Is it Reasonable To Put a Crown on a Baby Tooth?

If your child has cavities, you may be wondering what can be done to save their teeth. We have years of pediatric dentistry experience, and are trained to work with children. Cavities are common in children, and some children are prone to them more than others. If a child has a small cavity, we may just watch it, or recommend a dental filling. In cases where the child has severe decay, a pediatric crown may be recommended in order to save the tooth.

What Are Pediatric Crowns?

Pediatric crowns are caps that are placed over a tooth to protect the tooth from further decay. Crowns are made to match the size and shape of a child’s natural teeth. They are durable, and can save a tooth that has suffered severe decay. Crowns are used only when necessary, or when the tooth cannot support a dental filling. Other reasons crowns are used include restoring teeth that are severely broken or worn out, or if your child has a high risk of developing cavities.

Why Would You Put a Crown on a Primary Tooth?

Primary teeth are very important in the development of a child’s adult teeth. They help with speech and overall growth and development. Primary teeth are needed for many years of a child’s life, and it is important to protect a child’s teeth to maintain their oral health. Primary teeth are placeholders for adult teeth, and if a child does not have their primary teeth, this can cause adult teeth to come in crooked or misaligned. Instead of extracting the primary tooth, a crown can leave the tooth intact, but protect the tooth from further damage.

How Does the Crown Procedure Work?

Crowns can typically be placed in one dental visit making this ideal for children. The tooth will be cleaned and prepared for the crown. Local anesthesia is used along with Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas, to keep your child calm and relaxed during their procedure. Once the tooth is ready the crown is gently affixed on top of the tooth. Recovery is minimal, and we recommend your child wait a few hours to eat until the anesthesia wears off. Your child’s bite may feel off after the crown procedure, but they will adjust and get used to their new crown after a few days.

Dental crowns should last until the primary teeth are lost. We do recommend practicing good oral hygiene habits at home with brushing and flossing each day, to keep your crown and teeth looking and feeling healthy. Regular visits to our office are important, they give our doctors the opportunity to check to make sure there is no additional decay, and the crown looks healthy.

Ready To Schedule Your Appointment?

At our office we care about your child’s oral health, and strive to provide the very best dental care to our patients. Our doctors and staff are trained to work with children, and we always ensure your child will have a positive experience when they visit our office. We provide quality dental care that patients can trust, and we look forward to you joining our dental family.

If you think your child may need a crown, or you would like to schedule their regular dental exam, contact us today, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Are Pediatric Dentists Trained to Help Autistic Patients?

Choosing a pediatric dentist for your child is important, and parents want to know their child is in good hands, and receiving the very best care. For those patients that have special needs, it is important for parents to find a dentist they are comfortable with. At Dentist X, we provide exceptional dental care for our pediatric patients. We welcome autistic patients and patients that have special needs.

Pediatric dentists attend two to three years of training after dental school to help them understand all of the unique needs to treat pediatric patients. This training includes children with autism. Any medical appointment can be a challenge to both the parent and child, and finding the right dentist is essential.
Oral hygiene is important, and bringing your child to the dentist helps to ensure their teeth look great and are free of decay. At Dentist X, we ensure your child has a positive experience, and feels comfortable and relaxed when they visit our office. We make many adjustments during the visit to make the appointment run smoothly.

Benefits of Taking Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist

  • Pediatric dentists are trained to work with children, and to treat children with autism or special needs. Our staff has also been trained how to handle children with special needs. We work together with the parent and patient to ensure there is a positive experience in our office.
  • Pre-visits are available to have the parents and child meet our doctor and staff, discuss any sensory issues or concerns, and see the exam room. This allows the parent to prepare their child for the visit to our office, and gives our staff the opportunity to brief the parent with details on their child’s appointment.
  • Our practice is kid friendly, and the way the staff handles each procedure helps to make children feel comfortable during their visit. If your child is sensitive to light or sounds we have the ability to turn the lights down, and make adjustments in the room to help make the appointment run smoothly.
  • If needed we offer nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”, conscious sedation, and general anesthesia to help our special needs patients get through a dental procedure. These options are safe, and allow our doctors to treat patients easily if they require a complicated procedure. We take these options very seriously, and only use these methods when absolutely necessary. All medical conditions are considered, and a medical exam is required before any sedation is done.
  • Communication is key when you take your child to their dentist appointment. Our staff is trained to communicate before, during, and after any treatment. This helps to ensure the parent and pediatric patient are comfortable, and are aware of what is needed every step of the way.
  • The dental office is decorated in kid friendly colors, and we provide games and entertainment for the kids.
  • Our patients are provided with small toys after their visit, and this gives them something to look forward to when they visit our office.

Looking for a Pediatric Dentist or Special Needs Dentist in X?

If you are looking to find a pediatric or special needs dentist in X, our team is here to help. We strive to provide the very best care for our special needs patients, and ensure when they visit our office they have a positive experience. We know choosing the right pediatric dentist is important, and part of our consultation process is to get to know our patients, and understand what we can do to help make their visit exceptional.

If you are looking to schedule a dental exam for your child, contact our office and we will be happy to assist you!

How Much Radiation is in a Dental X-Ray?

Dental X-Ray

Dental x-rays are commonly used when you visit your dentist. Many patients wonder if dental x-rays are safe and if they should worry about radiation exposure. Expressing concerns about your health and safety is normal, and the good news is that dental x-rays are extremely safe. You may notice your hygienist covers you with protective equipment and leaves the room during the x-ray. This is to avoid repeated exposure because hygienists perform x-rays daily as part of their cleaning and exam routines. The protective equipment placed on the patient helps to further protect your body and organs that are more sensitive to radiation exposure.

