Children's Dental Care in Suwanee

What Is Child Dentistry?

Pediatric dentistry is a dental field in which dentists can specialize that involves the treatment of infants, children and teens, including those with special needs. Along with completing four years of dental school, they have to undergo at least two more years of training. It’s also important that a children’s dentist has patience and compassion to care for kids.

When Should Children Start Going to the Dentist?

Children could develop dental diseases and tooth decay that cause long-term complications if they don’t get proper dental care. Because of that, it’s important that they start visiting a children’s dentist by their first birthday. After that, they should go to the dentist every six months to maintain optimal dental health. Make an appointment for your child’s first dental visit.

Baby Teeth: When Do They Come In and Fall Out?

During people’s lives, they get two sets of teeth: 20 primary and 32 permanent. Pediatric dentists have the necessary training to monitor all tooth development and deal with any issues that arise.

The primary or baby teeth start emerging at around 6 months old. By the time that kids turn 3, they usually have all of their primary teeth. You might think that they aren’t important because they fall out later. However, baby teeth have an important role in helping children learn to chew and speak. They also form a path for permanent teeth to follow through.

Primary teeth start falling out at around 6 years old, and the adult molars are typically the first ones to come in. By the age of 12, all of the baby teeth will have fallen out. Call our practice for more details.

What Happens During a Pediatric Dental Visit?

During a dental visit, the children’s dentist will do an oral exam to look for tooth decay. If cavities or other issues are present, we recommend taking care of them as soon as possible.

For infants, we only perform a visual exam. We get X-rays when your child gets older and more teeth have emerged. In addition, we provide education so that your kid can learn good oral hygiene habits.

What Services Do Pediatric Dentists Provide?

Our kid’s dentist performs a variety of services to protect children’s teeth. Learn more about some of these services below.

Teeth Cleanings

While cleaning baby teeth, our dentist will use a tooth scraper to remove plaque. Then, a hygienist will brush and floss the teeth to be thorough. This fights bacterial growth so that the teeth and gums stay healthy and protected.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural cavity fighter that’s present in some foods and water. For that reason, it’s added to toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel and hinder early stage decay. When children don’t get enough fluoride from water and brushing, kid’s dental care might include special supplements.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants for kids fill in cracks and crevasses on their teeth to prevent food from getting caught in them. They’re effective and can protect your kid’s teeth for several years. Applying them is fast and won’t cause discomfort for your child.

Fillings

Dentistry for kids commonly involves the application of dental fillings. The purpose is to fill in the spaces that tooth decay and cavities leave in teeth. If the spaces aren’t filled after having cavities removed, then more bacteria and plaque can get in and damage the teeth further. Prior to treating dental decay, our dentist numbs the gums with a local anesthetic.

Pediatric Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that covers an entire tooth. It’s used when a filling isn’t sufficient for protecting the tooth from further decay and damage. Crowning baby teeth can restore their function until the teeth fall out. You can choose between stainless steel and porcelain varieties.

Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are dental devices that are made of soft plastic. They protect kids’ cheeks, lips, teeth and gums during recreational activities that could cause injuries to the head and face. Some examples include gymnastics, boxing, skating and football. Dentistry for children might also use mouth guards to protect teeth from grinding while sleeping.

What Causes Tooth Pain in Kids?

Although cavities commonly cause tooth pain for kids, many other things can cause it too. For example, earaches, mouth sores, sinus infections and emerging teeth are potential sources. Arrange a dental visit with our children’s dentist in Suwanee if your child is dealing with mouth pain.