When your child starts seeing the dentist early in life, they’ll be less likely to develop cavities later on. Dr. Nguyen is happy to treat patients of all ages, so if you’re looking for a new practice to bring your little one to, give us a call! At Healthy Crowns Dentistry, we offer a wide range of children’s dentistry services, including early orthodontic and airway screenings that can help your little one avoid issues later in life.
WHY CHOOSE HEALTHY CROWNS DENTISTRY FOR CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY?
- COMFORTABLE PATIENT-CENTERED DENTAL CARE
- ORTHODONTIC/AIRWAY SCREENINGS AVAILABLE
- STATE-OF-THE-ART DENTAL INSTRUMENTS
FREE BABY DENTAL EXAMS
If you have a child who is between the ages of 0 and 24 months, we invite you to schedule a free baby dental exam with Dr. Nguyen. Because this is a pivotal time in your child’s oral development, we can make sure that their growing smiles remain free of cavities and tooth decay, even at such a young age.
The moment that the first tooth erupts, it’s essential to establish good oral hygiene techniques to keep all emerging teeth clean and cavity-free.
This appointment will include a free exam by Dr. Nguyen, along with helpful tips to keep your baby’s smile healthy at home. This will ensure that you feel more confident in taking proper care of their teeth and gums as they grow older and enter into toddlerhood and childhood.
EARLY ORTHODONTIC / AIRWAY SCREENINGS
Orthodontic issues and breathing problems are generally easier to deal with while your child is young since their jawbone is still growing. If you suspect that your child might have a sleep-related breathing disorder or may be showing signs of orthodontic problems, you can schedule a screening appointment at our practice. Depending on our findings, we may give your child an orthodontic appliance to correct any issues and potentially help them avoid more severe complications later on.
DENTAL SEALANTS
Over time, your child will learn how to thoroughly clean all of their teeth. In the meantime, though, they may have trouble brushing their molars, which are located near the back of the mouth and often contain crevices where bacteria and food particles can get trapped all too easily. Fortunately, we can give the molars some extra protection with thin coatings called dental sealants. We recommend having sealants applied once your children receive their permanent molars in order to reduce their risk for tooth decay.
SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE
If a cavity has already formed in one of your child’s teeth, we offer a solution that is designed to not only stop the bacteria from spreading but also offer better protection – silver diamine fluoride (SDF). When applied to the tooth, the silver will work quickly to kill off any existing plaque, while the fluoride serves to prevent further decay as well as strengthen your child’s tooth enamel.
ATHLETIC MOUTHGUARDS / SPORTSGUARDS
As gratifying as it can be to watch your child play their favorite sport, it can also be nerve-wracking knowing that they could lose or break a tooth if they get hit in the face. Even if you’re not told that your child needs an athletic mouthguard, you should invest in one anyway so that your little one’s smile is protected even if something unexpected happens. The mouthguard we give you will be carefully customized so that it fits as comfortably as possible on your child’s teeth.
PULP THERAPY
We may recommend pulp therapy if the pulp inside one of your child’s teeth has been damaged (often due to a traumatic injury or advanced decay). After a local anesthetic is used to numb your child’s mouth, we will open the tooth and remove either part of the pulp or – in cases where the infection has already reached the roots of the teeth – the entire pulp. This procedure can be used to save both baby teeth and permanent teeth from extraction.
NON-NUTRITIVE ORAL HABITS
Thumb-sucking and the use of a pacifier may be normal during infancy and toddlerhood; however, the prolonged practice of these non-nutritive habits can become problematic if continued. Not only can your little one experience changes in their facial structure and oral development, but their teeth can become impacted, requiring orthodontic intervention later on. Dr. Nguyen is here to help, though, by providing useful tips to curb these habits and keep young smiles on track.
FRENECTOMIES / TONGUE-TIE TREATMENT
It is not uncommon for a child to have what is known as a lip- or tongue-tie. These restricted bands of tissue exist underneath the tongue or behind the upper lip, making it hard to achieve a full range of motion for the lip or tongue. Infants may struggle to breastfeed or latch onto a bottle, and toddlers or children may have difficulty eating, swallowing, and even speaking clearly. With a frenectomy, however, we can release these banded tissues to allow for a wider range of motion and immediately improve your child’s quality of life.
