Our goal during pediatric dental exams is to check for developing issues that involve your child’s health, teeth, speech, diet, and dental/facial development. Through early intervention and screening, it’s possible to reduce the risk of:
Some wonder why it’s necessary to treat baby teeth if they’re only going to fall out in a few years. It’s important to treat and restore baby teeth because tooth decay can spread rapidly, causing unnecessary dental problems including toothaches, abscesses, hospitalizations, and tooth loss. When a baby tooth is prematurely lost, it can permanently affect how adult teeth erupt in the mouth.
Many factors can affect the growth and development of adult teeth – including early cavities, habits such as thumb sucking, or athletic injuries. By starting your child’s dental care early, you’re instilling a positive perception of going to the dentist. If you wait until your child experiences pain to schedule a dental exam, your child may have negative associations about going to the Lewiston pediatric dentist. A positive experience at the general pediatric dentist affects your child’s perception of the general dentist now and in the future.
Our office includes the following Pediatric general dental treatments:
Exam and Cleaning – During their appointment, we will conduct a routine dental exam and cleaning, as well as discuss smart diet choices and review proper oral hygiene habits.
Digital X-rays – We can pinpoint cavities in their earliest stages through x-rays. X-rays are vital to assessing orofacial development, diagnosing cysts, screening for missing teeth, etc.
Protective Sealants – We can make teeth easier to clean and block out cavity-causing germs by applying dental sealants in the deep grooves and pits of molars (back teeth). No numbing necessary!
Dental Fillings – Early treatment of decay is vital, as decay can “jump” or spread to adjacent teeth. Modest white fillings are minimally invasive and prevent decay from spreading and expanding.
Crowns and Pulp Treatments – Sometimes it’s necessary to place a crown over a damaged baby tooth to help extend the length of time it stays in place. Pulp capping or pulpotomies are a pediatric version of a root canal treatment.
Extractions and Space Maintainers – Severely decaying or non-restorable teeth are often removed to prevent pain and possible infection. If the tooth is still serving as a placeholder, a space maintainer may also be necessary.
Orthodontic Evaluations – By age 7, we can start to determine if any type of interceptive orthodontics or growth modification will be necessary. We can refer you to an orthodontic specialist if necessary.
