together or even emerge on top of one another. This type of overcrowding is a concern because it increases the likelihood of decay in the mouth. Your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction to reduce crowding and help your child’s mouth stay healthy. 

How Is a Child’s Tooth Extraction Performed?

Your Brighton, CO pediatric dentist takes every measure to ensure your child remains calm and comfortable during tooth extraction. The process begins with a bit of numbing jelly.  This is a topical medicine that helps the gums fall asleep. Once the numbing jelly has done its job, it is followed by some “sleep juice” to help the tooth fall asleep.  

Many patients report their cheeks or lips feel enlarged due to the medicine we place to numb the tooth. Sometimes, patients feel a little pressure during the extraction which is normal. Other times they feel nothing at all! 

Your child does remain awake for the extraction, but she won’t be in any pain. Nitrous oxide and laughing gas are simple, safe solutions to help your little one relax if needed. Laughing gas may even make your child so relaxed that she falls asleep!

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Now that your child’s tooth extraction is complete, it’s time to focus on aftercare. Post-extraction care is just as important as the procedure itself, since attentive aftercare supports healing and prevents unwanted complications. 

Follow these tips to make sure your child stays as comfortable and safe as possible after her tooth extraction:

1. Apply pressure to gauze pad to reduce bleeding immediately after extraction. Dampen gauze with water if it begins to dry out.
2. For 24-48 hours after extraction, keep your child’s head elevated with pillows while she relaxes. Watching a movie or reading are much safer options than playing outside and running around.
3. Brush areas around the extraction site to keep your child’s mouth clean.
4. Make sure your child doesn’t touch or pick at the extraction site
5. Reduce swelling by pressing ice packs around the mouth
6. Serve soft foods that don’t require intense chewing
7. Keep your child hydrated with water and other healthy fluids

 

Believe it or not, it only takes a healthy mouth about two days to heal from a baby tooth extraction! It won’t take long for your child to feel back to normal. 

Ask Your Brighton, CO Pediatric Dentist About Your Child’s Tooth Extraction

The pediatric dental team at Kids City Dental & Braces specializes in baby teeth extraction. Drs. Tory and Thu McFarlin are here to carefully examine your child’s mouth, diagnose the problem, and gently perform the tooth extraction your child needs. 

Call (720) 797-9779 to learn more and schedule your appointment. As parents themselves, the Kids City Dental team always approach dentistry from the perspective of a parent, so you can trust them to treat your child with compassion and care!

 

Just like broken bones and bruises, most children experience at least one or two cavities when they are young. Decay sometimes develops even with the best at-home dental care, but that doesn’t mean your child’s dental health is in danger. 

Your child’s pediatric dentist in Brighton, Colorado offers multiple cavity treatment options to restore your child’s smile back to perfect health. Ask your dentist about silver diamine fluoride, an alternative cavity treatment rapidly growing in popularity. Unlike traditional cavity treatments that require painful, loud, scary drills, silver diamine is a painless topical solution that stops cavities in their tracks. 

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities develop in your child’s mouth when bacteria, acid, and sugar spend too much time on the teeth. They blend to create plaque and tartar, which eat away at the white enamel of the teeth. Over time, tiny holes develop that turn into larger cavities. 

If left untreated, the hole of decay becomes more severe, eventually causing infection and tooth loss. This is why it’s so important to treat cavities as soon as they develop. The recent FDA approval of silver diamine fluoride makes it easier than ever before to quickly and effectively treat your child’s cavities and get back to your normal routine. 

What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride?

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a topical liquid used to treat cavities. It includes silver, water, fluoride, and ammonia. SDF is used on decaying or high-risk teeth to prevent and block the spread of cavities. 

SDF is often compared to the fluoride varnish applied to healthy teeth at the end of a child’s dentist exam. However, SDF is twice as strong as standard fluoride varnish. Its higher potency is essential to stop decay in its tracks. Each ingredient plays an important role:

– Silver ions act as antimicrobial agents to displace bacteria and pathogens responsible for decay

– Ammonia increases concentration 

– Fluoride prevents the development of decay

SDF has been used in Japan for more than 80 years, but it was only recently approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration in 2014. As a parent, you’ve probably never been treated with SDF, but it could prove very valuable for your child’s oral health. 

Using SDF to Treat Your Child’s Cavities

Every patient at Kids City Dental & Braces receives regular fluoride treatments to prevent cavities from forming on the mouth. SDF is different because it’s only used when traditional fluoride isn’t enough. SDF stops existing cavities from becoming worse and spreading to nearby teeth. 

To dentists like Dr. Tory and Dr. Thu McFarlin, this process is known as “caries resonance.” SDF offers a safe, painless, and simple alternative to drilling, so it’s perfect for children of all ages. Consider these benefits of silver diamine fluoride:

– Kills bacteria known to eat away at tooth surfaces

– Blocks cavity-causing bacteria from spreading 

– Provides a comfortable, less frightening alternative to dental drills

In fact, hundreds of case studies prove that SDF is a safe and effective treatment. It even allows dentists to treat cavities in children with severe dental anxiety, young patients who cannot undergo standard cavity treatment with a drill, and children at very high risk of aggressive dental decay. 

The California Dental Association (CDA) agrees that SDF is “is particularly useful for providing dental care to individuals who present challenges to receiving traditional treatment because of their age, behavioral issues, or medical conditions.”

Important Considerations and FAQs

Despite its many benefits, silver diamine fluoride does present one unique obstacle: it causes permanent black stains on the decayed area of the treated tooth. There’s no way to prevent this black staining. Fortunately, the stains are very easy to cover with tooth-colored filling material. 

With the help of small tooth-colored fillings after SDF treatment, nobody will be able to see the black stains on your child’s treated teeth. It’s also important to consider that most teeth treated with SDF are primary baby teeth. This means the teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by white, healthy, permanent adult teeth. 

The CDA also emphasizes that regular follow-up is important to determine “if SDF retreatment is needed, but also to access if additional or alternative dental treatment is required.” The success rates of SDF treatment are high, says the CDA, but not 100%. 

Make sure you turn to an experienced pediatric dentist like Kids City Dental & Braces, Brighton’s newest dental office for kids. The Kids City team doesn’t just treat teeth; we monitor and intervene if necessary to promote the correct growth and development in your child’s mouth.

Call Kids City Dental & Braces today to schedule your child’s appointment and learn more about the potential use of silver diamine fluoride to protect your child’s smile from decay.