Pediatric Dentistry

As a parent, your child’s oral health is as important as their overall health. Pediatric dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry that focuses exclusively on the dental needs of infants and children. Pediatric dentists help your child grow strong teeth and maintain dental health. These experts provide comprehensive care, from preventive care to treating common issues like cavities, loose teeth, bleeding gums, or teeth grinding.

At Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry, we prioritize your child’s dental health and offer treatment using contemporary instruments. Schedule a dental appointment for your child if they need dental treatment, a routine check-up, or preventative oral care.

The Role of a Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric dentists are first trained as general dentists, then specialize and spend extra time training on how to care for children’s teeth. They can handle children's common dental issues, such as caring for milk teeth, helping their oral structure develop well, and detecting dental problems affecting permanent teeth early.

Pediatric dentists focus on prevention and teach children to care for their teeth. They also advise children on what to eat to help prevent cavities and tooth decay. During routine visits, they examine the children’s teeth for cavities. They can recommend routine cleaning and fluoride treatment to strengthen the tooth enamel. They also closely monitor a child's oral development, ensuring all teeth and jaws are well aligned.

If there is any issue with the alignment, they can intervene early to prevent future dental problems. Pediatric dentists also have customized dental treatments for each child, especially for those who suck their thumbs and grind their teeth at night. They address each case uniquely, ensuring your child keeps that beautiful smile. Their offices are child-friendly, with toys and cartoons helping children feel relaxed and at ease when they visit.

Dental Problems That Affect Children

Children often develop dental problems that can harm their oral and general health. Some of the dental issues that pediatric dentists address include the following:

Teeth Misalignment

Teeth misalignment, or malocclusion, occurs when the upper and lower teeth do not align properly. Your child’s teeth may be misaligned because of:

• Genes, maybe it is the norm in your family

• Sucking their thumbs for a long time

• Breathing through their mouth

• Using a pacifier too much

If your child is having trouble chewing or speaking or their teeth are overlapping or spaced apart, these could be warning signs that their teeth are misaligned. If the malocclusion is not fixed in time, your child’s teeth could wear out unevenly, causing jaw pain.

Your child could also be more susceptible to cavities because food particles remain in the teeth due to uneven alignment. During routine checkups, pediatric dentists examine how your child’s teeth and jaw are growing and could recommend seeing an orthodontist early if any misalignment is detected to avoid future dental problems.

Bruxism or Grinding Teeth

When some children sleep at night, their jaw muscles tighten, causing their teeth to clench and grind together, producing a sound. This occurs when they feel stressed, their teeth are not aligned properly, or they have health issues like sleep apnea.

Over time, teeth grinding damages tooth enamel, causing tooth sensitivity and sore jaw muscles. It may also lead to severe headaches. A pediatric dentist can examine and tell how severe your child’s teeth grinding is. They could recommend that your child use an oral device such as a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding. They could also recommend other interventions to help with the pain your child is experiencing.

Bad Breath that Does Not Go Away

Sometimes, children can have bad breath that does not go away. A poor oral hygiene routine causes this. Some children can go for days without brushing, or if they brush, they do not do it properly. This causes bacteria in the mouth to react with food debris, causing bad breath. Other causes of bad breath in children include not having enough saliva in the mouth, having cavities or gum disease, and breathing through the mouth.

Also, when bad breath does not go away despite brushing, it could mean that your child has gut issues. Your pediatric dentist will examine the cause of the bad breath and customize a course of action to correct this condition. This could include a professional cleaning. They will then advise you on better brushing habits your child should adopt.

Tooth Decay

Children suffer from tooth decay because they eat too many sugary or starchy foods and do not brush or floss properly. Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria in your child’s mouth react with food particles left in their mouth to form acids that could erode their tooth enamel, resulting in cavities. If not treated, tooth decay could make your child experience painful oral infections and make chewing and speaking more difficult.

Persistent Cavities

Most children are prone to cavities. They love eating sugary foods and do not brush their teeth well. Therefore, the bacteria present in their mouth react with the food debris to form acids that could wear down their tooth enamel, resulting in the development of cavities.

