Pediatric Care

We provide various dental treatments and alternative solutions for our patients of all ages, below are the different procedures that we specialize in at NYC Dental Pro.

Your child deserves the best and we are here to help.

When should your child’s first dental visit be?

We welcome you to bring your child(ren) at any time and any age. However, we recommend their first visit to be within 6 months of his or her first tooth coming in/ erupting or at about 12 months at the latest.

What are the common dental problems in children?

Tooth decay/ cavities

Tooth sensitivity

Injury – chipping/ cracking/ breaking

Pediatric gum disease

Oral habits – Thumb sucking/

tongue thrusting

Dental/dentist anxiety

How can you prepare your child?

We recommend that you schedule an early appointment so that your child is active and alert during that time of the day.

It is always nice to prepare your preschooler and younger children about what to expect at their dental visit and why it is important to take care of their teeth. You can do this by actively engaging them in interactive games, puzzles and activities to help them in understanding dental care.

What can you do at home to protect your children’s teeth?

Using a clean damp cloth, you can clean the gums of your child before their teeth start erupting.

When your child’s first tooth appears, you can start brushing using a small soft-bristled toothbrush with toothpaste about the size of a rice grain and clean it.

When your child is over the age of 3, a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste can be used to brush his/her teeth because this is when the child understands to spit the toothpaste out after brushing.

Do not give your child milk, juice or any sweetened liquid in their bottle at or before bedtime to prevent Nursing/Baby bottle tooth decay. Avoid more than 5-6 minutes of bottle contact with your child.

Limit foods that can cause decay including sticky candies, sweet liquids and fruit bars. Encourage them to eat fruits rather than juices or bars.

What is preventive pediatric dental care?

Preventing dental problems early in life can help your child maintain good oral hygiene and achieve healthier habits. A lot of turmoil and discomfort can be caused in the future if the child is not provided with adequate care. Our pediatric dentist specializes in educating, supervising and taking care of your child’s oral health by providing the following preventive dental treatments at our office.

What dental treatment options do we offer for your children ?

For a routine or first time visit, our dentist will do a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of the oral cavity, a routine cleaning, fluoride polishing and radiographic imaging. The comprehensive exam including the Xrays will help determine if there are any cavities during the visit. Any dental issues will be addressed and possible treatment will be discussed.

Sealants

Sealants are a thin extra layer of material that are placed over the first adult molar teeth in children. The material is an extra layer of minerals which are applied for prevention of cavities in these adult teeth. They blend into the grooves of the teeth, and eventually wear away as children age through the consumption of sticky and sugary substances. By having this extra layer on the adult molars, children can decrease their chances of the development of cavities.

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are appliances that are utilized when there is a premature loss of the childhood dentition. Some children may have had extensive cavities, which resulted in their baby teeth being extracted earlier than normal. To prevent poor occlusion, misalignment, overcrowding and the overall need for braces, pediatric dentists may recommend the need for space maintainers.
Space maintainers are appliances, where an impression is taken of the mouth. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which will create the appliance, that is then inserted into the mouth to create the adequate space for the adult teeth to grow in. This is an extremely viable option for young children who have lost their primary teeth before it would have naturally come out; and can help in avoiding the need for braces later on.

Fillings

Cavities can be formed due to lack of proper brushing techniques, little to no flossing between teeth and overconsumption of sugary and sticky foods. This can cause holes in the structure of the teeth and may present in patients with feelings of mild to severe pain, sensitivity, shocking sensations and discomfort when biting, chewing or when liquids come into contact with the affected teeth. Initially, patients may realize the need for fillings, if they experience pain or sensitivity upon eating and drinking hot or cold food and drinks.
This can be treated with composite fillings to help repair the fractures or decay present in the tooth surfaces. Tooth colored composite is a resin material, which will fill the cavities within the tooth, blending into the natural color of your teeth. Composite is safe and strong, almost impossible to detect upon visual detection and is designed to accommodate the daily wear and tear activities of teeth. As always, these teeth should also be cared for and looked after with minimal hard, sticky and crunchy foods.
Bringing your child to their routine dental visits and maintaining hygiene can prove to be very efficient in avoiding the decay of natural teeth and can help us identify an issue in the early stages. The longer the wait without intervention or treatment, the decay can spread further into the tooth, resulting in severe pain and exposure of the nerve.

