Tennyson Pediatric Dentistry focuses on prevention of dental problems by educating families about great oral hygiene and a healthy diet.
Having your child visit us every 6 months for an exam and cleaning is an important part of maintaining great dental health
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children start seeing the dentist when the first tooth appears or around age one, whichever comes first. Early visits to the dentist are shown to decrease a child’s chance of developing cavities.
Providing dental care to infants, children, and teenagers with special healthcare needs is an integral part of the specialty of pediatric dentistry. We treat each of these individuals with the goal of preventing dental diseases, providing guidance to their caregivers, and creating a welcoming environment for the patient and their family.
White fillings can be used to treat many cavities and are more natural looking compared to silver/amalgam fillings. White fillings also no not contain any mercury.
Sealants are a thin, white coating that can be placed on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars to help reduce the chance dental decay will develop in these cavity prone areas.
If your child has a small area of decay or difficulty having treatment completed, we may discuss the option of placing Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). SDF can help slow down the growth of cavities to prevent more involved treatment in the future.
If your child has a cavity on a primary (baby) tooth that is too large to be treated with a white filling, we will discuss the option of placing a crown. On front teeth, we will typically recommend using a white (Zirconia) crown. For back teeth (molars), we will typically recommend a stainless steel (silver) crown.
Some infants and children may develop feeding, speech, or other dental issues secondary to a tongue and/or lip tie. Our dentists can evaluate these area for possible frenulectomies/frenectomies where the tissue can be treated with a laser or other instrument to help alleviate these issues. Many times treating these areas will involve working with a lactation consultant, speech therapist, or other specialist.
As pediatric dentists, we offer multiple options to help treat your child’s dental needs. Some of these options include nitrous oxide and general anesthesia. Our office does not offer oral sedation, but can discuss this option with you if it may be beneficial for your child.
Fortunately, most pediatric dental problems do not have to be urgently treated. However, our dentists are able to treat a variety of emergency needs including trauma, dental pain, and dental infections. Please call our office for assistants and check out our FAQ section on this website for more information about dental emergencies.
