Safeguarding your child's oral health is a top priority, and at Kids Tooth Team, we're here to help. Our preventive dental care services are designed to keep your child's smile healthy and bright. By scheduling regular check-ups, you can ensure that your child's oral health is on track. Our experienced team will work with you to prevent cavities and other common childhood dental issues, saving you valuable time and money in the long run. Don't wait – book your little one's appointment at Kids Tooth Team today and give them the gift of a lifetime of healthy smiles!
Regular teeth cleanings and comprehensive oral exams are the cornerstone of preventive dentistry. We recommend that your child visits our office at least every six months for a thorough cleaning and check-up with one of our skilled team members.
During these appointments, we'll gently remove any plaque and tartar buildup from your child's teeth, ensuring a healthy, sparkling smile.
Following the cleaning, one of our Buda pediatric dentists will conduct a comprehensive examination of your child's teeth, tongue, and gums to ensure optimal oral health. This exam also includes a crucial head and neck cancer screening and any necessary x-rays to detect cavities or potential infections that may not be visible to the naked eye.
After the exam, the dentist will discuss their findings with you in detail, keeping you well-informed about your child's dental health. If any additional treatments are needed, we will present you with safe and reasonable options, empowering you to make the best decisions for your child's well-being.
Did you know that athletes who don't wear mouthguards are a staggering 60 times more likely to suffer dental trauma, especially to their front teeth? That's why we offer custom-made sports mouthguards designed to provide unparalleled protection for your child's oral health. Our experienced team will create a personalized, cushioned mouthguard that fits your child's unique dental structure like a glove. This custom-fitted guard will shield their teeth from impact, reducing the risk of dental injuries and ensuring they can focus on giving their best performance without worrying about their smile.
At Kids Tooth Team, we offer dental sealants as an effective way to prevent cavities in your child's teeth. This simple procedure involves applying a thin layer of transparent plastic resin to your child's tooth after it has been thoroughly cleaned. The resin is then hardened using a special UV light, creating a durable barrier that shields the tooth from harmful oral bacteria and acid.
When properly maintained and cared for, a sealant can protect your child's teeth from decay for up to 10 years. This means fewer trips to the dentist for fillings and a healthier, happier smile for your little one.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends establishing your child's dental home by their first birthday. A dental home is the office where your child will receive the majority of their dental care throughout their childhood years. At Kids Tooth Team, we believe in the importance of creating a warm, welcoming environment where your child feels comfortable and secure.
Regular check-ups allow us to keep a close eye on your child's teeth and jaw bones as they grow, enabling early identification of potential orthodontic or developmental issues. We'll help you navigate every stage of your child's dental development, so you always know what to expect and how to best care for their oral health.
As your child gets to know our doctors and team, they'll feel more at ease during their dental visits, reducing the risk of dental anxiety. In the event of a dental emergency, having an established dental home ensures that your child can receive prompt, professional treatment when they need it most.
We work with you and your child to promote good nutrition and oral hygiene practices, setting the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. At Kids Tooth Team, we're committed to helping your child develop excellent oral care habits that will keep their smile healthy and bright for years to come.
We offer two types of fluoride treatments to help protect your child's teeth from cavities: traditional fluoride treatments and silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Fluoride treatment is particularly beneficial for young or uncooperative children who may not be able to tolerate other cavity repair options, such as fillings. It can be used as an alternative or interim treatment for baby teeth and, occasionally, adult teeth.
Traditional fluoride treatments involve applying a fluoride-rich varnish or foam to your child's teeth after their regular cleaning appointment. This fluoride attracts essential minerals to the teeth, strengthening them and even reversing the earliest stages of tooth decay. By applying these treatments every six months, we can help maintain the health of your child's teeth and prevent cavities from forming.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an innovative treatment option that can stop cavities in their tracks. This minimally invasive procedure involves painting a special blend of silver, fluoride, ammonia, and water directly onto the affected tooth. SDF works to halt the progression of the cavity and, in some cases, even reverse the decay process.
