Pediatric Dental Services
Bearden Pediatric Dentistry offers comprehensive pediatric care for children.
Cleanings
A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning you receive from a dentist or dental hygienist. Most dental cleanings take only between 25 and 30 minutes. Cleanings should be performed every six months to prevent excessive plaque buildup. Plaque left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay. A routine dental cleaning should include scaling, root planing and polishing.
Sealants
These coatings fill up the grooves of our back teeth which are the easiest places to get decay. They are usually easy to apply and do not require numbing of the teeth. With regular maintenance, these coatings seal out cavities in our back teeth.
Space Maintenance
A baby tooth usually stays in until a permanent tooth underneath pushes it out and takes its place. Unfortunately, some children lose a baby tooth too soon. A tooth might be knocked out accidentally or removed because of dental disease. When a tooth is lost too early, your pediatric dentist may recommend a space maintainer to prevent future space loss and dental problems for permanent teeth.
Fillings
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. A filling also helps prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria can enter.
Crowns
Crowns are used to restore and enhance teeth that are heavily damaged. A crown not only strengthens a tooth, but it can improve a tooth's appearance, shape and alignment. Crowns may be used to cover a tooth that has had any nerve treatments including a root canal. Typically white crowns on back baby teeth require the removal of more tooth structure and sometimes the nerve needs to be removed. Due to the inflexible nature of white crowns, they can fracture more easily and may not be able to fit properly on some teeth. Due to extra time and materials, these crowns will cost more. We can discuss the best options for your child's care after we make an assessment or diagnosis.
Pulpotomy (baby nerve treatments)
Pulpotomies are necessary in instances where the pulp of a tooth has become infected due to deep decay or a crack within the tooth and the infected areas need to be removed. In pulpotomy, all of the coronal pulp tissue is removed from the crown (visible portion of the tooth above the gums) but the pulp tissue in the root canals remain. This is different than a pulpectomy in which all of the pulp is removed from both the root canals and crown. Damage to the pulp becomes visible when a pocket of pus forms at the tip of the tooth root (abscess). If left alone, the infection in the tooth will spread and cause further damage to the bone around the tooth. This can lead to the tooth falling out.
Pulpectomy
Pulpectomy is necessary in instances where the pulp of a tooth have become infected due to deep decay or a crack within the tooth and needs to be removed entirely. This is different than pulpotomy in which the pulp tissue in the crown (visible portion of the tooth above the gums) of the tooth is removed but the pulp tissue in the root canals remain. Damage to the pulp becomes visible when a pocket of pus forms at the tip of the tooth root (abscess). If left alone, the infection in the tooth will spread and cause further damage to the bone around the tooth. This can lead to the tooth falling out. The procedure for pulpectomy consists of making a small hole in the tooth. From there, the dead nerves, blood vessels, and debris are removed from each canal in the tooth. The root canals are then reshaped, disinfected and filled with an inert material.
Laughing Gas
Nitrous Oxide sedation, also known as "laughing gas" is commonly used to make treatment more comfortable. This sedation is inhaled through a mask that allows you to breathe in the medication and induces a state of relaxation. Local anesthetic will be administered in conjunction with nitrous oxide to eliminate pain.
