Playtime Dental and Braces

Has your child gotten his or her first tooth in the past 6 months, or has it been 6 months or longer since your child’s last dental checkup? If the answer is yes, it’s time to schedule your child’s dental appointment. Some may think that caring for baby teeth isn’t that necessary, since they are meant to fall out anyway. However, neglecting the health of your child’s baby teeth can lead to decay, disease, infection, pain, and premature tooth loss – which in turn can cause spacing issues and problems with adult teeth when they start coming in. A typical dental cleaning will include an exam of your child’s existing teeth, gums, soft tissue, and gums to ensure that they are healthy and free from disease or infection. Each tooth will be evaluated and carefully cleaned, and your child will be given interactive, fun instruction on how to brush, floss, and keep a daily oral hygiene routine. If x-rays are indicated, your child’s teeth will be quickly and safely imaged using our digital imaging system. This process creates an image file that can be easily reviewed by Dr. Jackson, and also by any specialists if your child ever needs additional care. It’s a good practice to schedule your child’s next 6-month checkup before you leave our office. By making and keeping your child’s twice yearly dental checkups, you can help safeguard his or her health and smile. Dr. Jackson believes in making kids dental care a fun, educational experience. If your child is nervous about visiting our office for the first time, please call us to arrange a tour of our office prior to your appointment date.

Contact us about getting started on your child's braces! Early monitoring for children’s dental issues allows for early intervention if orthodontic help is required for a functional mouthful of teeth. Traditional braces and appliances are a reliable way of correcting bite misalignment, and creating a beautiful, even smile. Dr. Jackson begins checking for tooth misalignment, crowding, and spacing issues at every cleaning no matter the age. This doesn’t mean your child will be fitted for braces any time soon – just that notes will be taken so the development of your child’s mouth, jaw, and teeth will be tracked and shared with you. If teeth come in crooked, have too much or too little space between them, or tilt in or out at the wrong angle (causing a misaligned bite), when the time is right, Dr. Jackson will recommend a customized orthodontic treatment plan for your child to help his or her teeth correctly align for a trouble-free bite and a happy, healthy looking smile. The amount of time required for braces to do their job will vary depending on the child. Traditional braces have come a long way, with the metal clasps on the teeth becoming more discreet and the wires less visible. Dr. Jackson will work with you and your child for a positive outcome when it comes to orthodontic care.

Even the most dedicated brushing and flossing may not completely safeguard children’s teeth from decay. Many children’s molars have tiny crevices in the chewing surfaces; crevices too small for toothbrush bristles, but big enough for bacteria to collect in. Sealants can be applied to molars as they come in, providing a barrier against bacteria and reducing the likelihood of cavities in these important chewing teeth. The tooth colored sealant is applied then cured with a special light, a quick process that only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require numbing. Sealants can be applied to baby teeth as well as adult teeth when they come in. It’s an easy, effective way to reduce cavity risk and keep your child’s smile happy and healthy!

As parents, you may remember your own childhood visits to the dentists and the shiny metal fillings use to repair damage done by decay. The practice of using silver amalgam fillings is less used, and a tooth colored solution is now the norm. Tooth colored fillings are made of a special composite resin, tinted to match your child’s original tooth color, and carefully molded into a natural tooth shape. This type of filling is almost as hard and durable as the real tooth surface, and has several advantages over amalgam: It looks and feels natural It won’t expand or contract with temperature changes It won’t cause staining to the teeth and gums If your child does get a cavity, we can repair it by removing the decayed portion of the tooth and using a tooth colored filling, if indicated, to restore your child’s happy smile.

While most cavities can be repaired be removing the decay and applying a filling, sometimes the damage to the tooth requires a crown to repair. If a tooth is severely damaged or the decay is in a location where a crown is indicated, a crown can be used to cover the entire surface of tooth to restore it. Natural colored materials can be utilized to fabricate a crown, which can then be fitted to the remaining base of the original tooth. Once the crown is cemented in place, bacteria will be blocked from accessing the interior of the tooth and causing further decay. Crowns are an excellent option when: A tooth is severely chipped or broken close to the gum line A tooth is decayed across a large portion of its surface A tooth is subject to nerve treatment A tooth has multi surface caries A patient has numerous interproximal lesions on primary teeth If your child does need a crown, we can restore their smile with a natural looking one that will restore their bite and look just like the original tooth.

Sometimes a baby tooth simply refuses to come out, is badly decayed or infected, or is damaged in an accident. In such cases, an extraction may be the best course of action. Depending on the child’s dental development and which tooth needs removed, a space maintainer may be needed to hold space open for the permanent tooth to come in properly. If your child complains of pain centering around a particular tooth, if the gums are red, discolored, inflamed, or there is pus present, or if the child has taken a blow to the mouth, call our office for an appointment. Dr. Jackson can determine if the tooth needs to be removed, and walk you through the options. If a tooth is knocked out by accident, put it in a cup of milk or cold water if possible, and bring it to our office (call ahead to let us know you are coming). We offer several anesthesia options for extraction. Dr. Jackson can help you determine which is best for your child. Even if an adult tooth must be extracted, there are options for restoring your child’s smile!

If your child plays sports, a mouthguard may be advised or required for participation. While you can buy generic mouthguards from a sports store, these don’t offer the best protection for your child’s unique and ever-changing smile. Dr. Jackson can create a model of your child’s mouth and create a custom mouthguard for your child to wear during sports and athletic activities. The mouthguard can be reviewed and updated as your child grows, so they always have the best possible protection. If your child grinds or clenches his or her teeth at night, a nightguard can be created using the same process. A nightguard can prevent extreme wear on baby and adult teeth and prevent your child’s bite form becoming uneven. In most cases, an impression can be done during a regular visit and the guard picked up after it has been fabricated. Ask Dr. Jackson about mouthguards and nightguards if you feel your child could benefit from one!

In some cases, sedation may be needed to allow dental work to be performed for your child. This may be the case if your child is extremely anxious in dental settings, has had a bad dental experience in the past, or needs extensive work done. Our office provides several dental sedation options for children, including: Nitrous Oxide Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, allows your child to relax during most dental procedures. It is not a painkiller, but works to combat anxiety. Most children react well to nitrous oxide, becoming relaxed and accepting of the procedure being performed. Nitrous oxide is delivered through a small mask that fits over your child’s nose so they can breathe deeply and comfortably. Nitrous oxide will not make your child “go to sleep”, but they may become so relaxed that they naturally feel like taking a short nap. Once the procedure is over, the nitrous oxide mask is removed, and your child will quickly become alert again as the gas works its way out of their system. If you believe your child can benefit from nitrous oxide, please let our staff know.