When cavities go untreated for a long time, they can cause tooth decay, making eating and speech difficult. It can also lead to pain in the gum. Pediatric dentists treat cavities using preventative measures such as fluoride treatments to remineralize your child’s teeth. They could also recommend that you use sealants to protect your child against cavities.

Severe Periodontitis

While uncommon, children can also develop gum problems such as periodontitis and gingivitis. These dental problems start when your child does not clean their mouth properly, leading to plaque buildup on the gums. Early signs of gum infection include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, and they may also have bad breath.

If left untreated, gum infections could worsen, causing pain, teeth falling out, and deterioration of your child’s general health. As a child's dental expert, pediatric dentists help identify gum problems early, clean away harmful buildup, and teach proper gum care to keep teeth healthy.

When to Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist

Taking your child to the pediatric dentist at the right time is essential for maintaining oral health. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that parents take their children to the pediatric dentist's office once their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. During the visit to their pediatric dentist, your dentist will examine your child’s tooth development and advise you on how to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy.

Beyond the initial visit, some specific signs and situations warrant an appointment with a pediatric dentist. They include the following:

• Tooth Pain or Sensitivity: When your child has trouble eating or drinking because of pain, they may have a cavity, tooth decay, or gum infection. Visiting a pediatric dentist at the onset of these dental problems could help prevent them from worsening.

• Visible Tooth or Gum Issues: Never overlook changes in your child’s gums. See a pediatric dentist immediately if they turn darker, swell, or bleed. Also, when your child’s teeth look or feel different, it could mean that a dental problem is developing.

• Habitual Behaviors: When children suck their thumbs, thrust their tongues, or grind their teeth, it could affect the alignment of their teeth. A pediatric dentist will recommend ways or tools to handle your child’s habitual behaviors.

• Developmental Concerns: When your child’s teeth do not align well, they require professional intervention. An early dental evaluation helps the dentist ensure teeth and jaws develop correctly.

• Trauma or Injury: If your child falls or has an accident and their teeth or jaw suffer damage, you should take them to the pediatric dentist immediately. Your pediatric dentist will examine how severely your child's teeth were damaged before starting medical treatment.

Your child must see their dentist every six months to monitor their oral health. The dentist uses these visits to evaluate dental problems before they become severe and teaches your child how to care for their teeth properly.

How Pediatric Dentists Treat Different Dental Conditions in Children

Pediatric dentists use specific treatments to solve dental problems that affect children. The dental treatments work to fix current dental problems and prevent new dental health problems from forming.

• Pediatric Dentists Create Custom-designed Dental Devices to Stop Teeth-grinding Issues

To help stop your child from grinding teeth at night, pediatric dentists will design night guards to protect their teeth. This device helps prevent teeth from grinding on each other and reduces jaw pain. These devices are custom-made; therefore, they are very comfortable and do not disturb your child while sleeping. They also guard the enamel from harm.

• Corrective Measures for Misaligned Teeth

Braces and orthodontic devices help move teeth into their correct position when they need alignment. Pediatric dentists examine tooth growth and choose the right time to initiate such treatments, which help teeth work better and create straighter smiles.

• Dental Coatings to Protect Against Tooth Decay

Your pediatric dentist will put thin protective layers on the grooves of molars and premolars to protect the teeth from decay. The coatings form a shield that blocks food particles and bacteria from reaching the teeth, preventing cavities. These coatings are known as dental sealants. This dental treatment works perfectly to stop cavities while causing no pain and saving teeth for many years.

• Safe Removal of Severely Damaged Teeth

When your child’s tooth becomes severely decayed or damaged, pediatric dentists might remove it to prevent infections. Your pediatric dentist will perform tooth extraction with precision while installing space maintainers afterward to preserve healthy tooth alignment.

• Targeted Treatments for Gum Health

Pediatric dentists may prescribe specialized mouthwash and medicine for gum infections, such as gingivitis or bad breath caused by bacterial buildup. These mouth rinses and medicines can kill disease-causing bacteria and help gums recover. Your pediatric dentist may also recommend professional cleaning to wash away plaque and tartar that may have built up.

