Restorative
RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY BRINGING LITTLE SMILES BACK TO LIFE
There is nothing worse than something happening to your child. You hate it when they have the sniffles, so how much worse is it when something happens to their wonderful, necessary smiles? At Buckeye Pediatric Dentistry, we get it! We have kids of our own and understand the vital importance of getting those grins back to health as quickly and comfortably as possible. Which is why we offer restorative dentistry in Reynoldsburg and Columbus.
WHY EVEN BABY TEETH ARE IMPORTANT
While it is true that baby teeth are meant to fall out and be replaced by adult teeth, these little teeth are crucial for a number of reasons. Plus, they allow kids to chew their food properly, which is an essential part of digestion and proper nutrition. Furthermore, they help children speak and enunciate properly, important for both social and developmental reasons. And they are vital to guiding adult teeth into their permanent location and for the development of the jaw.
PREVENTING
DECAY AT HOME
While it is difficult to prevent trauma (we can’t really swath smiles in bubble wrap, can we?). However, there are specific and proven ways to help prevent the occurrence of cavities. This starts, of course, with consistent home hygiene, but there are lots of other things that we may never think of that can help as well.
Here are some things that lead to cavities. Do you do any of these?
- Letting your child drink mostly acidic or sugary drinks. This includes fruit juice and sports drinks.
- Not rinsing after medications. Even inhalers are acidic and can affect the teeth.
- Allowing very young children to brush their own teeth.
- Allowing your child to carry a bottle or sippy cup containing anything but water or allowing her to sleep with one at night.
- Feeding snacks frequently throughout the day – this is especially bad with sticky foods such as fruit snacks or other dried fruit.
Help When Something Goes Wrong
Little teeth are vulnerable. However, decay can result from many things from carrying around a baby bottle, to hard-to-clean grooves and fissures in teeth. Plus, teeth can become damaged from anything as simple as a bump on the mouth to a fall or car accident. However, that’s why we are here. Therefore, if something happens to those precious smiles, give Buckeye Pediatric Dentistry a call right away.
Smile Whitening
Prom. Job interviews. College visits. A first date. These are times your teenager needs to feel his or her most confident. Plus, these milestone experiences in teenage lives set the stage for the rest of their lives! Therefore, why not offer them a little confidence-booster with tray smile whitening? We offer take-home tray whitening for young smiles because it causes less sensitivity. Plus, our whitening trays are custom fitted for absolute safety and comfort. They begin with impressions of your child’s teeth. These impressions are then are crafted into medical-grade plastic trays at our office. Moreover, these trays should perfectly fit his or her upper and lower teeth, without touching the sensitive gums. Once the trays are in, whitening is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Fill the trays with a customized prescription, tooth-whitening gel.
- Pop them in your mouth.
- And whiten!!
Tooth-Colored Fillings
No one gets excited when the cavity bugs strike. Moreover, even the idea of getting a filling can be nerve-wracking to parents and children alike. Don’t worry! We specialize in fixing kids teeth. However, here at Buckeye Pediatric Dentistry, we prefer to use tooth-colored fillings for restorative dentistry in Reynoldsburg for this work. Furthermore, these fillings blend perfectly in little smiles so your young person can continue to smile with complete confidence. To place these fillings, we:
- Gently remove the decayed area.
- Replace the damaged enamel with the custom-shaded composite material.
- It is hardened with the help of a special light.
- Smoothed and shaped to feel just like a natural tooth.
Extractions
There can be multiple reasons why a tooth can't be saved and needs to be pulled:
- A root canal does not remove all of the problem areas.
- An emerging tooth can cause crowding.
- An emerging tooth can cause crowding
We know no one wants the tooth fairy to visit at the wrong time, but if a tooth extraction is needed, isn’t it nice to know it can be done right here with Dr. Gerstmann, instead of by a stranger in a strange office? Plus, we will explain the entire process, step-by-step, to both you and your child so you know exactly what to expect before, during, and after the extraction.
