Braces are standard for most children. Many children are excited about braces. In their eyes, it’s a rite of passage that signals their growing up. As a parent, they may be less exciting, especially if you don’t know what to expect when your child needs braces. It’s essential to get your dentist’s input when it’s time to get braces for your child, and that input can also help your child understand how they should care for their braces.
Thirty years ago, braces weren’t considered a standard treatment. Over the years, braces have become more socially acceptable for children. However, increases in sugary diets and a lack of fluoride-based products have made braces more necessary. If your child needs braces, the first step is to make an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist will address your concerns and determine whether your child needs braces. Braces are used for many different reasons. Overcrowding, overbites, and underbites are a few of those reasons. But what are the other reasons your child might need braces?
If your dentist determines your child needs braces, they’ll refer you to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a dental professional specializing in correcting misalignments. Ultimately, the orthodontist will determine what treatment your child needs. While braces are the most prevalent treatment for teenagers and preteens, there is no set age for a child’s first orthodontic visit. Some dentists recommend visiting an orthodontist at seven. At this age, concerns can be addressed early to prevent further damage. Beginning checkups are early as age seven gives you time to monitor issues before they’re severe.
Because there isn’t a set age for braces, orthodontists decide individually. Some children need braces earlier than others. But the average age for braces is fourteen. By the time your child is fourteen, they’ll have permanent teeth. Despite recommending orthodontic visits as early as seven, braces are usually not fitted until twelve. Your child needs their 12-year molars and must have lost their primary teeth. If your orthodontist determines your child would benefit from braces, they can prevent future problems from escalating. Orthodontists use preventative measures, like palatal expanders, to ensure that permanent teeth grow in the correct position.
At Kids World Pediatric Dental, we can help you and your child navigate the challenging waters of braces. We want your child to be excited about braces, but we also want you to be informed when deciding to make an appointment for braces. As a parent, you’re already navigating the challenges of raising a teenager. We want you to know that braces and orthodontics are taken care of. Call one of our nationwide offices or visit us online to schedule a screening for your child. If we determine your child needs braces, we can fit them and install them.
One of the essential things in your infant’s life is oral care. But what can you do with a newborn to prevent oral issues? And how can you help your child avoid cavities? Ironically, bottles and breastfeeding can lead to infant cavities if you’re not careful. Now that you know your child can still get cavities, how do you prevent them?
Most parents think they won’t have to visit the dentist until their child is older. The AAPD recommends your child have their first visit at a year old. Why? The sooner your child visits the dentist, the easier it is to prevent serious dental problems. Even if your child doesn’t have teeth yet, problems can still arise. Baby bottles and nursing can cause dental problems. And infants can still have gum disease. 50% of children between two and three have mild inflammation in their gums.
If your child has healthy teeth and gums, it can improve their speech, help them chew food properly, and improve their confidence when smiling. Before your child’s first tooth grows, caring for their teeth is essential. Milk and juice contain sugar and other foods they eat, which can lead to gum disease. If sugar is left in their mouths, it can fester and affect developing teeth.
You are essential in helping your child develop correct oral hygiene, and cleaning your child’s gums after birth is one way to help your child. It might take your child a while to get used to the sensation, but eventually, your child won’t mind. Teaching your child to accept oral care early lays a foundation for a healthy mouth. Please encourage your child, as they age, to brush and floss daily. Here are a few ways to clean your child’s gums and first teeth when they start to grow:
Once your child is older, teach them to brush and floss correctly. Start teaching them how to care for their teeth and gums. Set a good example for your child by ensuring they attend every dentist appointment.
Oral exams for infants help prevent tooth decay and gum disease by keeping your child’s mouth healthy. Your pediatric dentist will answer any questions about your child’s mouth. Kids 360 Pediatric Dentistry is here to help. Schedule an appointment by calling our practice. It’s never too early to start caring for your child’s oral health. And the earlier you start, the lower your child’s risk for painful oral surgery is. Ensuring your child remains free of tooth decay and gum disease means smoother cleanings. Your child may even avoid fearing the dentist later in life with the correct oral hygiene habits.