Every day we are exposed to levels of radiation naturally in the environment, and dental x-rays only make up a small fraction of the average daily dose of radiation each day. Patients do not need to worry about exposure, as the amount is so low there is nothing to be concerned about.

Are Dental X-Ray’s Safe?

Dental x-rays do not require much radiation to produce images. With the new technology used today x-rays use 90% less radiation exposure and are safe for patients. Diagnostic imaging gives our team the ability to see inside your teeth and this allows the detection of decay, bone loss, or oral cancer. X-rays can help prevent future issues by diagnosing and treating anything we see promptly.

Benefits of Dental X-Ray’s

  • Detect decay, fillings, gum disease, and oral cancer.
  • Detect changes in soft or hard tissues.
  • Show jawbone development
  • Detect bone loss

Interested in Learning More About How Dental X-rays Can Benefit You?

If you are interested in learning how dental x-rays can benefit you, or you are due for your regular dental exam and cleaning, contact Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry. We provide the highest level of service and use the latest technology and equipment. Let our team help you care for your smile, and prevent unnecessary visits to the dentist. Our doctors have years of experience and love to help patients care for their teeth and gums. Oral health is extremely important and is directly linked to our overall health. Attending your regular dental visits can help to detect issues and keep your smile looking and feeling great.

To schedule an appointment with us contact Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, and our staff will be happy to assist you.

What is Early Orthodontics?

Orthodontics

Early orthodontics is also referred to as phase 1 orthodontic treatment, and may be necessary to help children who have growth or alignment issues with their teeth. At Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, we offer a variety of different options for patients who require early orthodontics. Our goal is to address the issues early to prevent more serious issues in the future from developing. Catching any issues with the jaw or teeth in the beginning is important before permanent teeth erupt.

When Should I Consider Early Orthodontic Treatment?

If your dentist has a concern during your regular exam, they may recommend early orthodontic treatment. Common devices used in early orthodontic treatment include braces, palatal expanders, or retainers.

What Are Common Issues That Require Early Orthodontic Treatment?

  • Issues with a child’s bite
  • Malocclusion or misaligned teeth
  • Teeth that protrude
  • Issue with a child’s jaw, or a child who has a very small jaw

What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontics?

Early orthodontics can correct issues early on before they cause damage, and reduce the need for treatments later in life. Not every child requires early orthodontic treatment. Children that do not have any issues with their jaw or teeth should wait until phase 2 orthodontics.

  • Prevents a narrow jaw
  • Eliminates chances of crowding
  • Lowers risk of damage to protruding teeth
  • Reduces risk of tooth decay
  • Reduces risk of gum disease

Typically, children do not need to visit the orthodontist until at least six or seven years of age. Many children do not need orthodontic treatment until they are older. An early visit to the orthodontist can help detect issues, as well as know what your child may require as they get older. This also gives the opportunity for the parent to ask questions. Our team will discuss if your child requires phase 1 orthodontics to help reduce the need for treatment later in life.

Ready To Schedule Your Child’s Consultation?

If you are interested in finding out if your child requires early orthodontics, we recommend scheduling a consultation with us. Our doctors have years of experience in orthodontics, and our team is trained to work with children. We strive to provide a positive experience each time they visit our office. At Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, we provide quality dentistry you can trust, and we welcome new patients to join our dental family.

To schedule your child’s appointment, contact Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Do Kids Need Dental Crowns?

If your child is prone to cavities, you may wonder if there is anything dentists can do to save their teeth. Cavities are very common in children, and many children are prone to cavities while others are not. If a child has a small cavity, we may choose to just monitor the tooth, or recommend a dental filling. If the tooth has severe decay, a crown may be recommended in order to save the tooth. Dental crowns can protect a severely damaged or decayed tooth, and preserve the tooth underneath.

Why Would My Child Need a Dental Crown?

Primary teeth are very important in a child’s development. They help with growth and development, speech, and eating. It is important to try and keep a child’s primary teeth for as long as you can to protect and maintain their oral health. Primary teeth serve as placeholders for adult teeth. If a child does not have their primary teeth, this can cause orthodontic issues. The adult teeth may not erupt properly or will erupt in the wrong direction. If your child has a cavity, placing a crown on the tooth can leave the primary tooth intact, but protect the tooth from further damage.

How Does a Crown Procedure Work?

Crowns can be placed in one dental visit making this ideal for children. During the procedure, the primary tooth is cleaned and prepared. We use local anesthesia along with Nitrous oxide or laughing gas to keep your child calm and comfortable. Once the tooth is prepped and ready, the crown is gently affixed on top of the tooth. Recovery is minimal, and we recommend waiting a few hours after the procedure to eat or drink. This allows the numb feeling to wear off. Your child’s bite may feel odd, but after a few days, they will adjust to the new crown.

Dental crowns are very durable and should last until the primary tooth is lost. Practicing good oral hygiene habits at home can help keep your crown feeling and looking great. We encourage regular visits to our office to give our doctors the ability to monitor the crown and check for additional decay. Dental cleanings and exams help to keep track of a child’s oral development and can help address cavities or other concerns as your child grows.

Ready To Find Out More About Dental Crowns?

At Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s health is our priority. Our doctors have years of experience in pediatric dentistry and love to work with children. We create a calm and relaxing environment and always ensure your child has a positive experience. Let our team at Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry provide quality dental care you can trust.

If you have concerns about your child’s teeth, or they are due for their exam and cleaning, contact Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.