Anesthesia
It is our goal to get every child to have a positive in-office experience, we use carefully tested“behavior management” techniques. Simply put, that means we help your child feel so relaxed and safe we can perform almost any dental procedure without sedation or other pharmaceutical intervention. It starts by:
- Getting to know your child as the individual they are.
- Understanding what makes them anxious or afraid.
- And building a relationship with them based on trust, understanding, and communication.
In fact, Dr. Lucia Gerstmann and Dr. Marlina are well known here in the central Columbus area for their gentle and compassionate approach and their amazing way with children. But, general anesthesia is sometimes necessary for particular cases. However, those with high levels of anxiety, special health requirements, or a significant amount of dental needs may require it. Additionally, in these circumstances, patients are treated under the direct care of specially trained anesthesiologists at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the Dental Surgery Center.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
We also offer Silver Diamine Fluoride for functional needs patients and babies. This specially formulated liquid allows us to treat active dental disease and cavities without any invasive treatments. However, this is not our first choice for cavity care, but we do use it in instances in which children are unable to sit with their mouths open or tolerate any drilling.
Nerve Treatment
Sometimes, the nerves within your child's tooth can become infected and cause pain, swelling, and infections. Moreover, this can also lead to having the tooth completely removed. But, Dr. Lucia and Dr. Marlina can potentially save the tooth through nerve treatment, sometimes referred to as pulpotomy/pulpectomy.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide is a safe gas that can be administered to help calm the child and keep them relaxed during the procedures. However, as an added bonus, this is an effective method of removing a child's gag reflex to allow treatments to proceed more smoothly.
Crowns | Caps
Sometimes, when a cavity or decay in a tooth becomes too large, a simple filling won't do the trick. If this is the case, Buckeye Pediatric Dentistry offers to place a crown or a "cap" over the tooth. Plus, this is a stainless steel cover that goes over the tooth and eliminates the effects of decay in that particular tooth.
Space Maintenance
Space maintainers may prevent more complicated dental treatments in the future. It’s not uncommon for any child to lose a baby tooth too soon. Moreover, it could be a result of an accident/injury or cavities/decay. While it may not seem like a big deal because another tooth will eventually erupt in its place, missing a tooth early can actually cause problems further down the road.
Restorative Dentistry in Reynoldsburg
Your Reynoldsburg pediatric dentist will be happy to show you just how important baby teeth are. However, they often get overlooked because they’re considered temporary and will fall out over time. But did you know that these tiny teeth are actually important in a big way? Plus, primary teeth will help your child chew foods, develop healthy jaw and facial structure, and speak clearly.
Furthermore, baby teeth have another very important job. Plus, they also act as space maintainers for permanent teeth before they’re ready to push through the gum line.
WHAT IS SPACE MAINTENANCE?
Experts from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry will tell you just how important it is to consider a space maintainer oral appliance for your child. Moreover, we customize them for your child, creating a comfortable, functional fit that no one will ever notice. Plus, most of our patients get use to their appliance within a day or two. However, your Buckeye pediatric dentist will recommend a space maintainer to prevent any damage to adjacent teeth or crowding when a baby tooth falls out too soon. Additionally, we never want remaining teeth to shift out of place when a tooth is lost, this can make adult teeth grow improperly – possibly leading to more costly orthodontic care down the road. Plus, the appliance keeps the space open and deters any additional movement while the permanent tooth waits to make its big debut.
HOW TO CARE FOR A SPACE MAINTAINER
The appliances are always made of metal and are glued in place. However, they’re durable but can be damaged or come out if not properly cared for. Things like chewing gum, caramel candies, and other gooey treats can cause not-so-sweet problems. Plus, it’s also important that your little one doesn’t poke at the space maintainer with things such as fingers, tongues, silverware, toys, etc. Furthermore, you can easily clean the appliance with regular brushing and flossing. However, if you have any questions about space maintenance for your child’s smile, please don’t hesitate to talk to us. Plus, we’re here to keep the tiny teeth healthy and strong for a smile that lasts for years to come.