A good dental exam and cleanings involves more than checking for cavities and polishing your teeth. During this checkup, the dental clinician will also review your medical history, examine radiographs (x-rays), perform an oral cancer screening, check your gums and bones for periodontal disease, examine for tooth decay (cavities), check any existing restorations (fillings and sealants), remove calculus (tartar) and plaque, polish teeth, give oral hygiene recommendations and review your dietary habits.
Some potential sources of fluorosis are too much fluoridated toothpaste given at any early age, inappropriate use of fluoride supplementation, and hidden sources in a child’s diet. The dentist will assess your fluoride intake and will make the appropriate recommendations to you.
Sealants
Sealants are a clear material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars). These surfaces contain pits and fissures where plaque can accumulate making the tooth vulnerable to decay. The sealants act as a barrier to protect these decay-prone areas from plaque and acid attack. Application of a sealant to the tooth only takes a few minutes. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Your dentist will determine if your child can benefit from sealants.
Mouthguards
Mouthguards are an important piece of protective face gear. They protect by cushioning blows that would otherwise cause broken teeth, injuries to the face, and sometimes even jaw fractures. The dentist will advise you as to whether a custom or store-bought mouthguard would be appropriate for your child. This is dependent on your child’s dental development.
Restorative Dentistry
Composite Fillings
Composite (tooth colored) fillings are used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, fractures, or cracks. Composites can also be used for esthetic reasons, such as closing space between two teeth. Because composite fillings are tooth colored, they can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth. They are very durable and will last many years.
Stainless Steel Crowns
A stainless steel crown (or cap) covers the entire tooth surface in order to restore it to its original shape and size. A stainless steel crown is usually considered when a significant loss of tooth structure and the tooth cannot be restored with a filling. Although these restorations are placed on baby teeth, they are utilized when a child needs to retain the baby tooth for several years. Remember, baby molars can still be present until the age of 12 years and are “place holders” for their permanent replacements.
Pulp (Nerve) Therapy
The pulp of the tooth contains the nerves, blood vessels, and reparative cells of the tooth. Pulp therapy (often referred to as “nerve treatment”, “baby root canal”, or pulpotomy) in pediatric dentistry is performed in order to maintain the vitality of the affected tooth to retain the tooth as long as possible and avoid an extraction. This procedure is performed when the decay causes disease of the pulp tissue.
Hospital Dentistry
Pediatric dentists are specialists who have received two to three additional years of training after dental school. Our doctors have taken additional training in treating medically compromised children, children (and adults) with special needs, craniofacial anomalies (birth defects affecting the mouth), and behavior management. Some children are unable to tolerate dental procedures in the office for a variety of reasons. By using sedation or general anesthesia, these patients can be treated safely in the hospital. Our doctors have hospital privileges at Franciscan Children’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Brighton, Massachusetts and Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
