Children’s Care
Dental Braces and Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment isn’t very age-specific; young kids and adults alike can get them mostly for the reason of misaligned, crowded, or overlapping bites. In younger kids, malocclusion can happen for a number of reasons, like consistent thumb-sucking, and when children lose baby teeth a bit too soon.
Kids can go to the dentist can go at any age for a consultation for their orthodontic treatment, but that doesn’t mean they will get braces right away. The dentist will simply check for any signs of malocclusion and determine what’s the best age to get their braces. Most dentists would recommend the age of 7, when the permanent teeth start erupting and when malocclusion becomes more apparent.
Sealants and Fluoride Treatment
The surfaces of molars have deep fissures that can be difficult for toothbrushes to reach. These fissures can become home to decay-causing bacteria. To close of these fissures and prevent bacteria from accumulating in them is the job of dental sealants.
Dental sealants are placed on the chewing surface of the molars and can be clear, white or tinted, depending on the sealant used. These are applied when the molars and premolars have their chewing surfaces fully exposed.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps strengthen teeth and protect them from tooth decay. This treatment is helpful for individuals with weak and cracked enamel as well as for those who are at risk of developing tooth decay.
Dental Cavities
Cavities is one of the most common dental problems that people of all ages can be susceptible to. Sometimes, no matter how religiously we clean our teeth, there are still spots in and in between our teeth that typical oral care methods aren’t able to reach very well. These spots allow space for bacteria to accumulate and turn the food we eat into chemicals that will cause tooth decay.
Depending on the severity of the decay, these can be remedied by dental sealants or tooth-coloured fillings. Sometimes the decay can be severe enough to warrant a crown or bridge treatment. In more severe cases like periodontal disease, teeth can be badly damaged enough that they will require an extraction and the disease would have to be cured first before treatments like dentures and dental implants can be employed to replace missing teeth. If you have cavities and you want to know what treatment best suits you, schedule an appointment with one of our dentists today.
Mouthguards
Mouthguards are commonly used by athletes of almost any sport, from basketball to football to mixed martial arts. Dentists highly encourage the use of mouthguards when engaging in any sport to protect the teeth and jaws from heavy blows and accidents in the middle of the sport.
Mouthguards are also used by people who have sleep apnea. These mouthguards help keep the airway clear of obstruction by moving the lower jaw forward to put tension on the tongue to prevent it from blocking the airway.
Space Maintainers
Children often get teeth extractions leaving spaces in between their teeth. The spaces give room for the new teeth to develop and come out in the right position. Wearing a space maintainer ensures that the space is left open until the permanent tooth comes into place. This mouth appliance lowers the risk of malpositioned teeth and jaw.