• Building a Strong Foundation for Your Child’s Oral Health

You need to monitor your child’s oral health regularly. Your dentist will recommend consistent dental care practices. Building organized dental practices at a young age could help prevent dental problems in the future. This will enable your child to start practicing good oral hygiene routines for life. This could mean the difference between ever suffering from cavities or tooth decay.

• Creating a Daily Oral Care Routine

Begin oral hygiene care right when your child’s first tooth appears. Use a clean cloth with water to clean your baby's gums after meals and feedings to stop bacteria growth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child's first tooth appears.

At two years old, your child can start brushing their teeth under adult guidance while using a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Teach your child to brush their entire tooth surface and gently scrape their tongue to clean away bacteria.

Start using floss when your child's teeth have no space between them to remove food particles and plaque that brushing alone cannot remove. Having set oral hygiene practices each morning and night helps your child maintain good dental health.

• Scheduling Routine Dental Visits

Your child should see a dentist by the time they turn one or when their first tooth appears. These initial visits help the pediatric dentist examine teeth and gums while providing essential guidance on dental care. The dentist may also offer solutions for teething or thumb-sucking problems.

Routine visits to the dental office are recommended. Your pediatric dentist will be able to see how your child’s teeth are growing, spot any dental problem early, and they can remove any plaque buildup early enough before it turns to tartar.

Taking your child to the dentist when they are still young helps them get used to the dental environment, which makes future visits less stressful.

• Encouraging Positive Oral Habits

Proper tooth care helps your child stay healthy. Your pediatric dentist may recommend that your child maintain correct tongue placement by letting it rest on the roof of the mouth when they are not talking or eating.

This oral habit helps your child’s jaw develop naturally and prevents an open bite from forming. Your pediatric dentist will recommend that you eradicate thumb-sucking, extended pacifier use, and nail-biting, as these could cause your child’s teeth not to align properly.

You should reward your child for maintaining good oral care practices to encourage them to build positive oral health routines.

• Identifying Dental Issues at Their Onset

Monitoring your child’s oral health closely helps you care for their teeth better. Watch for minor dental signs such as darkened teeth, swollen or bleeding gums, and discomfort when eating hot or cold foods.

When your child experiences trouble chewing or has toothaches and misaligned teeth, they require dental care. Your pediatric dentist will detect and handle dental problems early before they become more serious.

Costs Associated with Dental Care for Children

Parents place their children’s dental health first, yet medical expenses create a significant concern. The cost of dental care may create major problems for families without insurance coverage. Others may have insurance coverage that offers little dental coverage. Not affording your child’s dental care means they cannot access proper dental care. This could have negative impacts, as you may not be able to detect dental problems early, and you could miss important checkups.

If this is your case, do not worry. Instead, speak to your pediatric dentist about financial matters when visiting their office. Talking with the pediatric dentist will let you know how much your child’s treatment will cost. This approach allows you to evaluate your options, plan accordingly, or begin saving to ensure your child receives the necessary care.

The cost of dental care services for children depends on how complex the procedure is, the service, and the location of your dentist. For example, orthodontic treatments such as braces and aligners cost much more than basic cavity filling and dental sealants. The best way to stay ready for dental expenses is by asking your pediatric dentist for a complete cost estimate.

Talk to your dentist about creating a payment plan to make treatment more affordable. Most dental practices offer payment plans that help you afford necessary treatments for your child's dental health.

When you have agreed on the right payment plan, you can move forward confidently with the dental care your child will receive. This payment plan also helps you work with a pediatric dentist to choose the dental treatment option that fits your family’s budget.

Find a Los Angeles Pediatric Dentist Near Me

Maintaining oral health boosts your child’s dental health and general well-being. Regularly taking your child to the pediatric dentist and practicing good oral hygiene at home prevents severe dental problems from developing. However, for high-quality care for your child’s teeth, you should hire an experienced pediatric dentist.

At Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry, we deliver specialized dental treatment for your child’s unique needs. Our pediatric dentists give top-level dental care to children from birth until they are adults. Call us today at 310-361-2080 to set up your appointment and keep your child's teeth healthy and strong.