When you discover that you’re pregnant, it’s an exciting time. It’s also intimidating, considering you must consider your child’s dental and overall health. The term “perinatal” refers to the period between twenty and twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy. The perinatal period also extends up to four weeks after birth. Preparing for your child’s birth is daunting, and most mothers aren’t considering dental checkups.
It is suggested that there is a link between periodontal disease (diseases of the gums) in mothers and premature babies. Babies with low birth weight, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes are also at risk for gum disease. If the mother maintains her oral health, the baby can have good oral health too.
Cariogenic bacteria in mothers is linked with adverse outcomes for babies and children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that pregnant women get regular checkups and counseling to prevent, intervene, and treat any possible problems.
What are some tips for oral perinatal care?
Consistent Dental Appointments – Ensuring that you visit your dentist regularly while pregnant is an excellent way to boost what you’re doing at home and gain insight into more that you can do. While there, you can also ensure that your teeth are in good shape and you don’t have any oral or gum disease.
Cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from the parent to the child, and most parents aren’t aware of this fact. Cavities often happen when sharing utensils and “cleaning” pacifiers with your mouth. Using different utensils than your child and rinsing pacifiers under running water is suggested to prevent transmission of cariogenic bacteria.
There are other ways to ensure your child’s oral health:
Having a baby is a beautiful time in your life, and your pediatric dentist can guide you through the trials of infant oral health.
While growing up, most of us have gone to the dentist at some point. We must go in and check our oral health, making sure that our teeth are thriving. However, we encounter many kinds of dentists in our lifetime, and the very first one many children encounter is their Pediatric Dentist!
Pediatric dentists are dentists who specialize in dental care for infants to teenagers. Since kids and teens go through numerous cycles of changes and growth before reaching 18, pediatric dental practices are essential for ensuring that their oral health is in good shape and that they’re taught how to maintain it. Because of this, many parents take their children to a pediatric dentist so that they can learn how to care for their oral health on their own!
Being a parent and teaching your kids about good dental habits can sometimes be tricky! But with oral health, you can be sure that a pediatric dentist you and your children trust will provide many benefits. We’ve provided a few examples of the benefits below:
When making the final decision, that’s left to the parents and their children. However, a few things to remember when deciding on a dentist for your child. Below are a few examples of what to consider when choosing a pediatric dentist:
Aiding our children in developing healthy dental habits during childhood can lead to positive, lifelong changes in their oral and physical health. If you or your child feel that they may need a dental check-up, schedule an appointment with a trusted pediatric dentist today!
Over the past couple of decades, there have been significant advances in dentistry and its associated technologies. Due to these innovations, there are techniques and materials available that have introduced new treatments. These treatments have improved patient experiences by enhancing the potential results dentists can deliver during treatment. Orthodontic treatments, in particular, have advanced at a staggering pace, bringing more beautiful smiles than ever out of patients.
Every few years, there are specific trends in the advancement of dental technology. During these periods, providers will see rapid changes in the types of care they can provide, often within specific fields. Below are the most prevalent trends in our current period.
These technologies are just some of those changing the face of orthodontic and dental care for patients worldwide. They’re impacting results for patients of every age, from pediatric to those in their golden years.
It’s important to stay abreast of the technologies in use in your child’s dental care. Reaching out to your pediatric dental office can provide valuable insight and information. You may learn about the current treatment options available and what your dentist hopes to introduce in the near future. Further, you can work with them to determine what kinds of treatment can help your child’s oral health development. By learning more about the equipment they provide, you can set the minds of yourself and your child at ease, providing a better treatment experience for everyone involved.
Temporary anchorage devices (TADS) are titanium implants used during orthodontic care and can be especially useful for your children. They are similar in shape to screws and can remain in place for several months following implantation. The type of treatment being performed determines the length of time they remain in place. They aim to provide a fixed and stable point that your dentist can utilize in moving your child’s teeth during orthodontic care. They must ensure that the teeth move appropriately and only those that need to be moved during the treatment.
