The Importance of Preserving Healthy Teeth

By Vishant Nath DMD

For most people, our teeth are strongest and healthiest when they first erupt from the gums. This is true for both primary and permanent teeth. Once the health of a tooth is compromised, it’s difficult to return it to that strong, healthy, original state. This article will provide information on the importance of using good hygiene to maintain healthy teeth, and how to best care for teeth which have been restored.

The most ideal situation of course is to keep teeth healthy and not have to drill, fill or otherwise bother the tooth structure. Once a tooth has developed a cavity, even with modern dental techniques, its difficult to completely restore the tooth back to its original healthy state. So the first priority is to establish correct and consistent hygiene techniques. When these habits are established during childhood, it’s much easier to carry them through to adulthood. Both primary and permanent teeth require daily hygiene. This includes brushing at least twice a day and daily flossing to remove food particles from in between teeth. This must be done on a consistent basis. It truly needs to become established as part of a daily routine in order to effectively protect the tooth structure from damage. The second part of having good hygiene is making it a point to visit your dentist every six months for cleaning, x-rays and exams.

So, let’s say that due to any number of circumstances, your child develops cavities or tooth decay. Its important to remember that there are dental techniques that can be used to attempt to restore the tooth. When these restorative techniques are utilized, it’s even more important to develop good hygiene as follow-up. Follow your dentist’s advice regarding which foods to avoid to maintain the integrity of the fillings. As part of daily hygiene, take a quick look inside your child’s mouth and examine the filling to make sure it has not become chipped or otherwise damaged. As stated above, twice-yearly dental visits are equally important. Your dentist can examine each filling to make sure that it is still working to protect the tooth from further damage or decay.

The bottom line is it’s never too late to develop good oral hygiene. It does take a conscious effort to follow through on establishing a daily hygiene routine and complementing this at home care with twice-yearly dental visits. Take the time to take care of your child’s teeth. It is time well spent!

Understanding Your Child’s Dental Condition

By Vishant Nath DMD, Pediatric Dentist

The last thing that you want to hear at your child’s dental visit is that treatment is needed. Everyone wants to hear the dentist say “Your child has no cavities, see you in six months!” Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. So what’s the best advice when your child needs dental treatment? Read on!

When your child is diagnosed with the need for dental treatment, it is very important that the parents (1) understand why the treatment is needed and (2) have trust in the child’s dentist to best diagnose the treatment. In most cases, when treatment is prescribed in children, time is of the essence. Primary, or baby teeth are softer than permanent, or adult teeth. Because of this, decay can often spread quickly in children. This means that it’s important to get your child’s dental treatment completed in a timely manner.

You want to walk away from any diagnosis understanding what your child’s dentist is prescribing regarding treatment, and why they are taking this approach. If you do not understand, make it a point to ask lots of questions so that you understand exactly what the issue is and how the dentist is recommending it be treated. Even if you plan to get a second opinion (which is highly recommended), ask lots of questions. This is a good time to educate yourself. There are often times different ways to treat dental issues. The information you receive by asking questions may help you to decide which approach you are most comfortable with regarding your child’s dental treatment.

If you do plan to get a second opinion, make sure that you get the second opinion quickly. If you wait too long, your child’s need for treatment may worsen, which will mean that the dentists are not comparing the same situation, and therefore their diagnoses could differ.

After you have found a dentist whom you are comfortable with and trust to perform your child’s treatment, it is most important to schedule treatment in a timely manner. If you wait too long, the decay may worsen, and the diagnosis may need to change.

Remember that every dentist gets a similar education in dental school and residency, but once they begin practicing, their experiences will build a knowledge base that can differentiate them. Each dentist will have different treatment methods that they are most comfortable with and have seen provide the best results. There are often different approaches to prescribing dental treatment, all within the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines. All can lead to great oral health for your child.

By Vishant Nath DMD, Pediatric Dentist

 

Teeth Whitening Options For Children and Adolescents

By Vishant Nath DMD

Most adults are quite aware of the opportunities for teeth whitening. From toothpastes to whitening strips to whitening treatments at the dental office, there are plenty of ways to make the smile brighter. Due to an interest in teeth whitening for younger patients, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has issued new guidelines. This article will provide information based on these guidelines.

There are numerous instances where primary (baby) teeth or permanent teeth could become discolored. Dental trauma can cause tooth discoloration. There can be irregularities in the enamel color of an infected tooth. There can also occur intrinsic discoloration and staining of teeth. A discolored tooth can lead to negative self-image, especially in the adolescent years.

Many pediatric dentists will offer in-office bleaching. In-office bleaching has many advantages. It will begin with an initial professional examination to diagnose the causes of the discoloration and address any concerns such as side effects. The dentist will also identify existing tooth restorations that are faulty or could be effected by the bleaching process.

Also with in-office bleaching there is the opportunity to use advanced technologies such as lights and lasers to enhance the treatment. Photographs and shade guides can aid in documenting the effectiveness of the treatment. The dentist can also provide physical barriers to prevent or minimize the exposure of the whitening agent to the soft tissues in the mouth. This can help to decrease the effect of irritation in these soft tissues.

Additionally, in-office bleaching provides for more rapid and stable results than can be guaranteed with at-home bleaching.

If at-home bleaching is preferred, your dentist can assist by fabricating a custom-bleaching tray. The customized tray can help to ensure optimum fit and greater efficiency of bleaching agents.

All of these methods of teeth bleaching have been deemed safe for children. The most common side effects are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Both are usually temporary and disappear at the end of the bleaching treatment. It’s also important to note that tooth whitening is often not a permanent fix. Depending on what caused the discoloration originally, it can return over time.

Teeth whitening offers another way to improve the look of your child’s smile. It may not be for everyone, but it’s an important tool to keep in mind. Talk with your dentist to find out more about teeth whitening!

Dental Treatment Options

By Vishant Nath DMD

A visit to the pediatric dentist can sometimes result in a diagnosis for dental treatment for your child. This may not be what you were expecting as a parent. But it’s important to realize that there are many options available to you in getting your child’s dental health back on track.

In many cases, pediatric dental treatment can be performed rather quickly in the office. There are a couple of goals that the pediatric dentist has for a dental treatment appointment. First, the dentist wants to make sure that the treatment is done well to remove or repair the effected teeth. The other goal is to keep the patient comfortable and stable throughout the treatment process. These goals go hand in hand, as keeping the patient comfortable makes it easier for the dentist to treat the effected areas.

There are several different approaches to keeping the child comfortable. Keep in mind that all of the following options are accompanied by informed and written consents from parents.

Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, may be used to relax the child while the work is being done. For certain patients, a papoose may be used. The papoose offers an important option to parents who prefer that their child not be sedated. This option is reserved for quick procedures or emergencies.

For children who require an extensive amount of dental treatment, sedation can be a good option. One type of anesthesia available is oral sedation, which involves minimal to moderate levels of sedation. In this case the oral sedation medication is given to the child in the dental office under the direction of the pediatric dentist.

Another type of sedation available is General Anesthesia. This type of medication is usually administered under the direction of a medical anesthesiologist. Depending on your pediatric dentist, this option may be available in the dental office, or in a hospital setting.

Your pediatric dentist can suggest and explain the best option for your child’s individual oral health care needs. In all cases, the overall health of your child will be monitored closely throughout the treatment appointment. Also, no matter which option you choose, its important to closely follow all pre-op and post-op instructions to ensure that your child will have the best experience possible.

The goal for you and your pediatric dentist is to get your child’s oral health care at its best and do everything possible to keep it at its best. With consistent home hygiene and twice-yearly cleanings and check-ups, your child can have a healthy, beautiful smile!