Comprehensive Dental Services for Healthy Smiles
Discover our range of preventative and treatment services designed to nurture healthy smiles, from thorough exams and cleanings to specialized treatments like sealants and crowns. Our dedicated team ensures personalized care for every stage of your child's dental well-being.
Preventive Care Services
Regular visits to your dentist are essential for preventive care, emphasizing the importance of early intervention over treatment.
EXAMS
Exams
Dental examinations aid in early disease diagnosis, potentially saving on costly repairs or addressing issues before they become irreparable. These examinations cover:
- Oral cancer screening.
- Evaluation of growth and development.
- Orthodontic needs assessment.
- Gum disease evaluation.
- Visual examination of tooth decay.
- Examination of diagnostic X-rays to detect cysts, tumors, invisible decay, and other issues not visible to the naked eye.
- Evaluation of the status of current restorations (fillings and others).
CLEANINGS
Cleanings
Professional cleanings (dental prophylaxis) are the cornerstone for preventing gum disease and tooth decay. During a professional cleaning, your child's dental team will:
- Remove plaque from the teeth – a sticky substance formed from food, saliva, and bacteria, causing tooth decay and gum disease.
- Remove calculus (tartar) above the gum line – hardened plaque on the tooth surface, challenging to remove. (Calculus below the gum line indicates gum disease, requiring a different procedure.)
- Polish and remove stains from teeth.
- Apply a layer of fluoride treatment – a preventive therapy supporting the natural fight against cavities. Research demonstrates fluoride's efficacy in reducing cavities and repairing early stages of tooth decay, even before it becomes visible, promoting strong teeth for the entire family.
DENTAL X-RAYS
Dental X-Rays
Dental X-rays, also known as radiographs, are vital in examining aspects of your oral health that remain hidden to the naked eye. These include cysts, tumors, invisible decay between teeth, and the positioning of incompletely grown teeth.
The use of X-rays in diagnosis not only allows for early intervention, potentially saving you from future surgeries or extensive treatments, but it can also be life-saving in cases where tumorous growth locations are revealed.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe? Well, modern dental X-ray machines prioritize safety, employing state-of-the-art, low-radiation technology. The minimal radiation exposure during a dental x-ray is significantly lower than that experienced on a cross-country flight. Considering this minimal risk against the potential consequences of late disease detection, we advocate for regular diagnostic X-rays to ensure proactive oral health care.
Home Care
Nurture healthy smiles with diligent home care – brush twice daily using a soft toothbrush, complemented by daily flossing to remove plaque between teeth. Keep reading to learn more.
BRUSHING
Brushing
Maintain a vibrant smile and ward off future dental expenses through essential home care. Brush twice daily with a soft, ADA-approved toothbrush, using a circular motion at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Include gentle back-and-forth strokes on each tooth surface, and remember to brush your tongue for fresh breath. Consider modern electric toothbrushes like Crest, Sonicare, or Braun. Ensure your child brushes for approximately two minutes, monitored by parents until age six, with personalized hygiene evaluations during examinations.
FLOSSING
Flossing
Elevate your oral care routine by daily flossing, targeting areas unreachable by regular brushing. Use 12" to 18" of dental floss, wrapping it around each middle finger tightly. Gently slide the floss between teeth, curving it around each tooth and moving up and down, reaching comfortably under the gum line. Employ a fresh floss section for each tooth, and explore flossing aids for children.
RINSING
Rinsing
Thorough rinsing with water is essential after brushing (or post-meals if brushing is impractical). Opt for occasional mouthwash use, with children potentially benefiting from ACT fluoride rinse to deter cavities between teeth. Notably, alcohol-based mouth rinses are not recommended for children.
Treatments
SEALANTS
Sealants
Prevent the escalation of minor decay with a targeted approach.
The Issue:
Deep grooves on the chewing surface of the tooth and/or minimal early decay.
The Solution:
Apply a clear or tooth-colored sealant to "seal" pits and grooves, acting as a protective barrier against decay. Typically administered to a child's first permanent back teeth, they prove beneficial in specific situations for adults.
Advantages:
Sealants effectively shield chewing surfaces from decay, serving as a more cost-effective measure than addressing established decay.
Disadvantages:
While sealants are not permanent, lasting around five years under normal wear, they may wear off or chip earlier in certain instances. Additionally, sealants don't prevent decay between teeth or the onset of gum disease, emphasizing the importance of regular home care and dental visits.
Alternatives:
No suitable alternatives exist to sealants; decayed teeth require fillings or other therapeutic measures.
FILLINGS
Fillings
A cost-effective solution for addressing minimal tooth decay.
