Children’s Dentistry
Everyone’s smile requires special attention—especially the littlest ones! At Local Dental San Antonio, Drs. Joung and Minkyung Lee are family dentists that offer children’s dentistry services.
What is children’s dentistry?
It’s no secret that a child grows exponentially from the time they enter the world to adulthood. Children’s dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the rapid growth and development of infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and teens.
Aside from basic cleanings and check-ups, our children’s dentistry services include (but are not limited to):
- Dental Sealants: Tooth decay is the leading childhood disease. So, it’s natural for parents to want to protect their children from cavities. One proven anti-cavity method is dental sealants, which actively seal out the pathogens that cause tooth decay.
- Tooth-Colored Fillings: When a cavity is caught in time, our kids’ dentists can restore the tooth with tooth-colored fillings.
- Primary Tooth Crowns: A dental crown is the next best treatment when a tooth-colored filling doesn’t suffice. Sometimes baby teeth need crowns because of extensive decay or damage, and we provide stainless steel and zirconia primary tooth crowns for their durability.
- Dental Extractions: While children’s primary teeth (baby teeth) naturally fall out on their own, extensive decay or crowding can warrant the need for dental extractions.
Why is children's dentistry important?
A common question in children’s dentistry is, “if my child’s teeth will eventually fall out, why should I take them to the dentist?” While it’s true that primary teeth fall out one by one, healthy baby teeth are vital for growth and development.
Tooth decay is the leading childhood disease and is classified as a bacterial infection in the tooth that can spread throughout the body. Not only can tooth decay be dangerous, but it can also be painful.
When a child suffers from severe tooth pain, it should be no surprise that their sleep patterns, behaviors, and academic performance can also be detrimental.
Did you know that primary and adult teeth form in utero? Baby teeth form at six weeks of pregnancy, and adult teeth form at around four months of pregnancy.
Even though baby teeth do not erupt until about six months of age and adult teeth don’t erupt until six or seven, it’s essential to take care of a child’s smile throughout the early years.
Children use their primary teeth to eat, communicate, and perform other daily tasks. Therefore, keeping them healthy, intact, and pain-free is essential. Ignoring children’s dentistry can lead to impaction, misalignment, and extensive decay, potentially leading to pricier corrective treatments.
How often should children visit the dentist?
Most dentists recommend that children first visit the dentist when their first tooth erupts or before their first birthday (whichever occurs first). Then, every six months after that. Regular children’s dentistry visits help our kid’s dentists monitor development to ensure that kids stay healthy and intervene when necessary.
How We Can Make Dentistry for Kids More Comfortable, Engaging, and Entertaining
For new patients, we strongly suggest parents and guardians fill out new patient forms and submit insurance information for a more efficient first visit.
Furthermore, we’ve outlined what to expect before, during, and after a children’s dentistry appointment.
Tooth Fairy
Sedation Dentistry
Entertainment for Kids
Book Your Child’s Next Dental Visit at Local Dental San Antonio
Are you ready to schedule your next dental appointment in San Antonio? Take advantage of our online booking or conveniently call (210) 686-1486. The San Antonio community can trust the Local Dental team to keep individuals and families healthy, happy, and feeling at home
