What Problems Do Pediatric Dentists Check for During Exams?

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Kids need routine dental exams for healthy teeth and gums as they grow. But what exactly do dentists look for during these visits? Our dentists in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry check for the following oral health issues and other problems when you bring your child in for an exam.

Cavities and Tooth Decay

Kids can easily develop these issues in baby teeth and permanent teeth. We look for signs of decay or cavities, such as holes in teeth or discoloration.

Gum Inflammation

During exams, our dental team looks for signs of gum problems, such as reddish gums, that may indicate gingivitis or gum disease.

Bite or Alignment Problems

During dental exams in Midwest City and Oklahoma City, OK, we also check your child’s jaws and teeth for signs of misalignment or bite issues, like overbites.

Abnormalities

Our dentist looks for any oral health conditions or symptoms that need treatment, such as abnormal growths or sores.

Daily Habits

Does your child suck their thumb or grind their teeth? We look for any visible signs of damage or other issues that these habits may cause.

Oral Hygiene Practices

Does your child brush and floss daily? During an exam, we go over habits they can build to keep their teeth and gums healthy. We can provide you with guidance on the best ways to help your child build these habits.

Visit Our Pediatric Dentists for an Exam!

Is your child due for their next checkup at the dentist? At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we offer dental exams in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, to check on your child’s teeth and catch problems early for prompt care!

 

Why Do Baby Teeth Need Routine Teeth Cleanings?

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Your child’s baby teeth are going to fall out one day, and they’re good about brushing. So, are regular cleanings at the dentist really needed before their permanent teeth come in? At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, our dentists in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, do provide cleanings for baby teeth as a necessary part of dental care. Here’s why they’re so important.

Permanent Teeth Take Years to Come In

Baby teeth aren’t around forever, but it can take several years for them to fall out. Some kids still lose these teeth when they’re close to becoming teenagers. That’s a long time to go without professional cleanings, which raises the risk of tooth decay.

Unhealthy Baby Teeth Can Lead to Unhealthy Permanent Teeth

Teeth cleanings in Midwest City and Oklahoma City, OK, can also make a difference in the way your child’s permanent teeth develop and their condition. Problems in baby teeth, like cavities, may increase the risk of decay and other issues in their permanent teeth.

Baby Tooth Problems May Lead to Alignment Issues

Having cavities or other oral health problems with baby teeth can also affect bite or alignment. Without routine cleanings, your child may have a higher risk of developing alignment or spacing problems that require treatment later on.

Kids Can Get Cavities

In fact, cavities are common in baby teeth. Even though your child will be losing those teeth, decay can cause pain and result in infections without treatment. Cleanings reduce these risks.

Set Up a Teeth Cleaning for Your Child Today!

Ready to schedule an appointment for your child’s baby teeth? At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, our dental team offers teeth cleanings in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, for baby teeth to ensure proper growth as your child gets older.

 

Does My Child Need Their Wisdom Teeth Removed?

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When your child’s teeth are painfully impacted, there’s no choice but to get their wisdom teeth removed. If you’re asking this question, it’s likely because either your child has partially erupted teeth or you’re concerned about how the pressure from wisdom teeth will affect their long-term health. Here, we’ll look at what to know about your child’s oral health.

When to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed

Usually, dentists will recommend wisdom teeth removal in Midwest City, OK at around the age of 16, though for infected or impacted molars, they may want them extracted as soon as they appear (which can be as young as 12).

Should Their Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?

It’s worth noting that some people keep their wisdom teeth their whole life with no negative impact to their oral health. However, some parents will have them removed for practical reasons, including:

  • Crowding: No matter how perfect wisdom teeth come in, they can exert pressure on the surrounding teeth. Over time, that can cause everything to come to the middle.
  • Cleaning: It’s plain difficult to maneuver floss to the back teeth, and the wisdom teeth only put more pressure on people to struggle every night. For the sake of simplicity, it can be better just to get them removed.
  • Risks: Wisdom teeth can start off healthy and then turn problematic. Some parents will go the preventative route to stave off the risk of complications.

When every patient is different, talking to a pediatric dentist in Midwest City, OK can go a long way toward settling the debate. At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we can run down the pros and cons, so your child can enjoy better long-term oral health.

What to Expect If Your Child Needs a Filling 

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Finding out your child has a cavity is pretty common, but there are effective ways to treat it. Dental fillings are the standard way to handle these holes in teeth. When you bring your child to our dentists in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry for a filling, here’s what to expect from this visit.

