According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday or at least 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth.   Beginning dental care at an early age allows guidance for caring for your child's teeth and opportunities to address preventive issues that are important for healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. Early visits also help establish a positive relationship between the dentist and your child.

With each subsequent visit, your child will mature and confidence and trust will most likely increase.  Usually after age 3, we will begin preventive care visits which include examination, cleaning, fluoride treatments, and appropriate radiographs.

It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth (baby teeth).  Neglected cavities can cause pain and infection, and it can also lead to problems which affect the developing permanent teeth.  Primary teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.

Radiographs (x-rays) are a necessary part of your child's dental diagnostic process.  Without them, certain cavities will be missed.  They also help survey developing teeth, evaluate results an injury, or plan for orthodontic treatment.  If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child, and more affordable for you.

On average, our office will request bitewing radiographs approximately once a year and panoramic radiographs every 3-5 years.  In children with a high risk of tooth decay, we will recommend radiographs and examinations every six months.

With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray examination is extremely small.  The risk is negligible.  In fact, the dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.  Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today's equipment restricts the beam to the area of interest.  Our office also employs digital radiography which allows us to decrease the amount of radiation exposure.

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) for the back teeth (premolars and molars), where most cavities in children can form.  This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.  However, cavities between the teeth are not protected by sealants.  As long as there is no cavity in the tooth, sealants will be recommended for all children.

If your child has a cavity, a filling is placed after the cavity is removed.  Most of the time, the filling is a tooth colored (white) filling, but there are certain situations in which a silver filling is necessary.  In our practice, when a tooth needs a filling, a sealant is placed over the filling and the remaining tooth for added protection.

In a primary tooth, if a cavity is too large to restore with a filling, a crown may be recommend or the tooth may need to come out.  If the cavity is too large and has involved the nerve of the tooth, then the nerve will be removed (pulpotomy) along with the cavity, and a crown will be placed.  A crown can either be tooth colored or stainless steel.  For front teeth, white crowns are routinely used for esthetics.  For back teeth, stainless steel crowns are used for their durability and longevity.  The purpose of the crown is to help provide structure for the tooth, to help maintain space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, and to help protect the remaining tooth.

Small procedures in cooperative children can often be done under local anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide.  The most common form of sedation we routinely use in our office is nitrous oxide (laughing gas).  This is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child's nose.  The AAPD recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to help relax your child during treatment.

Slightly more involved procedures in certain children will require the use of an oral medication along with nitrous oxide to help relax your child and facilitate cooperation with the procedure.  These procedures are scheduled carefully, we require your child to be fasting the morning of the procedure, and also be free of any respiratory symptoms in the two weeks preceeding the procedure.  Often we ask that two adults be present so that one is able to sit in the back seat with your child on the drive home.

Some children require an extensive amount of dental work.  In these situations, it is difficult for a small child to cooperate fully and often the treatment cannot be done properly.  For these children, we may recommend treating your child under  general anesthesia.

We do not have any policy that restricts parents from being with their child during their visit.  We do feel that children vary as individuals.  It has been our experience that most children do better with the parents waiting in the reception area.  There are exceptions, and there are certain children who will have a better experience if the parents are with them throughout the visit.

Our preference is to have one parent with the child for their initial visit.  If the child requires treatment during another visit, the need for parental presence should be discussed between the dentist and the parent and decided on a case by case basis.

Apply ice to bruised areas.  If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze or cloth.  If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to the emergency room.

Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly.  RInse the mouth with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris.  DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth.  If the face is swollen or the pain still persists, contact our office as soon
as possible.

Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root portion.  You may rinse the tooth, but DO NOT wipe or handle the tooth unnecessarily.  Inspect the tooth for fractures, if there are no fractures, try to reinsert it into the socket.  Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze.  If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk.  If there is no milk, place the tooth in a cup containing the patient's own saliva.  DO NOT place the tooth in water.  Call our office immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.  Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Rinse debris from injured area with warm water.  Place cold compresses over the face in the area of injury.  Locate and save any broken tooth fragments in milk.  If your child experiences severe pain, contact our office as soon as possible.

Most malocclusions are inherited, some are acquired. Inherited problems include crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra teeth, congenitally missing teeth, and a wide range of discrepancies of the jaws, teeth, and face.  Acquired problems can be caused by trauma, thumb or finger sucking, airway obstruction by tonsils and adenoids, dental diseases, and premature loss of baby or adult teeth. Many of these problems affect not only alignment of the teeth, but also facial development and appearance as well.

It is usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight.  Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own.  As Pediatric Dentists, we are experts in growth and development of the teeth and jaws.

Our complimentary initial orthodontic exam is comprehensive and informative. We would be happy to see your child and make any

recommendations necessary.

Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following signs may help in prompting you to seek orthodontic advice: crowded or overlapping teeth, gaps between the teeth, top front teeth not meeting with bottom teeth, and top front teeth covering more than 50% of the bottom teeth. If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem, which may require early orthodontic treatment. These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be evaluated by age seven. An orthodontic screening no later that age seven enables us to detect and evaluate problems that exist, advise if treatment will be necessary, and determine the best time for the treatment. Early detection of any orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later.

Please call our office for a complimentary orthodontic exam for your child. 330.220.6363

Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth slightly tender for a few days, but it is not painful. This annoyance can be relieved with an over-the-counter analgesic. Today's braces are more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort. We use the latest in biocompatible braces, the advanced technique with light force and the highest quality of orthodontic materials, in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.

Phase I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts when the child is in mixed dentition (a combination of primary and permanent teeth). This stage in development is usually about the age of seven to nine. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal discrepancies, cross bites, and severe crowding. Phase I (age appropriate treatment) can help to reduce the amount of treatment needed in the future.  Esthetics and function can be improved at an earlier age.  This often helps reduce the need for extraction or surgery and may contribute to better long-term stability. Most Phase I patients require a second phase of treatment in order to achieve an ideal final bite.

Phase II treatment usually occurs a few years later. Usually we are waiting for the remaining permanent teeth to erupt, including second molars before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 12 or 13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal bite with all of the permanent teeth.

Not every child needs a Phase I treatment.

Only some children with certain bites require early intervention. All others can wait until most if not all their permanent teeth erupt. However, it is important that every child be evaluated by age seven.

Braces may be on between 6 months to 30 months, or in rare instances longer. This depends on the development of the dentition, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of tooth movement required.

When Orthodontic treatment is implemented at the proper time, treatment is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later. Orthodontic fees have not increased as fast as many other consumer products. Financing is usually available and our office offers payment plans that will meet your needs.

In addition, many insurance plans now include orthodontics.

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.

Avoid These Sticky Foods: Gum (sugar-free or regular) , Licorice , Sugar Daddies , Toffee , Tootsie Rolls , Caramels , Starburst , Fruit Snacks

Avoid These Hard Foods: Ice , Nuts , Hard taco shells , French bread crust/rolls , Corn on the cob , Apples (unless cut into small pieces) , Bagels , Chips , Jolly Ranchers , Pizza crust , Uncooked carrots

It's important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.