Receiving high-quality dental treatment is just as important for children as it is for adults. We take great pride in helping our younger patients achieve excellent oral health and pediatric dental services in the Leominster community.
Dental Care for Kids
Taking care of teeth is one important aspect of keeping yourself healthy. Dentists will always share the same basic advice for maintaining your teeth’s excellent health and appearance: Brush and floss your teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay, pay a visit to your dentist at least twice a year, avoid using your teeth for opening or tearing things, steer clear of foods and beverages that can cause stains. Can you see we have a passion for healthy teeth?
Dental care for children, however, will be relatively different. In fact, ensuring that children’s teeth receive excellent dental care is even more important. Your trusted family dentist can explain how extra assistance and attention is required in looking after your kids’ teeth. Visiting the dental clinic — not to mention having to sit still in a chair while someone peers inside their mouth and uses different tools — can be a strange and even frightening experience for them, so it helps to find a professional who can expertly meet the needs of your whole family.
Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Michael Richler, provides dental care for children at Leominster Family Dentists and works to ensure each child has a positive experience at the dentist.
What are the common issues of dental health in children?
Dental health problems that affect kids are similar to those affecting adults. Common oral health issues for kids include:
- Baby teeth-loss
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Over-retained primary teeth (shark teeth)
- Tooth decay
- Sensitive teeth
- Gum disease
- Dental anxiety
Because children’s teeth are continually developing, if an issue goes untreated it can lead to long-term oral health issues, such as gum disease or misaligned bite which would require a more intense orthodontic treatment.
How should I care for my baby's teeth?
Care for baby teeth should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. We recommend that you bring your child in for an exam no later than his or her first birthday. And regular six-month checkups from then on will put kids on a similar schedule to most adults. We can monitor your child for dental problems while customizing preventive coaching to fit specific conditions.
As a parent, some early steps can help guard your child against tooth decay, even before the first dental visit:
- Your baby’s teeth should always be flushed with water or wiped down with a damp cloth after feeding, especially before they fall asleep. Milk or formula residue left in the mouth can promote decay even in the youngest patients. Untreated cavities can eventually lead to pain and infection.
- Try to wean your child off breastfeeding or bottled milk by age one year. This effort helps avoid decay and minimizes the chance of jaw growth problems from excessive sucking.
- Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. Even a small piece of tooth showing can develop a cavity. Start by brushing with a soft-bristled brush and water, and ask your dentist when it’s ok to begin using a small amount of toothpaste.
- Once your child is old enough to begin brushing on his or her own, continue to monitor their brushing, going back to clean any areas they may have missed.
- Don’t give bottles of sugary drinks or milk before bedtime.
- Use a straw with sugary beverages to allow the teeth to have less contact with the liquid.
- Try to limit the overall sugary foods your child eats and drinks.
What is pulp therapy?
If your child starts to complain about sensitivity or constant pain, or if the tissue around a tooth is swollen and painful, they may have pulp damage. Damage to the interior living part of the tooth can occur because of trauma, decay, or other infection. The ‘pulp’ refers to the live part of the tooth.
If the pulp is damaged, it is important to retain as much of the living pulp as possible, while also treating the infection or removing any damaged sections. One way we do this is with a pulpotomy.
A pulpotomy can be performed if the pulp root is unaffected, and just the tip of the pulp is damaged. If the root is healthy we will remove all the decay and then place material over the remaining pulp to protect it. Finally, we will place a crown. By saving the pulp, your child has a greater chance of producing a healthy adult tooth.
A pulpectomy is performed if the damage has extended into the tooth root, we will need to remove all of the living material and fill the space — just like an adult root canal. We will place a crown to help with spacing when the adult tooth is ready to come in.
What are you waiting for?
At Leominster Family Dentists, we believe in providing the best dental care at the most affordable prices. Make your next appointment using our easy online scheduling tool, contact our office if you have any questions, or explore all of the dental services we provide.