Care for Little Smiles
Pediatric Dentistry in long island city
If you want to keep your child’s smile healthy, regular visits to the dentist are essential. At BORO Dental Arts, Dr. Adrian Lau can help with personalized care and a kid-friendly approach. Our team treats children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. Is your little one due for a checkup? Schedule a visit for your child today!
When Should My Child See the Dentist for the First Time?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child should start seeing the dentist at one year of age, or whenever their first tooth comes out. This may seem early, but seeing the dentist regularly helps us track your child’s oral development, allows them to become more familiar with the process of dentistry, and enhances their overall oral health.
What Can I Expect From My Child’s First Visit?
For infants and young toddlers (1-2 years) who do not yet have most of their teeth, the doctor will simply clean their teeth and gums, examine their mouth, and answer any questions that you have about the teething process and their oral development.
Children who have most or all of their baby teeth will get a comprehensive oral exam and teeth cleaning, just like an adult would. One of our hygienists will gently remove plaque and tartar, then polish and floss their teeth. Then, Dr. Lau will examine them to look for signs of decay and other oral health issues. We may also recommend x-rays, if you approve of them.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is an alternative to fillings for baby teeth. It uses a concentrated mixture of fluoride, silver, water, and other materials that combat decay-causing bacteria. Combined with fluoride varnish, the helps halt the progression of cavities.
Regular application of SDF can stop a cavity from getting worse until the baby tooth falls out naturally. However, we only recommend using SDF to treat cavities in baby teeth, since the treatment stains the surrounding tooth area black permanently.
Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crowns are superior to dental fillings for baby teeth. They offer increased protection and can be placed with minimal tooth preparation, in most cases. A crown protects the underlying enamel from further decay or damage, ensuring the baby tooth remains strong and healthy until it falls out naturally.
Space Maintainers
If your child loses a baby tooth early due to tooth decay, tooth infection, or oral trauma, they will likely need a space maintainer. This dental appliance fits into the gap where their missing tooth used to be, preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting and ensuring the adult teeth erupt properly. This helps ensure that your child’s oral development stays on track.
Frenectomies
A frenectomy may be required if your child has tongue or lip ties (thick bands of tissue connecting the tongue or lips to the mouth). Untreated, tongue and lip ties can cause issues with breastfeeding, chewing, speech and more. If you suspect that your child has a tongue or lip tie, come in for a consultation.
Pulpotomies
A pulpotomy, sometimes called a “baby root canal,” is a procedure used to restore an infected baby tooth. Dr. Lau will gently open a hole in your child’s tooth after numbing the area, then remove infected material and apply a dressing to encourage the pulp to heal. Then, the tooth is sealed and protected with a filling or crown. This restores the baby tooth and ensures it does not fall out prematurely.
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