Orthodontic care, especially for children, is a complex procedure that requires the precise application of force to specific oral structures. Consistent pressure is needed to ensure that your child’s teeth move as desired. Furthermore, it’s necessary to ensure that only specific teeth move while others remain in place. In most dental treatments, one or multiple teeth will be used as anchor points for adjusting other teeth. However, this is only sometimes possible or desirable. When this is the case, temporary anchorage devices might come into play. They’re an effective alternative to typical anchorage techniques and are more flexible in their placement. The benefits of using temporary anchorage devices include the following:
TADS can eliminate the risk of teeth moving in unwanted ways. This kind of undesirable movement can lead to significant complications in dental care. Before the introduction of TADS, it was often necessary to use headgear options when appropriate anchorages didn’t exist. These devices make it possible without the need for these external supports. They can also reduce the need for any future oral surgeries and other complications by addressing your child’s health ahead of time.
For adults, receiving TADS is a straightforward process similar to receiving typical dental implants. However, there are differences in the process. Unlike standard implants, TADS don’t need to undergo osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process by which permanent dental implants are fused with the jaw’s bone. For permanent devices, this process is necessary to provide a secure anchorage point for your dentures. TADs, however, are discarded at the end of their usefulness.
Receiving TADS is also less invasive than traditional implants. The process is generally pain-free and begins with the application of an anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. While under anesthesia, you’ll only feel mild pressure at the treatment site. Care of TADS requires no additional effort on the part of the patient. Your dentist may provide a toothbrush with unique bristles and an antimicrobial solution to ensure they heal properly.
At your following upcoming dental procedure, if you want to know if TADS might be appropriate for your child, speak to your dentist. They’ll go over the specifics of your treatment and inform you if TADS can be a valuable part of the process. Plan your child’s next visit today!
Recently, the dental industry has witnessed a rise in the popularity of orthodontic treatments. The reasons for the shift are numerous, involving an increase in the availability and cost-effectiveness of dental treatment. Furthermore, the newer methods of providing dental care tend to negate the visual evidence. However, traditional braces maintain their status as the most common form of dental care. These appliances are a tried-and-true method for correcting a misaligned smile. They’re also a common culprit in creating white-spot lesions during treatment.
The general cause of white spot lesions is demineralization in the enamel area. The name originates from the cloudy white lesions formed on the teeth. These white spots indicate that tooth decay has been occurring, and this demineralization makes the enamel weaker, making it more susceptible to the advance of decay. Regular wear and tear can damage the enamel with far more ease. Braces have been found to lead to the formation of these lesions due to the struggle of cleaning around them.
Removing these lesions is difficult but not impossible; you can make substantial steps in addressing these lesions with a consistent and thought through dental care plan in your home. However, often more is needed to address the issue independently. One should always combine this hygiene plan with regular visits to the dentist. They will be able to provide treatments and approaches that will strengthen the enamel and stop the advance of decay. Some of these available treatments include:
These four methods are effective treatments a dentist can use to address white spot lesions.
Get in contact with your dentist if you are concerned about the impacts white spot lesions can have on your oral health and appearance. They’ll provide a comprehensive exam and assist you to formulate a treatment plan to address these concerns.
There are significant benefits for patients who receive orthodontic care. Our teeth’ alignment is essential in protecting their overall health, even in our earliest years. When our primary teeth come in, they set the stage for our adult teeth to arrive. Being correctly aligned keeps them healthy and ensures the jaw develops enough space for those adult teeth to come in straight. Misalignments also cause gaps that are difficult to clean and can hide plaque, tartar, and food debris. Thankfully orthodontic care is typically painless, with reports of post-treatment discomfort rare.
When post-orthodontic pain does occur, it’s typically the result of inflammation and irritation from the appliance. Some patients may experience discomfort from the teeth beginning to move as well. However, this discomfort doesn’t tend to last longer than a couple of weeks. Managing it during this period can typically be managed using the following approaches:
The above tips and tricks will help ensure that your discomfort is managed during the first couple of weeks. However, it’s important you communicate your experience to your dentist and keep them updated. Ongoing discomfort is often a sign of something going awry with your treatment and may need intervention to correct it.