Tooth Numbing

We don’t want your child to feel anything while getting a filling, so we use a local anesthetic to numb their gums and the area around their tooth.

Decay Removal

The next step in getting fillings in Midwest City and Oklahoma City, OK, is having the decayed part of the tooth removed. Eliminating this material helps stop the decay from getting worse and putting the tooth at risk of extraction.

Tooth Cleaning

Once the decayed matter is gone, we give the tooth a thorough cleaning. This helps reduce the risk of infection and provides a clean environment for the filling material.

Filling Placement

During this step, we place the filling material in the tooth to restore it. Some types of material, such as composite resin, can give the tooth a natural appearance. Others, like metal, may be more noticeable.

Hardening

When the filling material is in place, we use a light to harden it. This helps it stay secure in your child’s tooth. With the filling, your child has a healthy and restored tooth that’s safer from infections and decay.

Visit Our Pediatric Dentists for Dental Fillings

Does your child have a cavity that needs treatment? At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we offer fillings in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, in a friendly and welcoming environment that helps kids feel at ease!

How Do Crowns for Children Work?

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Pediatric crowns are a somewhat new concept in dentistry, so most people won’t understand what they are or how they work. We’ll look at the general idea behind crowns, how they benefit children, and where you can find them in Midwest City, OK.

How Does the Crown Process Work?

The crown process for kids works somewhat similarly to the crown process for adults: the child has tooth damage, and the crown goes on top to protect it. Again, the types of tooth damage for kids are similar to the types of tooth damage for adults (e.g., baby root canal, fractured tooth, or large cavity).

Typically, all pediatric crowns in Midwest City, OK are partial crowns made of stainless steel. Dentists opt for this material not just because it’s durable, even for exceptionally active children, but because it also takes less time to fit. So, if you have a child who prefers to get in and out of the dentist as quickly as possible, you can potentially take care of everything in one fast appointment.

Why Get Pediatric Crowns?

Dentistry has come a long way in the last few decades. In the past, dentists may have been quick to yank permanent teeth to save them from gradual decay. Today, dentists in Midwest City, OK understand that they can foster and preserve healthy teeth if they have the right tactics from early on.

At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we can fit your child for a pediatric crown until they lose their primary tooth. This not only helps prevent extractions, it can also be used as a space maintainer to ensure that surrounding teeth don’t grow into the wrong positioning. If you have questions about how a crown can boost your child’s long-term oral health, contact our staff today to learn more!

 

3 Benefits of Space Maintainers

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A space maintainer in Midwest City, OK, is a specialized device that holds teeth apart so that permanent teeth can erupt. In some cases, the device is a permanent fixture until the new teeth come in. In others, it’s a removable fixture. Here, we’ll look at why you might invest in one for your child.

1. It Gives You Some Breathing Room

Most people assume that when a baby tooth is lost, the new one will immediately come right in. The truth is that it can take up to six months for this to happen. Space maintainers will hold the teeth apart, so it’s less likely the other teeth will slip or shift in.

2. It Can Save You Money

Don’t want to pay for braces or clear aligners when your child is a teen? We don’t blame you! With space aligners, you can potentially avoid crooked teeth, which can help ensure proper alignment as your kid gets older.

3. It Promotes Long-Term Health

It’s not easy to care for teeth that are crowded or crooked. With space maintainers, you can help your child achieve a natural, healthy smile, making it easier to brush and floss. This way, they don’t have to worry about missing bits of food or bacteria because they’re hiding within a crowded section of the mouth.

There are a number of space maintainers available, including band and loop or transpalatal arch. Because every child’s teeth are different, it helps to talk to a qualified dentist in Midwest City, OK about what’s best for your kid. At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to help you figure it all out, no matter how your child’s teeth grow in.

How Do Sealants Protect Your Child’s Teeth from Cavities?

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Are you concerned that your child might develop a cavity or two, even if they brush? That’s understandable, with cavities being a common dental problem for kids. Our dentists in Midwest City and Oklahoma City, OK, at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry offer sealants as added protection from tooth decay. Here’s a more in-depth look at how they guard against cavities.

What Are Sealants?

These are coatings we apply to your child’s premolars and molars on their surfaces. Sealants cover the grooves and other crevices on these surfaces, keeping them safe from bacteria that lead to tooth decay.

How Do Kids Get Cavities?

Kids aren’t always the best at remembering to brush their teeth. But even with daily brushing, it’s easy for them to miss bits of food that get stuck in the surfaces of their molars and premolars. This can attract bacteria that cause cavities.

