When it comes to caring for your child’s smile, preventing tooth decay is the name of the game. From their first checkup, we discuss strategies to protect against cavities to preserve their healthy smiles. But what happens when we detect a carry in your little one’s mouth? While children’s teeth are not permanent, each one plays a vital role in supporting a healthy bite as their jaw and other oral structures continue to grow. That is why we remove decaying material and place restorations to protect these teeth until it is time for them to naturally fall out. Extracting a child’s tooth to treat a cavity may cause serious complications with their development. Therefore, we avoid this method unless necessary.

At your Shirley, NY pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we care for young children’s smiles with preventive and restorative services. This means teaching the skills necessary to protect teeth at home in addition to the professional care we provide in our office. By attending regular dental checkups, we can discover active threats such as cavities early in their development and provide a conservative treatment. This prevents the need for a more involved treatment while helping your child retain a smile they can be proud of!

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As your child grows into their smile, it is important to make sure that they understand the value of maintaining their oral health on a consistent basis. If you are a parent, then you know that this can be a very difficult task. They simply do not yet have the life experiences to understand the consequences of going light on their dental hygiene. If they are struggling with their brushing and flossing, take the time to meet with a caring pediatric dentist for some dental education.

With our team of children’s dental experts in Shirley, NY, you can give your child the tools that they need to be successful in their oral health maintenance. Sometimes, they just need a little help, and a visit with a knowledgeable outside authority figure can do just that. If your little one has started to grow tired of their dental maintenance, we are here to help them to learn so that they can renew their dedication. Bring them in for a cleaning and examination, and while you are here, let’s talk about the importance of their brushing and flossing! (more…)

Hearing that your young child has a tooth infection can be tough. As a parent, you do everything in your power to provide for your little one’s comfort, but dental pain can come on suddenly and intensely. By scheduling an emergency appointment for your child, we can take an X-ray of their problem tooth to determine if an infection is present. Without treatment, bacteria could travel to other parts of their body, so it is paramount they receive care right away! With the aid of modern endodontics, we can perform a pulpotomy procedure that preserves the healthy portion of a child’s pulp. Compared to a traditional root canal, this method provides the same disease-combatting efforts while maintaining more of their healthy material.

At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we know that emergencies can happen when you least expect them. That is why we make ourselves available to see your little one shortly after contacting our office. While regular checkups and cleanings can lower a young one’s risk for tooth infection, emergency endodontic care is necessary to preserve little smiles when bacteria take hold. By preserving a child’s tooth, we maintain their bite until the natural time for the tooth to fall out. This allows the jaw to grow properly instead of pulling the tooth early.

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Has it been a while since your child was last seen by a dentist? If your little one is behind on their cleanings and examinations, this can be a great time of year to help them find their way back to a positive schedule of prevention. Before they start to dig into those Halloween treats, bring them to the dentist for their first visit of the fall. Dental checkups are important for us all, but they take on extra significance in young smiles.

With our team of pediatric dental experts in Shirley, NY, you have a dedicated guide to help your child understand their oral health. Schedule their next appointment for a semiannual checkup to ensure that they have the tools that they need to keep their smile safe as they grow. These visits are a vital part of their development, and dental habits start at an early age. Give them the care that they need with a cleaning and examination from a trusted pediatric dentist! (more…)

Do you have a child that snores? As parents and caregivers, it is crucial to be aware of the signs that may indicate an airway issue in children. At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we understand the connection between airway issues and dental problems and can take early action to promote proper oral health. In this blog, we will explore the signs of airway issues in children and how they can lead to dental problems.

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It is quite upsetting when your child has a toothache. The extreme pain can bring their day to a complete halt. Concentrating on school or play becomes nearly impossible with the throbbing pain ceasing to end. If this condition lasts more than a day, call your local dentist for an emergency appointment right away. Chronic toothaches are a common symptom of dangerous infections that without treatment, could enter other portions of the body through the bloodstream. This can happen when a tooth injury breaks the protective seal of your child’s enamel. Fortunately, modern dentistry provides techniques for preserving a tooth when it experiences an infection. This can preserve the inner pulp and prevent the need for an untimely extraction. Because your child’s jaw is still forming, we must maintain all of their baby teeth until the natural time for them to fall out arrives. Called pulpotomy, this endodontic therapy removes infected material while resealing the top portion of the tooth.

At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we are standing by to provide comfort whenever children experience dental pain. That means seeing your little one as soon as we can when you request an emergency visit. After performing your child’s pulpotomy, we will review their oral health to determine areas that could use improvement. By paying close attention to their hygiene, we can help preserve your child’s smile as they grow into adolescence!

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Teaching young children the importance of daily oral hygiene is key to helping them maintain a healthy smile! That means showing them how to brush and floss the entirety of their smile daily. Because children are still developing the dexterity necessary to reach every surface, they may be more likely to miss certain spots. When this happens, the risk of cavities can go up. By scheduling routine appointments for cleanings and exams, we offer a professional hand at removing plaque and identifying any active threats to their teeth and gums. If we notice a cavity in your little one’s smile, we suggest treating it right away to stop the spread of decay. If your son or daughter complains of a strong toothache in between visits, please schedule an appointment right away. This could be a symptom of an infection that requires our immediate attention.

At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we spend each day helping young children develop healthy smiles. This includes offering preventive services that prevent decay from taking hold of their teeth, and responding to cavities when they do appear. By maintaining a baby tooth until the natural time to fall out, we ensure that your child’s jaw develops properly to support their adult smile in adolescence.

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