The use of dental crowns in children’s dentistry is more common than you think. According to recent statistics, nearly 60% of children in the US had at least one cavity by five years of age. Cavities are the holes in your teeth caused by tooth decay. Extensive cavities may cause discomfort while eating as the food particles can get stuck inside these holes easily.
Dental emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere. Children and teenagers can require emergency dental care for numerous reasons. Stay calm, regardless of the reason you need emergency care. Not only will this help you best assess the severity of the dental emergency, but it’ll also help your child stay calm. Apply at-home first aid as necessary, then follow up with a trip to the dentist or emergency room (ER), as detailed below. Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you believe the injury requires immediate professional medical attention.
Tooth extraction is the surgical removal of your child’s permanent (adult) or primary (baby) teeth. While the idea of “surgical removal” sounds scary, the process is very simple, straightforward, and safe. If your child feels frightened about their upcoming tooth removal, help them understand what will happen. It’s normal to feel frightened of something new, but if you stay calm, your child will feel more reassured.
When faced with the choice of root canal therapy or extraction, root canal therapy offers a safe and convenient solution that reduces the risk of further infection. If you think your child’s oral health doesn’t matter when they’re young, you might be surprised by the statistics that highlight tooth decay as the principal dental problem among young children. Around 28% of children have one or more cavities by age three, and nearly 50% of children have one or more by age five.
Dental sedation, also referred to as sedation dentistry or sleep dentistry, refers to patients receiving medications or general anesthesia to promote relaxation and ensure they don’t feel pain. Levels of dental sedation range from minimal and moderate sedation where patients are relaxed but fully or partially awake, to deep sedation and general anesthesia that causes partial or complete unconsciousness.
Not all dentists feel comfortable treating patients with special needs. Caregivers should do their utmost to find a dentist with experience treating patients with disabilities and accessibility needs. A dentist with the proper training can help special needs patients stay calm at the dentist, all while providing them with the care they need.
Your child’s oral health is essential to their overall well-being. Unfortunately, almost 28% of children under five have cavities or some level of tooth decay. Cavities in the primary teeth can be painful and even affect your child’s adult teeth before they erupt. Untreated tooth decay and cavities can lead to an infection in the teeth, gums, or even the jaw. Practicing good oral hygiene, including annual dental checkups, can keep teeth and the surrounding tissue healthy.
Preventative dental care positively impacts a child’s development. Studies by the CDC show that maintaining healthy teeth and gums in childhood leads to better overall health and wellness in adulthood. While office visits play a critical role in dental prevention, good long-term dental habits usually are developed at home.
As children enter their teen years, maintaining good oral hygiene is important. Braces, fluctuating hormones, nutrition, and mouth jewelry can contribute to dental issues ranging from tooth decay to tongue and gum infections. Understanding teen dentistry needs and learning about the different services pediatric dentists can offer them helps ensure that your child receives the appropriate treatments and procedures when necessary.
Typically, your child should start seeing the dentist around their first birthday. Because each child is unique, your dentist might recommend coming in for an appointment earlier or later than this. Most children have all their baby teeth by the time they are two and a half years old. In some cases, your dentist will want to see your child before their first birthday if there is a concern about teething. Toddlers are often terrified of the dentist’s office, but for your children to overcome their fear and be happy patients at an early age, you should start by preparing them ahead of time.