Why Should Kids Get Sealants?

Sealants offer another layer of protection from tooth decay. These coatings prevent bacteria from being able to get inside teeth, reducing the risk of having cavities.

When to Consider Dental Sealants for Your Child

That depends in part on your child’s age. Our dentists can recommend the right time to bring your child in for sealants. It’s a quick and painless process that most kids don’t mind.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

This range can vary, with some sealants lasting for about a decade. Others might only last for a few years.

Schedule an Appointment Today for Sealants!

Ready to give your child’s teeth even more protection from cavities? Our dental team at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry offers sealants in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK, to reduce the risk of decay in kids’ teeth and keep them healthy.

Mother and Daughter Brushing Teeth

4 Tips for Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

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Kids need their teeth to be brushed twice a day just like adults. Most kids need their parents to brush their teeth until they turn about 7 or 8 years old. If you’re a parent of a little one, knowing how to brush your child’s teeth can help keep your child’s teeth healthy.

The dentist in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK can give you advice on how to brush your child’s teeth. Below, we’ve listed four things you can do to keep your child’s teeth healthy and clean.

1. Brush for 2 Minutes

Experts recommend that toothbrushing last for about two minutes every time. As you’re brushing your child’s teeth, time yourself to ensure that you’re brushing for long enough. Alternatively, you can also use an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer to ensure that you’re hitting the recommended amount of time every time you brush your child’s teeth.

2. Use the Right Toothbrush

Use a toothbrush that’s the right size for your child. Look for a toothbrush that’s specifically designed for children. You can help your child feel more enthusiastic about toothbrushing by allowing them to choose a toothbrush that suits their personality.

3. Let Them Practice

Give your child the chance to practice toothbrushing from time to time. Allowing them to practice will help them develop the skills they need to brush their teeth on their own.

4. Make It Fun

Toothbrushing can be fun! Sing a song for your child as you brush their teeth, or allow them to watch a short video to make the time more entertaining.

Do you have questions about preventative care in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK? Call today to make your child’s next dental appointment.

What Can I Do to Help My Child Feel More Comfortable at the Dentist?

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Some kids just don’t feel comfortable when visiting the dentist in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OH. As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your child feel more at ease in the dentist’s office. In this article, we’ll go over small things that parents can do to help their children feel more comfortable when they’re visiting the dentist.

1. Talk to Your Child About the Dentist

Spend time talking to your child about visiting the dentist. There are many ways you can do this.

  • Talk about your own positive experiences at the dentist’s office
  • Describe what to expect when your child goes to the dentist’s office
  • Talk about how important it is to keep your teeth clean and healthy

2. Read Books About the Dentist

Reading picture books about the dentist is another way that you can help prepare your child for their time at the dentist. Look for picture books that show what happens at the dentist, and paint going to the dentist in a positive light.

3. Take Your Child Starting from a Young Age

Kids should start to see the dentist when they’re about 1 year old. Taking your child to the dentist from an early age will help your child get used to this process, so that when they’re older, they’re used to it.

4. Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist

Bring your child to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have tools and strategies to keep kids comfortable. For more information about pediatric dental cleaning in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OH, call the professionals at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry.

When Should My Child Go to the Dentist for the First Time?

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Your child needs prompt and appropriate dental care starting from a young age. Knowing when to bring your child to the dentist in Oklahoma City and Midwest City OK is important. If you’re wondering when to bring your little one to the dentist for the first time, we can help.

Expert Recommendations for First Time Visit to the Dentist

Many experts recommend you bring your child to the dentist for the first time either six months after their first tooth erupts, or by the time they turn one year old (whichever comes first).

Why Bring Your Child When They’re So Young?

One-year-old may seem early to bring your child to the dentist. Taking your child to the dentist while they’re still a baby can help the dentist identify problems before they become more serious. Did you know that babies can get cavities? They can! Babies who fall asleep drinking formula can get cavities even when their teeth are new.

Bringing your child to the dentist can identify these problems. In addition, this helps your child develop a relationship with the dentist. The more comfortable your child feels visiting the dentist, the better.

What to Expect During Your Child’s First Dental Appointment

During your child’s first dentist appointment, the dentist will examine their teeth and ask you some questions about your child’s dental development. The dentist will also answer your questions about your baby’s oral health.

Want to know more about early dental care in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, OK? Call Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry to make your baby’s first dental appointment.