The Issue:
Decay that is affecting a small portion of any tooth.
The Solution:
Utilize a composite filling, a tooth-colored quartz-like material. This material is layered into the tooth following the removal and cleaning of decay. Each layer undergoes hardening or curing with intense visible light, resulting in a final virtually invisible restoration after shaping and polishing to match the tooth.
Advantages:
Composite fillings, known for their attractiveness, require minimal tooth preparation, preserving more healthy tooth structure during restoration. Applying a sealant over the remaining exposed grooves minimizes the risk of decay in other areas of the tooth.
Disadvantages:
Composite fillings may experience wear and tear from tooth grinding or chewing on hard objects.
Alternatives:
In cases of extensive decay or if a baby tooth underwent pulpotomy, a crown is the optimal choice. Untreated decay is likely to escalate, posing a larger problem over time.
CROWN
Crown
Protect badly decayed teeth with our crown services.
The Issue:
Badly decayed or fractured teeth are in need of reinforcement, especially those that have undergone a baby root canal (pulpotomy).
Solution:
The optimal solution involves removing the decay, cleansing the tooth, and placing a preformed crown to restore the tooth's original shape and size. Unlike adult crowns requiring two appointments, baby crowns are efficiently placed in a single visit as the tooth is prepared for the preformed crown.
Advantages:
Crowns exhibit exceptional strength, covering the entire tooth to protect and fortify the remaining tooth structure. This significantly enhances the chances of survival for a tooth that has undergone a baby root canal.
Disadvantages:
While crowns are an outstanding restoration choice, it's worth noting that most children's crowns are silver.
Alternatives:
In cases where significant damage necessitates a crown, there are typically no preferable alternatives. Attempting to address the situation with a filling may lead to potential issues such as tooth fracturing, recurrent decay, or even tooth loss.
PULPOTOMY
Pulpotomy
When the nerve or pulp tissue of a primary or permanent tooth is infected, immediate treatment is crucial to prevent a dental abscess and potential loss of the tooth.
The Issue:
Cases where decay has reached the nerve/pulp of a baby tooth.
Solution:
Like adult root canals, the dentist accesses the tooth's nerve chamber, removing a portion of the nerve/pulp. Unlike adult root canals, this is a brief procedure, requiring the removal of only part of the pulp without the time-consuming filing associated with adult root canals.
Advantages:
Alleviates pain, especially if the tooth has been symptomatic. Preserve the tooth until it naturally falls out.
Disadvantages:
Pulpotomies boast a 90% success rate. However, there are instances where the nerve is severely damaged, leading to a lack of response to pulp therapy. This may necessitate the extraction of the affected tooth. Dr. Ly will discuss your child's specific situation during the diagnosis, considering factors that may increase the likelihood of pulpotomy failure.
Alternatives:
The only alternative to a pulpotomy is extraction, accompanied by the placement of a space maintainer. Nevertheless, preserving the baby tooth remains the superior alternative, as it maintains appropriate spacing for the development of adult dentition.
SPACE MAINTAINER
Space Maintainer
A space maintainer, a custom appliance crafted from acrylic or metal, is either a removable or cemented solution provided by a dentist or orthodontist.
The Issue:
When a child's baby tooth is lost prematurely.
Solution:
With a specially designed combination of bands and wires, the space maintainer holds the remaining teeth in a position conducive to the proper eruption of the future permanent tooth.
Advantages:
Prompt placement enhances the permanent tooth's chances of erupting correctly, minimizing orthodontic issues.
Disadvantages:
The child must wear the appliance until the permanent tooth erupts, and diligent hygiene is crucial to prevent decay under the bands.
Alternatives:
Without a space maintainer, teeth may shift into the open area, posing challenges or rendering it impossible for the permanent tooth to erupt. Orthodontic intervention becomes necessary in such cases.
Patient Comfort
Experience dental care with peace of mind as we prioritize your comfort, offering nitrous oxide and anesthesia options to alleviate anxiety during procedures.
NITROUS OXIDE (LAUGHING GAS)
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Dr. Ly provides nitrous oxide for slightly anxious children, helping cooperative yet worried individuals alleviate anxiety related to dental instruments. While nitrous oxide is valuable, it may not suit everyone's needs.
IV SEDATION/GENERAL ANESTHESIA
IV Sedation/General Anesthesia
Anesthesia is a significant event, especially for parents of children undergoing dental procedures. We understand the stress it may cause and strive to inform and address your concerns before, during, and after the procedure. Find out more about our patient comfort options.
If you have any questions regarding our dental services, feel free to reach out to us.