Preventative Dentistry
We recommend routine dental cleanings for several reasons. When we perform a professional cleaning, we remove the buildup of plaque and tartar. We also clean the parts of your child’s teeth that are hard to reach, such as underneath the gums.
After a cleaning, we will polish your child’s teeth so that they shine! We can also apply a fluoride treatment, if necessary, to help prevent tooth decay.
Sealants
Are a protective coating which is bonded into the deepest grooves of the chewing surfaces of the teeth to protect food and bacteria from seeping in and creating a cavity. Dr. Monica will always check at each exam if any sealants are necessary as they may not always be.
Fluoride
Are a protective coating which is bonded into the deepest grooves of the chewing surfaces of the teeth to protect food and bacteria from seeping in and creating a cavity. Dr. Monica will always check at each exam if any sealants are necessary as they may not always be.
X-rays
X-rays (dental radiographs) are integral in providing quality dental care for your child. It’s important for you to know, however, that Dr. Sharma does not recommend x-rays at the same frequency for every child. The decision to take x-rays is made specifically for each child and takes into account the child’s dental history, the child’s age, the child’s stage of dental and skeletal development, as well as many other factors. Some children with a history of cavities may need cavity detecting x-rays at 6 month intervals until there are no new cavities detected. Other children who are older and who don’t have a history of cavities may have X- rays taken every 18 or 24 months. Again, the decision to take x-rays is made on an individual basis and is customized to each child’s needs. It’s also important to know that X-rays are an integral part of doing good dentistry.
Exams & Cleanings
Cleaning and exams are recommended for everyone at least every 6 months. At this visit, the doctor will typically do a clinical exam and take x-rays to come up with a treatment plan if any treatment is necessary. Some children with braces that may show difficulty if keeping good oral hygiene practices at home, may benefit from having an additional cleaning every 3 months to keep their gingiva and teeth clean.
Digital Radiography
Digital radiography or x-rays means a much lower dose of radiation for your child. At our office, we also use rectangular collimation which brings down the dose of radiation even further, which means a much much smaller dose compared to traditional x-rays.
Tooth Colored Fillings or Crowns
We use a tooth colored resin filling material instead of of the mercury amalgam fillings. These are technique sensitive so we take our time to get the best clinical result possible. We also do resin crowns in the front area and can do zirconia crowns which are tooth colored if desired.
Sedation Dentistry
One of the most commonly used types of sedation is nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas. This helps many children relax during their procedure.
Nitrous oxide is a combination of two different gases–-oxygen and nitrous oxide. We administer the gas through a small mask placed over your child’s nose. The gas will make your child relax without the full effect of anesthesia.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
We believe that fluoride works well to strengthen children’s teeth. It also has been shown to help prevent tooth decay in people of all ages.
For this reason, the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association believe that topical fluoride is necessary for good oral health.
Because of this, you may be wondering if your child needs fluoride treatments. Often water is enhanced with fluoride, so additional fluoride treatments are not necessary.
Cavities and Fillings
Dental fillings are used to treat different dental problems like cavities and broken teeth. Teeth are usually filled with a material called composite resin, which is designed to look like natural teeth. Fillings can also be done with gold, porcelain, or silver amalgam.
Composite resin takes a little longer, though most people still prefer it because it creates natural-looking teeth. It takes more than one layer, and a special light is used to harden the area around the filling.