LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMETOWN DENTAL’S KID-FRIENDLY DENTAL APPROACH
Hometown Dental is a family dental practice which means kids make up a significant portion of our clinic. Our sensitive, fun, kid-friendly approach can help create a comfortable experience at the dentist and establish great long-term oral health. It is very important to start seeing children early to get them used to the dentist’s office and also to try to educate and prevent childhood decay. It is also beneficial to catch decay early in children as it spreads through primary teeth faster than permanent teeth. We can also screen for potential bite issues that may require orthodontic intervention.
Dental Treatment for Children in Okotoks
Hygiene/Prevention
We encourage young children to visit a pediatric dentist when they get their first teeth so we can clean and check for cavities. A sealant is a preventative resin material that is placed on the deep grooves of molars to prevent cavities.
Fillings
If decay is found, children will need to come back for fillings. The process is virtually identical to fillings for adults. We often suggest the use of nitrous oxide for young children to help them feel comfortable and have a less stressful visit (see the sedation service page for details).
Pulpotomy + Crown
In the case where the decay reaches the nerve tissues (pulp) of the tooth, we must perform a pulpotomy (baby tooth root canal) to save the tooth and prevent infection. These teeth are capped with a silver (stainless steel) crowns to protect the tooth from fracture. These teeth will then stay in the mouth until the time that they would normally fall out to make room for the adult tooth.
Extraction
If a tooth develops an infection or abscess, we must extract it to cure the infection and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the body. Signs of infection are a gum blister or bubble beside the tooth and pain. If a tooth is extracted early and the adult tooth is not close to erupting, we place a metal space maintainer in the area to keep the teeth from drifting and impacting the eruption of the permanent/adult teeth.