If you’ve recently undergone orthodontic treatment and have been experiencing persistent discomfort, speak to your dentist. They’ll provide consultation and go over the details of your care. If they feel it necessary, they’ll have you come in for a follow-up exam to ensure that everything is proceeding smoothly. If any concerns are found, they’ll take steps to address them and get you back on course for that beautiful smile you crave. Contact your dental provider today and talk to them about your concerns!
Dental practitioners are embracing the benefits of expanding their education to new fields of dentistry. While these dentists don’t change the nature of their practice, the skills they learn help improve the care they deliver. Orthodontics is one area of specialty that has significant benefits for a pediatric dentist. Deepening their knowledge of orthodontic care ensures they are more prepared to handle the concerns that can occur in a developing oral cavity. Additionally, modern dentistry has introduced a growing range of orthodontic options that are more effective and inexpensive than ever. This has led to an increase in demand, making a specialty in orthodontics a great choice for dentists and patients.
Having already touched on the immediately practical benefits of orthodontic care, we can consider the broader implications. Gaining a specialty in orthodontics also deepens the dentist’s knowledge in other areas of oral health. As with ongoing education, they’ll receive the latest updates on how care is being performed and newly developed techniques. This additional education improves every aspect of the care they provide for their patients. The benefits of gaining an orthodontic specialty include effects like the following:
Parents are increasingly encouraged to seek orthodontic care early in their children’s lives. During their developmental years, the jawbone is more pliant and responsive to attempts to adjust it. These processes take longer and are typically more expensive as we get older. A pediatric dentist specializing in orthodontic care can more easily identify when these adjustments are needed and how best to perform them.
When you’re looking for a pediatric dental center to care for your children, you want to ensure they’ll be able to meet your child’s needs. Finding pediatric dentists who have furthered their education in other dental fields can help them stand apart from your other choices. Please speak to your dentist about their care services and what sets them apart.
Hypnosis is one of those topics you don’t expect to come up with in connection with dentistry. However, the search for methods that can address dental anxiety continues. A common approach to aiding patients with dental anxiety has been sedation dentistry. While this can be effective for many patients, some can’t use sedation dentistry for several reasons. These reasons range from sensitivity to these sedatives to manners of preference. Regardless, hypnosis has been studied as an effective treatment method for treating dental anxiety. The results, and its application in care, have proven that it can work for many patients.
Researchers first discovered the technique now known as hypnosis in the 1800s. At that time, it was known as “mesmerism” after the man who invented it, Mesmer. He discovered that it was possible to put someone between being asleep and awake, known as a hypnagogic state. Those in this state are still responsive to their surroundings and can communicate with those around them. However, they are still in a dreamlike state, making them calm and peaceful.
In addition to relieving dental anxiety, hypnosis has also been shown to aid in relieving pain. While the underlying mechanisms for this action aren’t clearly understood, there are some theories. Among these theories are that the anxiety that dental anxiety patients feel during treatment amplifies the patient’s experience of pain. The ability of hypnosis to relieve anxiety makes it practical to tame this experience.
However, some patients aren’t capable of benefiting from treatment with hypnosis. There is still a safe approach to soothing dental anxiety for these patients. The most frequently used approach is nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide can provide a similar state of relaxation and help ease the patient into a hypnotic state.
Hypnosis is used for treating other concerns as well. Those with a sensitive gag reflex that interferes with dental care can also benefit from it. When in a hypnagogic state, these patients don’t respond the same way to oral stimuli. This makes it possible to provide the necessary dental care without triggering concerns related to the gag reflex.
Hypnosis is not an appropriate approach for everyone. Some individuals simply are unable to benefit from the effects of hypnosis. Those who respond to hypnosis best are those with active imaginations. Research has shown that these individuals are more responsive to hypnosis and enter the hypnagogic state easier than others. You can approach your dentist to determine if they provide hypnosis to aid treatment for those with dental anxiety. More clinics are offering this approach yearly due to its success with dental anxiety patients. They can discuss other sedation approaches that may ease dental anxiety and make treatment possible if it isn’t available.
