Corporate dentistry generally is a model that turns something highly personal such as dental care into big business. Some dentists have begun to realize that this approach isn’t beneficial to their existing clientele base. At Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry, we offer private dentistry that is friendly, patient-oriented and successful. We choose the treatments that we want to offer and don’t feel pressure to “sell” a certain amount for our “boss.” We only offer treatments to patients that are needed. With corporate dentistry, you are expected to get the maximum amount of income for the practice, which may lead to administering treatments that won’t be needed.
A regular oral hygiene routine is an important thing to establish for your child. Most children will resist the behavior unless an example is set. We have come up with a handful of helpful tips to encourage your children to brush their teeth.
While the exact timing will vary with each child, babies typically begin to teeth around six months old. Usually the front bottom two teeth emerge first with the front top two after that. Teething can be a painful and difficult process for babies and parents alike.
When it comes to your child’s dental health, healthy gums and teeth are optimal. This is why it is important to talk to your child’s dentist about good dental habits even before their first tooth erupts through their gums. Once your child has a tooth, they will recommend that they receive fluoride varnish treatments to help prevent tooth decay. This can be received either at a pediatrician’s office or a dental office. Pediatricians as well as dentists are trained to apply this fluoride varnish because many young children do not see a dentist until they are older. If they do visit a dental office, a dentist can apply this treatment too.
Silver Diamine Fluoride or SDF is an effective treatment for tooth decay, cavities or hypersensitivity. This FDA-approved antibiotic liquid is applied in order to rest active dental caries and to prevent further progression of the disease itself. The ideal way to treat teeth with decay is by removing the decay and placing restorations, this is an alternative treatment that allows us at Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry to stop decay with noninvasive methods, especially in young children that still have baby teeth.
Dental caries is considered the commonly ignored chronic disease among children, especially preschool children. Early childhood caries is defined by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as the presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces in primary teeth of children that are 71 months (less than 6 years old) or younger. Dietary habits as well as oral hygiene habits and frequent intake of different medications are risk factors to them.
Tooth decay can have effects on a child’s life more than just physical. Ultimately, untreated decay can cause pain and infection that may lead to problems speaking, sleeping, eating, socializing or focusing at school. These dental issues can lead to lessened performance and attendance in the classroom too.
When it comes to tools that help make dental processes easier, safer and more effective, laser dentistry comes to mind. In the traditional sense, lasers have been used for soft tissue use and had a limited ability to cut through hard tissue. However, this has changed with the invention of newer, more advanced lasers. By using the best dental tools, we can offer your child the best dental experience, a faster healing process and overall better oral health.
The trend of oil pulling has taken the world by storm. This process involves swishing coconut oil in the mouth because of its apparent oral health benefits including improving oral health issues such as gum disease, whitening the teeth and improving well-being in general. Because of the lack of current evidence supporting these claims, the American Dental Association (ADA) however doesn’t recommended oil pulling as an oral hygiene routine done in the home.
In terms of pediatric dentistry, preventative care is the best approach. We at Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry believe that a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime begins with regular dental checkups and cleanings from our professional staff. These checkups should begin at the beginning of your child’s development. This is the best defense against cavities and decay for both baby and primary teeth alike.