Prenatal Dental Care

  

         Even unborn patients need great dental care!

 

 

When you are pregnant, dental care is very important. Pregnant women have a higher change of getting gingivitis (gum disease) due to fluctuating hormones.  Good hygiene is very important during this time because women with gingivitis have an increased risk of pre-mature and low weight birth.  Please visit your dentist at least every six months while you are pregnant.

If you are suffering from pregnancy nausea, instead of brushing your teeth, you can rinse with a prescription antibacterial mouth rinse. 

Do not take the antibiotic tetracycline while you are pregnant as this could stain your baby’s developing teeth yellow.

Drink lots of milk to ensure enough calcium for your baby’s developing teeth!

Once your baby is born, avoid sharing utensils, foods and drinks because the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease can be transmitted from your mouth to your baby’s mouth.  

Your baby’s first dental appointment should be around their first birthday or when their first tooth erupts.   Don’t worry this is a fun, stress free visit!

Feel free to call our office with any questions….we love to talk about babies!

Related articles

• More About Dental Care During Pregnancy (topdentists.com)
• The Basics of Flossing (topdentists.com)
• Going to the Dentist While Pregnant (everydayhealth.com)

What can I do if my child knocks out a PERMANENT tooth?

  First:  Call 911 if your child has lost consciousness.

A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Knocked-out teeth can be re-implanted in many cases. A permanent tooth that is re-implanted within 30 minutes has the highest chance of success.

Here are some tips:

1) Touch only the crown of the tooth.   Do NOT touch the root.  Do NOT rinse or wipe the tooth off.

2) If possible, push the tooth back into the socket. Have the child bite on a wet washcloth to control any bleeding.

3) If unable to replant the tooth, store it in a glass of milk.  If no milk is available, wrap it in a wet paper towel.  You can also store the tooth in your child’s mouth if you think they will not swallow it.

4) Contact your dentist or go to your local hospital immediately.

5) Do not give the child any medication for pain just in case they suffered head trauma.

Prevention is the best key.  When playing contact sports (football, basketball, and even baseball) wear a mouthguard!

Mouthguards have been proven to help cushion the teeth and jaws to help avoid concussions.  A mouthguard can save your teeth…and your life!

Related articles

• How to Preserve a Tooth If It Gets Knocked Out (topdentists.com)

Toddler Dental Tips

Why does my child need a cap? Why can’t the tooth be fixed with a filling?

Your dentist told you your child has a cavity.  You can’t see anything when you look in their mouth.  Why do they need a cap?

The type of cavity that needs to be fixed with a cap is actually found between the teeth. This is why you can’t see it when you look in their mouth, however this is the most destructive type of cavity.

The teeth are formed of three layers.

• The outside is the pretty white part called the enamel.
• Inside the enamel is a soft substance called dentin.
• The very middle of the tooth consists of the pulp where the nerve and blood vessels live.

The definition of a ‘cavity’ is a hole.  So a cavity in the tooth is a hole created by bacteria.

Where does the bacteria come from?  It lives in our mouth all of the time.  Some people think we got the bacteria from our parents when they kiss us or share food.  No matter how it got it our mouth, it is there to stay.

When we eat a lot of sugar and do not brush good, the bacteria eats the sugar and creates an acid which dissolves the teeth.  The number one place to get a cavity on your tooth is on the grooved chewing surface.  The second most common spot is in between the teeth.   

 

 

When you get a cavity on the chewing surface of the tooth, the dentist can fix it with a filling.   Cavities that are in between permanent teeth can be fixed with a filling too, but most dentists want to put a crown or cap on baby teeth.  This is because baby teeth are tiny and fillings between the teeth can break easily.

The crown is usually made of stainless steel and is very strong.  If your child needs a crown on their front baby teeth, sometimes the dentist can place a crown with a white facing so the silver will not be seen when they smile.

The dentist will gently numb the gums and tooth–usually this can be done painlessly.  The dentist will then use a drill (or we like to call them water hose) with high pressure water to clean away the cavity.  The dentist will then remove the outer layer of the tooth called the enamel so that the crown can fit over the tooth.  The crown is glued on with cement and will usually stay on until it is time for the tooth to fall out.

The child needs to avoid sticky candies such as Now-n-Laters, Jolly Ranchers, Starburst and Laffy Taffy.  Most crowns will not fall out if the child chews gum.  (Secret:  Dentists LOVE kids to chew gum….but that is a topic for another blog post!)

Related articles

• Mouth and Teeth (education.com)
• Tooth decay in young children can be halted, even reversed: dentists (theglobeandmail.com)
• Are Cavities Contagious from Mom to Baby? (scienceofmom.com)

Welcome!

Other dental offices may insist you stay in the waiting room while your child faces their dental treatment alone.  In our office, you are always welcome in the treatment room.  Dr. Debi will let you stand right next to her while she takes care of your child!

You will discover that our office is geared to provide your child a fun dental visit.  We take the time to explain our ‘tools’ and the procedures. We believe an educated child is a cooperative child.

Our dedication to children even extends outside the office.  We visit daycares, schools and summer camps in an attempt to spread the word about cavity poo-poo and the weapons to fight it!  Kids love learning our Toothbrush Rap and enjoy competing against each other to see who can yell it the LOUDEST!

We understand that many parents are afraid of dental care. We welcome the opportunity to change your beliefs about the way dental treatment can be done.

We attempt to educate you and your child regarding their dental care and want you to be an active participate in their treatment.  Dr. Williams and her staff take the extra time to discuss treatment with you and make sure that you-the parent are comfortable too!

We offer anti-anxiety medication to soothe your child’s fears and allow us to complete the necessary treatment.  We attempt to restore your child’s mouth to health in one visit! This decreases your time off from work and their school activities.