While the liquid does permanently stain the treated tooth black, we can sometimes combine SDF with a white filling to minimize the appearance. Additionally, we can always remove the staining at a later date when your child is better able to tolerate more advanced treatments.
Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is the most prevalent dental issue affecting children, and it can impact both baby teeth and adult teeth. The primary cause of tooth decay is a combination of consuming sugary and starchy foods and inadequate brushing and flossing habits. When food particles remain on the teeth, oral bacteria break them down and produce acid as a byproduct. This acid gradually erodes the outer layer of the teeth, leading to the formation of cavities.
To prevent tooth decay, it's crucial to limit your child's sugar intake, ensure they brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, and schedule regular check-ups and teeth cleanings every six months at Kids Tooth Team.
While less common than tooth decay, children may also experience other dental issues, such as malocclusion (bite problems), oral development issues, premature tooth loss, tongue and lip ties, and potentially dental emergencies, such as broken or cracked teeth, resulting from falls or injuries sustained during play or sports activities.
Baby teeth play a vital role in your child's oral development and overall well-being. By the age of three, most children have all of their baby teeth, which they will retain until around the age of 13. During this 10-year period, baby teeth serve several essential functions:
Proper oral function: Baby teeth enable your child to chew, eat, speak clearly, and smile with confidence.
Oral development: Baby teeth act as placeholders, guiding the permanent teeth into their correct positions as they emerge.
Maintaining proper spacing ensures optimal oral development. If your child experiences pain, sensitivity, or any other issues with their baby teeth, it's crucial to seek help from a dentist to diagnose and treat the problem promptly. In cases where a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer may be necessary to prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth and maintain the space for the permanent tooth.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit the dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam, starting when their first tooth emerges or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. These regular visits to Kids Tooth Team are essential for your child's oral health. Routine teeth cleanings help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, minimizing the risk of cavities and gum disease, and keeping your little one's smile healthy. Additionally, oral exams and x-rays allow us to identify hidden cavities and oral development issues in their early stages.
Moreover, seeing a dentist regularly from an early age helps normalize the experience for children, reducing anxiety and fostering a positive attitude towards oral health. Early exposure to dental visits makes children more comfortable with the process and less likely to develop dental fears. Regular dental visits also provide an opportunity for our pediatric dentists and hygienists to educate children and parents on proper brushing and flossing techniques, empowering them to maintain healthy smiles at home. At Kids Tooth Team, we are dedicated to answering any questions you and your child may have about oral health, ensuring that your child's teeth remain healthy and strong.
When it comes to brushing and flossing, every child develops at a different pace. However, a general guideline is that children can start brushing their teeth independently when they have sufficient dexterity and motor skills to tie their own shoes, which usually occurs around the age of 5-6. Until then, parents should brush their child's teeth twice a day. Once children take over tooth brushing duties, it's beneficial to make it a family activity. Leading by example and showing your child how to brush their teeth properly and thoroughly can be both educational and fun. Supervising your child's brushing habits ensures that they are cleaning every surface of their teeth and brushing for an adequate amount of time.
Flossing can be more challenging for children to master, and they may need assistance until they are 7-8 years old or even older. Until your child can floss independently, it's essential for parents to floss their child's teeth at least once a day. Flossing removes food particles that cannot be eliminated by brushing alone, making it a crucial step in reducing your child's risk of tooth decay and cavities.
Lastly, it's important to address the misconception that fluoride is harmful to children. Fluoride is not only safe but also essential for maintaining good oral health in both children and adults. There is no scientific evidence suggesting that fluoride is harmful when used as directed. In fact, fluoride plays a vital role in fighting cavities by attracting minerals like calcium and phosphorus to the teeth, helping to rebuild and strengthen them. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and using other fluoridated products, such as mouthwash, will not harm your children and will significantly contribute to the prevention of cavities as they grow.