Pulpotomy

When a cavity has become too enlarged and cannot be sealed with a regular composite filling, the nerve tissue, also known as pulp can sustain damage. The pulp chamber is made of softer material in the central canals, centered in the tooth; and when the pulp becomes damaged, the deterioration and infection due to bacteria can create abscesses in the tooth.
A pulpotomy is a procedure which is done to repair and salvage a tooth that has become extensively decayed and infected. During a pulpotomy, the upper most pulp of the top of the tooth is removed from the center of the tooth, cleaned, filled and sealed with protective material very similar to the material of natural teeth and closed. The root canal is left in place and only the crown of the tooth is treated for the removal of the decay and cavity. This is done to discourage future infections and abscesses from forming within the tooth and around the tissue near that tooth.
Some children present with symptoms of abscesses, severe toothaches, infected gums, and inflammation. Treating the tooth with a pulpotomy, filling and sealing it will ease the pain and extend the life of the primary tooth. This is a worthwhile treatment option, as the tooth can be present in the mouth for as long as possible, until it is ready to naturally fall out at the appropriate age.
Once the pulpotomy is completed, a crown will be done to completely cover the tooth and seal it off. This is done to prevent that tooth from becoming brittle, weak and broken through wear and tear day to day activities.

Stainless Steel Crowns

When a cavity has become too enlarged, a regular composite filling may not suffice to completely seal the tooth and treat the symptomatic effects of the tooth being exposed. Thus, pediatric dentists use stainless steel crowns to treat the tooth. The patient will be numbed, and the cavity will be cleaned out fully to ensure that all decay is removed from the tooth. The tooth is prepared and measured, and the correct size of the silver cap is utilized to stretch over the natural tooth.
The entire cavity is cared for and the whole tooth is sealed and protected, preserving the tooth. These stainless steel crowns are done to baby teeth, which will fall off naturally as your child ages, and is an ideal solution to keep the teeth in; rather than extracting them prematurely. These crowns are a great fit for primary childhood molars, which are situated in the back of the mouth, where the silver color is practically undetectable.

Composite Crowns

Composite crowns are done very similarly to the stainless steel crowns. The only difference is that these composite crowns are tooth-colored, essentially unnoticeable; and these are done to teeth in or near the front of the mouth.When a cavity has become too enlarged, a regular composite filling may not suffice to completely seal the tooth and treat the symptomatic effects of the tooth being exposed. Thus, pediatric dentists use these composite crowns to treat the tooth. The patient will be numbed, and the cavity will be cleaned out fully to ensure that all decay is removed from the tooth.
The tooth is prepared and measured, and the correct size of the composite crown is utilized to stretch over the natural tooth. The entire cavity is cared for and the whole tooth is sealed and protected, preserving the tooth. These are also done to baby teeth, which will fall off naturally as your child ages, and are an ideal solution to keep the teeth in; rather than extracting them prematurely. Eventually, they will be replaced by the adult teeth.

Extractions

Occasionally, when the primary childhood teeth develop cavities and the damage to the tooth is too extensive, the tooth needs to be extracted. The procedure consists of numbing the affected area, and using surgical forceps to remove the primary tooth. This is usually done as a last resort treatment option, when the baby tooth is no longer viable and cannot be saved with a composite filling, or a stainless steel crown. However, in some cases, this may be the only possible option to fully remove any infection, inflammation, pain, swelling and discomfort that is coming from the damage and exposure of the tooth. Eventually, these teeth will grow back in as adult teeth!

How do we handle your child’s dental anxiety? Nitrous Oxide

It is completely normal for children to feel fearful and apprehensive about their dental visits. We understand that it can be difficult for parents and patients, thus we have an option available for nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide, better known as “laughing gas”, is a compound in the gaseous phase that is breathed in through the nose of the child. This helps them keep calm, relaxed and feel less afraid. The nitrous oxide is usually administered on an empty stomach, and allows the dentist to work on the child with as little resistance as possible. It is mixed with concentrations of oxygen as well, keeping the patient awake and able to respond to instructions given to them by the pediatric dentist. Nitrous oxide works out of the bloodstream minutes after it is discontinued; and is a great option for young children, or those patients who are nervous and uneasy.

Call us today or stop by our experienced team to work with you and find out which oral care products are right for you!