Pediatric Dentistry
Our dentists and entire staff understand the importance of good oral health for young children. They have specialized training in primary teeth. They are here to help protect and restore children’s teeth so that they can speak and eat easily and have a wonderful smile. They understand the growth and development of children’s teeth so they can start children off with good oral health.
We also understand how important taking care of children’s teeth is. We will work with parents to ensure their children are taking good care of their teeth at home. We will also monitor their mouths for any problems so we can catch them early. If needed, we will work with your children’s regular doctor to treat any problems we find.
- Oral Health Exams
- Fluoride treatments
- Cavities and Fillings
- Smile Enhancement
- Whitening
- Veneers
- Gum Disease Treatments
- Regular Cleanings
- X-rays
Oral Health Exams
We truly believe that regular dental examinations are important in order for your child to have good dental health and a smile of which he or she can be proud. We start by doing a professional cleaning, removing all of the bad tartar and other buildup on your child’s teeth.
We then do an examination, looking to catch and fix any problems before they become bigger ones. We examine each tooth, looking for any signs of decay, damage, or any other problems, such as signs of infection. We want to correct any problems your child may have before they get any worse.
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Silver Diamine Fluoride
We believe that fluoride works well to strengthen children’s teeth. It also has been shown to help prevent tooth decay in people of all ages.
For this reason, the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association believe that topical fluoride is necessary for good oral health.
Because of this, you may be wondering if your child needs fluoride treatments. Often water is enhanced with fluoride, so additional fluoride treatments are not necessary.
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Cavities and Fillings
Dental fillings are used to treat different dental problems like cavities and broken teeth. Teeth are usually filled with a material called composite resin, which is designed to look like natural teeth. Fillings can also be done with gold, porcelain, or silver amalgam.
Composite resin takes a little longer, though most people still prefer it because it creates natural-looking teeth. It takes more than one layer, and a special light is used to harden the area around the filling.
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Teeth Whitening
Here at Fresh Smiles Dental, we are proud to offer whitening services to our patients.
The most common complaint people have about their teeth is their color. There are a lot of whitening products on the market, so it is important to discuss the options with your child’s dentist.
- certain food and drinks
- medications (tetracycline, etc.)
- injuries to the tooth or mouth
- Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development)
It is really important for us to understand why your child’s teeth are discolored so that we can find the best way to treat them.
Teeth-whitening products use bleach, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which breaks up stains into smaller pieces. This makes the stains harder to see, making your teeth brighter. However, bleaches do not work on all teeth, so it is important to talk to the dentist before bleaching your child’s teeth.
It is also important to understand that whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings that were originally made to match your child’s natural teeth color. They do not always work on discoloration caused by certain medications either.
At your child’s first appointment, we will make impressions (molds) of his or her teeth and fabricate custom clear plastic trays.
During the second appointment, your child will try the trays on to check their fit to see if any adjustments will be necessary. For approximately 2 weeks (depending on the degree of staining and the preferred level of whitening), your child will use the trays either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight.
There are times when the bleach in the product can affect the enamel. This irritates the nerves, making teeth really sensitive. This usually goes away, but overusing whiteners can cause lasting damage. So if your child is having any problems, you should take him or her to see the dentist.
There are many options when it comes to whitening methods, including toothpastes, at-home bleaching, and bleaching in our office. Each one works differently and varies in effectiveness and safety. For this reason, you should talk to us before you decide to bleach your child’s teeth.
If you have any questions about teeth whitening, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (206) 212-4925.
Gum Disease
Here at Fresh Smiles Dental, we work hard to prevent periodontal disease.
Periodontal (gum) disease is caused by all of the bacteria in the mouth forming plaque on the teeth. Without routine brushing and flossing, the plaque continues to build up, forming tartar.
We diagnose periodontal disease by examining your child’s teeth. We also use a probe to look for any problem areas. X-rays are also necessary to diagnose the disease.
A good professional cleaning is necessary to remove the tartar from your child’s mouth and underneath the gums. If your child’s periodontal disease is bad, he or she may need to follow up brushing and flossing with antibacterial mouthrinse. Your child may even need to use an antibacterial gel or start on oral antibiotics to help get rid of the disease. Sometimes surgery is necessary to help with the deep pockets of infection.
Once your child’s periodontal disease is under control, good home care with brushing and flossing should help keep it from recurring.
If you are concerned that your child may have periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (206) 212-4925. We will get your child in for an examination as soon as possible.
Regular Cleanings
Here at Fresh Smiles Dental, we are dedicated to the health of your children’s mouths.
One way we ensure a healthy mouth is by performing regular checkups. Children should be seen every six months unless they have a problem.
It is also recommended that during an examination your children get X-rays, which allow us to check for tumors, cysts, and bone loss. They also allow us to look at the positions of your children’s teeth and their roots.
While performing an examination, we look at the gums to make sure they are not infected or diseased, but if they are, we will help your child. We also look for signs of tooth decay and cavities. While we are examining your child’s mouth, we will also check any dental restorations that have been completed such as fillings. We also look for any signs of oral cancer. We check inside and outside the mouth for cancer.
After an examination, we perform a professional dental cleaning. During this time, we remove any tartar and plaque that is stuck to your child’s teeth. After cleaning, we polish the teeth to remove any stains. This can also remove any buildup that may be left on the teeth.
If you have any questions about our examinations or professional cleanings, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (206) 212-4925.
X-Rays
Here at Fresh Smiles Dental, we are proud to offer dental examinations and x-rays to our patients.
We truly believe that regular dental examinations are important in order for your child to have good dental health and a smile of which he or she can be proud. We start by doing a professional cleaning, removing all of the bad tartar and other buildup on your child’s teeth.
We then do an examination, looking to catch and fix any problems before they become bigger ones. We examine each tooth, looking for any signs of decay, damage, or any other problems, such as signs of infection. We want to correct any problems your child may have before they get any worse.
X-rays help us look inside your child’s teeth for problems invisible to the naked eye. We can often diagnose cavities much more quickly with an X-ray. They are also helpful for finding any gum or teeth problems that we need to address.
During your child’s visit, we will also talk about good home care. We believe what you do at home really affects your child’s teeth. For this reason, we will acknowledge any areas on which you need to concentrate so your child can have a healthy smile.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (206) 212-4925.