A primary concern for children’s smiles is preventing or treating tooth decay before it can significantly harm them. By preserving their baby teeth until it is the appropriate time to fall out, your child’s jaw grows appropriately. However, decay that leads to early extractions or damaged teeth can greatly affect their development. By spotting the signs of a cavity early, we can provide treatment and let your little one know the areas that require more attention when brushing and flossing. If your little one complains of a sudden toothache, call our office for an emergency appointment. We can investigate whether an interventive treatment is necessary to prevent the spread of decay or infection and help relieve their pain.
At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we can help your young child enjoy a healthy smile when they attend routine checkups and cleanings. These appointments provide regular examinations to ensure their smile is cavity-free. When we do notice the signs of decay, we can place fillings on the same day and have our little one out the door in no time!
Identifying Common Tooth Decay Signs
How do you know if your child has a cavity? Tooth decay can go undetected, wreaking havoc on a smile for months or years before any symptom becomes apparent. This means that by taking your son or daughter to the dentist every six months, we can visually examine each tooth to see that they are healthy. This means providing treatment and removing decay sooner rather than later. To aid our exam, we take digital X-rays that create an instant record of the health of their teeth. We use these records at following visits to help detect any abrupt changes in their smile’s health.
When Tooth Infections Develop
One consequence of skipping dental checkups is that tooth decay can advance to the point of causing painful infections. When a cavity destroys the protective seal of a child’s enamel, bacteria in their mouth may gain access to the tooth’s inner chamber. As bacteria deposits inside, the body’s inflammatory response swells tissue that presses against sensitive dental nerves. This sends a pain signal to your child letting them know something is wrong with their smile.
Additional Support For Little Smiles
At your child’s checkup, we can discuss fluoride treatments for boosting the strength of their enamel. We also offer dental sealants whenever a young one’s molars arrive. This physical barrier prevents plaque and debris from sticking to the surface of their harder-to-reach teeth.
Talk To Your Shirley, NY, Pediatric Dentist About Taking Steps To Fight Tooth Decay
Taking a preventive approach to your child’s oral health means bringing them to biannual cleanings. If you want to learn more about preventing and treating cases of tooth decay for kids, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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