Cavities are among the most common dental concerns in toddlers, children, and adults. Although primary(baby) teeth eventually fall out in childhood, leaving cavities untreated can result in further complications in adolescence and adulthood. Cavities most often occur from inadequate oral hygiene, such as poor brushing and flossing or missing routine dental checkups.

Cavities form as a result of plaque buildup as the sticky substance eats away at tooth enamel, the surface layer of teeth. As enamel deteriorates, it creates a hole where the cavity resides. Plaque naturally occurs in the mouth when combined with saliva, acid, and food. To prevent cavity formation, it is important to brush and floss twice a day and rinse after every meal.

Why Your Child Needs One

There is a direct link between visiting the dentist and keeping your natural teeth. If you want to ensure that your child has a full mouth of healthy teeth – take your child to the dentist on regular visits. By building a healthy set of teeth early on, parents can ensure their children have strong healthy teeth as they grow up. A child who does not visit a dentist on a regular basis may face infection or other painful consequences. If you visit our office regularly for preventative care, there is no need for your child to experience significant tooth loss or pain. Saving your child’s teeth, after all, is less time-consuming and less expensive than other extensive procedures.

A regularly scheduled dental checkup will also make sure that your child does not experience a toothache or infection. Throughout Carlsbad and the surrounding area, we find that toothaches can create enough discomfort to cause a child to stay home from school. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 164 million work hours are lost each and every year due to dental related health issues. This can include parents having to take time off to monitor and help their child receive the needed care. If your child is like many of our patients that do not feel they have time for the dentist, you definitely need to schedule a dental checkup. Failing to do so, could result in a more serious health condition forming and the need to take more time off of work. After all, without preventative dental care, your child is at a greater risk for tooth decay, infection and gum disease.

What Happens at Your Child’s Dental Checkup

At CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles, we complete your child’s dental checkup in a way that is comfortable and relaxing. We understand that some children are uncomfortable with visiting the dentist, because they have a dental phobia or are concerned that something may go wrong. If your child is afraid of the dentist and does actually have a dental problem, we will treat your child’s teeth gently and carefully. Thanks to our process, your child’s health issues can be addressed without causing any further irritation.

We invite you to call 760-730-3456 and schedule your child’s dental checkup right away. Upon arrival, we will escort your child to the examination room where he or she will be given a drape and goggles to wear. The drape and goggles will protect the child as we take images of the teeth and gums to search for any infections or signs of decay that are under the surface. We will also perform a visual inspection of your child’s gums and teeth. During the inspection, we will search for signs of infection, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. If we identify any of these issues, we will discuss treatment options with you and may even be able to treat minor cavities that day. We will discuss any procedures with you and your child, before we begin, to help keep him or her comfortable and relaxed. We will also clean your child’s teeth and gums before leaving, to ensure there is no lingering plaque or bacteria. When you visit our Carlsbad, CA dental office, you can expect the highest quality of care for your child. We can guarantee that your child’s dental checkup will be completed efficiently and gently.

The Benefits of Coming in Now

At CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles, we want you and your child to visit our dentist office at the first sign of discomfort. If your child has even the slightest toothache or irritation in the gums, you should schedule a dental exam as soon as possible. We can correct any problem immediately, rather than allowing it to grow and spread. In many cases, we can help your child avoid experiencing any significant discomfort by simply removing the decayed area while it is still small. Otherwise, your child may end up with a dental emergency as an untreated cavity or infection spreads. Fortunately, we make it easy to schedule a dental checkup with our Carlsbad dentist office. All you need to do is call (760) 730-3456 to schedule an appointment. We will work within your schedule to ensure that your child receives the care he or she needs, exactly when it is needed.

Why You Should Not Wait for Dental Care

While we understand that many people wait to seek dental care due to anxiety, time or finances, we do not recommend it. Instead, we suggest that you schedule a dental exam now, even if your child is not experiencing any discomfort. Doing so will allow us to remove any plaque or bacteria that has built up on your child’s teeth, ensure that your child does not have any cavities that are forming, and prevent your child from experiencing gum disease. Our goal is to treat your child before any health issues develop. A dental checkup allows us to meet this goal. If you live in Carlsbad or the surrounding area, it does not matter why your child has not been to the dentist in a while. We welcome you to come back in, so that we can protect and improve your child’s oral health.

FAQ About Cosmetic Dentistry for Children

Baby, or primary, teeth are important as they help toddlers and children speak clearly and chew naturally. Healthy baby teeth also pave the way for the proper development of permanent teeth. Cavities present in baby teeth can cause adverse effects later in life if left untreated.

Immediately rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Children can be given a topical or oral pain reliever to reduce pain and discomfort. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to treat the cavity early on.

Most children stop sucking their thumb or a pacifier on their own before it becomes a problem. After the age of three, children should stop these habits as they can cause the front teeth to protrude forward. They can also cause improper development of the teeth and jaw.

There is a large amount of sugars and bacteria in milk that cling onto the top part of a baby bottle. These sugars and bacteria also reside in the baby’s mouth as they sleep, especially when the bottle is left in their mouth without the baby sucking. Sugar and bacteria cause plaque, the perpetrator of cavity development.

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    Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry Terminology

    Allograft

    An allograft is a graft of tissue from a donor within the same species as the patient that is not a genetic relative.

    Alveolar Ridge

    The alveolar ridge is the bony ridge for one of the jaw ridges located on the roof of the mouth or on the bottom of the mouth.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.

    Autograft

    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.