Tooth-Colored Fillings
Restorations (fillings) are used to treat different dental problems like cavities and broken teeth. We usually use a material called composite resin to bond your teeth which is designed to look exactly like your natural tooth. These bonded restorations actually strengthen your teeth unlike other fillings such as silver amalgam fillings which weaken your teeth. Restoring cavities on both primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth is very important for your child’s overall health.
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Emergency Dental Care
It is very important to be prepared in case your child has an emergency. Even though we wish that they wouldn’t, emergencies do happen. Being educated and knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth. You also need to know your dentist’s phone number.
You need to contact us right away if you are having an emergency! If we are not open, go to the nearest emergency center.
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Oral Health Exams
We truly believe that regular dental examinations are important in order for your child to have good dental health and a smile of which he or she can be proud. We start by doing a professional cleaning, removing all of the bad tartar and other buildup on your child’s teeth.
We then do an examination, looking to catch and fix any problems before they become bigger ones. We examine each tooth, looking for any signs of decay, damage, or any other problems, such as signs of infection. We want to correct any problems your child may have before they get any worse.
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Preventive Dentistry
Prevention starts early. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental exam for every child should begin no later than 12 months of age, by age 1. Preventive care starts with regular exams, cleanings, education, and continued home oral health routines. We provide many preventative measures to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy, including sealants and fluoride varnish treatments. Our goal is for your child to have positive dental experiences and enjoy optimal dental health.
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Restorative Dentistry
We are usually able to fill in broken teeth to make them look like normal teeth. We even use a cement that is the color of your child’s teeth. If that does not work, we offer veneers and caps to cover up any broken teeth.
We can also fix missing teeth and have many options for how we do so. Typically, we like to place implants, which will act like the tooth’s replacement root. On top of the implants, we use crowns, which are artificial teeth, to restore your child’s mouth with normal-sized and shaped teeth.
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Sealants
Dental sealant is a plastic coating painted on your teeth. It attaches to your child’s teeth, smoothing the rough edges, depressions, and grooves that are typically found on teeth. It gives your child’s teeth a protective coating, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
Sealants are usually done on the back teeth since they are hard to reach and very irregular. Even if your child brushes and flosses properly, he or she may miss some areas. For this reason, sealants are a good way to protect your child’s teeth.
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Fluoride Treatments
We believe that fluoride works well to strengthen children’s teeth. It also has been shown to help prevent tooth decay in people of all ages.
For this reason, the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association believe that topical fluoride is necessary for good oral health.
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Digital X-Rays
X-Rays are used to examine the inside of your teeth. We are hoping to be able to catch any problems that we can’t see with the naked eye! Using radiology, we are able to see which teeth are developing cavities. We may also see some teeth or gum areas that may require some extra work. Our system produces 80-90% less radiation than traditional film dental x-rays.
Intraoral Camera
We are dedicated to giving our patients the high quality care they deserve. We are proud to offer the latest technologies and equipment to keep their mouths healthy. One way we do this is by offering our patients the intraoral camera. They always say that a picture is worth a thousand words. We use our camera for just that reason.
We can take a picture and show you what is going on with your mouth. You may not believe you have dental disease until you see the pictures. Our camera is also very helpful when we are tracking the disease’s progress. We can take before and after pictures to determine if the treatment is working. We can see how far your mouth has come and determine if more treatment or a whole different type of treatment is needed.
If you decide to get a complicated procedure, a picture may help you see what you really can’t see otherwise.
Dental Crowns
Sometimes teeth need crowns too!
Crowns are coverings placed over damaged teeth to strengthen them and allow them to look and function normally again. Metal crowns are sometimes recommended as a temporary solution for damaged baby teeth, until the permanent teeth erupt. This procedure helps protect a damaged tooth from further decay.
Brushing for two minutes, twice a day, and visiting our office twice a year is the best way to make sure your teeth won’t need a crown.
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Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a very safe form of sedation. It is inhaled and the effects start within a few seconds. Nitrous oxide actually contains more oxygen than is found in room air. It can be adjusted quickly if a patient is too light or too deep. Also, after a few minutes without the gas, the nitrous oxide is completely exhaled and completely out of your child’s system.
Our goal is to keep you as relaxed as possible. Nitrous makes many people feel happy and warm. It actually can cause people to laugh so it is often called laughing gas. It is great for sedation when a person is nervous at the dentist. It is also a great pain relief.
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Infant Exam
Here at Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry, we are dedicated to the health of your children’s mouths.
One way we ensure a healthy mouth is by performing regular checkups. Children should be seen every six months unless they have a problem.
While performing an examination, we look at the gums to make sure they are not infected or diseased, but if they are, we will help your child. We also look for signs of tooth decay and cavities. While we are examining your child’s mouth, we will also check any dental restorations that have been completed such as fillings.
Extraction
Here at Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry, we are proud to offer tooth extractions to our patients.
Tooth extractions can be necessary for many reasons. Some teeth are too diseased to save. There are times when a tooth is too damaged. We might also remove teeth if your child’s mouth is overcrowded.
We will always do a thorough examination with X-rays to determine the best course of action for your child. We will go through your options so we can make the right decision for your child.
If we decide your child needs an extraction, we will numb the area prior to starting. We will then pull the tooth. There is usually a small amount of bleeding because the mouth will form a blood clot to fix the area.
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers are used when children lose their baby teeth early. This sometimes happens due to trauma or even decay. When a tooth is lost, other teeth will shift to fill in the space. Though this sounds good, it actually can cause a lot of spacing and alignment problems when the adult teeth start to come in. Because of this, spacers are used to fill in the space where the tooth is missing so that the other teeth stay in place.
There are two types of spacers: fixed and removable. Fixed spacers use a “band and loop,” “crown and loop,” or “distal shoe” type of spacer to fill the space where the tooth is missing. Fixed spacers are usually metal and can last a long time. There are times when we can place an enamel tooth into the space to improve the smile’s appearance.
Pulpotomies (Baby Root Canal)
At Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry, we take pride in providing exceptional dental care, including specialized procedures like pulpotomies, commonly known as baby root canals.
Pulpotomies become necessary for various reasons in children’s dental health. Often, a tooth’s pulp, the innermost part comprising nerves and tissues, becomes infected or damaged due to decay or trauma. In such cases, a pulpotomy can save the tooth, alleviate pain, and prevent further complications.
Before proceeding with any treatment, we conduct a comprehensive examination, utilizing advanced techniques like X-rays to assess your child’s dental condition thoroughly. This allows us to determine the most suitable approach for your child’s oral health.