Pediatric Restorative Care in Mission Viejo and San Clemente

Kids can have healthy teeth and gums, and that is something every parent wants. Sometimes children need dental fillings just like adults do. Tooth decay and cavities can lead to infection if not treated by a dentist.

Some parents may question whether a baby tooth needs a dental filling. They ask why the dentist doesn’t just pull it. But it’s best to keep the baby tooth until the permanent tooth grows in. The baby tooth acts like a placeholder, keeping nearby teeth from moving in, and causing misalignment and crowding.

Of course, just leaving a small cavity in the baby tooth could lead to an infection in the gums and more extensive dental work. It’s best to treat a cavity while it is small.

Rest assured that before filling any cavities, a pediatric dentist may use oral sedation or laughing gas to help the child's fear and anxiety. Next, the dentist will apply numbing topical medication on the gums and inject a numbing medication into the gums to prevent pain.

The tooth decay is then removed by the dentist, and the tooth is cleaned. Next, the filling is applied to the tooth. A putty-like composite resin is shaped by the dentist to fill in the tooth. A special light (laser or UV) is used to harden the composite resin into the tooth. Lastly, the dentist removes any excess composite resin so the tooth feels smooth and natural.

Composite resin is a tooth-colored filling material that is most often used to restore a child's tooth. The material is barely noticeable, so kids will not have to worry about being teased at school. Composite resin works on baby teeth and permanent teeth.

If your child needs a tooth filling or has any other dental need, do not wait to provide them with treatment. A cavity can lead to infection and pain. Call our office and make an appointment with a pediatric dentist who will examine your child and recommend the best treatment.

Dental fillings Mission Viejo and San Clemente

Dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat cavities or tooth decay. Fillings are used in order to prevent minor decay from rapidly spreading bacteria into the tooth’s pulp.

You may need a filling for any of the following reasons:

• You have chipped teeth.
• There is space between two teeth.
• Cracked/broken teeth.
• Decayed or worn teeth.

Dental Fillings - The Procedure

The procedure itself takes up to an hour, which makes it relatively quick. Local anesthesia is applied to numb the area so that you are comfortable throughout the process. The filling is placed specifically to the shape and function of your tooth.

Discuss Your Options With Our Dentist

We will gladly provide you with an exam to review if you need a dental filling. For more information on dental fillings, please call our office at 949-388-5437.

Pediatric Dental Sealants Mission Viejo and San Clemente

Kids will always be kids. So when kids brush their teeth, they may not remove all bacteria and food particles. Grooves in premolars and molars are narrow, which makes them hard to clean and perfect places for plaque to build up. Dental sealants add an extra layer of protection over deep grooves to keep out food, bacteria, and plaque.

What are dental sealants? They are thin plastic coatings that are painted on the surfaces of teeth to protect the enamel from plaque and decay. Plaque is produced on the teeth when starch and sugar particles (from food) mix with bacteria. Acids in the plaque can erode the tooth enamel and create a cavity.

Dental sealants are not just for kids. Even babies with a high risk of tooth decay can have sealants done to prevent early tooth loss. And because dental sealants are a preventive dentistry treatment, most dental insurance plans cover them.

Parents who do not have dental insurance should still consider paying for dental sealants to give their kids extra protection from cavities. A dental sealant treatment can cost less than dental restorations to fix cavities.

To apply a dental sealant, a pediatric dentist cleans and dries the tooth. The dentist then applies an acidic gel to roughen up the tooth’s surface so the dental sealant can stick to the tooth. The dentist then applies the sealant to the tooth and uses a laser, or UV light, to harden it.

Dental sealants can help protect teeth for up to ten years. A pediatric dentist can monitor a child’s teeth during annual check-ups in case the sealants need to be redone sooner.

If you would like to learn more about dental sealants for your child, please call our office to make an appointment with the dentist who will answer all your questions and get your child on the road to better oral health

Laughing Gas for Kids - Pediatric Dentist in Mission Viejo and San Clemente

There is a way for children to be calm and have a better experience with dental procedures. We all know that children are often fearful and anxious over dental procedures. Going to the dentist can be stressful for them. They may even panic when they arrive at a dental office.

Fortunately, sedation dentistry is very helpful in calming children and making the entire experience more comfortable. One of the safest types of dental sedation is nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas.

Children’s Laughing Gas Dentist in Mission Viejo

Laughing gas, mixed with oxygen, creates a relaxing effect but does not cause the child to fall asleep. Children may feel lightheaded, experience a floating sensation, and have a happier mood. Laughing gas relaxes an anxious child, and takes the edge off so he, or she, is calmer during the dental procedure.

Laughing gas eliminates a sense of time to help children, with short attention spans, during extensive dental treatment. They will not be as anxious or feel the need to move around.

Laughing gas can be easily controlled. The dentist, or a dental assistant, can adjust the amount of gas the child needs. Because laughing gas wears off so quickly, the side effects are low. The child breathes oxygen for a few minutes at the end of treatment so that all the laughing gas leaves their body.

Parents should make sure their child does not have a full stomach as laughing gas can cause nausea and vomiting in a small percentage of kids if they have a big meal before their appointment.

Parents may be wondering if laughing gas actually makes kids laugh. That only happens in a very small percentage of kids.

If your child needs a dental procedure that involves drilling or extractions, you may want to consider laughing gas. Please call our office and make an appointment with the dentist to go over your child’s dental condition and what procedure your child may need. Call us today!