Summertime brings all of our patients’ favorite outdoor activities – biking, swimming, and many visits to the neighborhood playground or splash pad. As much fun as these activities are, they can also bring about a lot of unwanted dental emergencies. In the past few weeks we have seen numerous patients with chipped and/or injured teeth… Continue reading Dental Trauma and Emergencies
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day for two minutes. But is that really what we expect parents to do for their little ones every day? Ideally, yes, but let’s dive into some background info, recommendations, and tips for your child’s daily routine that might not be… Continue reading Tips for Toddler Toothbrushing
The bacterial disease that causes cavities is called “dental caries”. Caries is what we refer to as a multifactorial disease, meaning there are a lot of factors that contribute to the disease and the reason there isn’t a simple solution for curing it. One of the main factors that we spend a lot of time… Continue reading Snack “Teeth-Smart”!
We spend a lot of time in our office reviewing the dietary habits of our patients, including what they’re drinking throughout the day. Although most parents in our office are well aware not to give their kids candy every day, the feelings about juice can be a bit more fuzzy. One this is for sure… Continue reading Organic? All-natural? No sugar added? Let’s talk JUICE!
For many children, and adults for that matter, getting the initial shot of novicaine can be the worst part of getting a filling or dental procedure done. Dentists nowadays don’t actually use “novicaine”, it’s usually lidocaine or septocaine in our office, but the name novicaine has stuck around to denote any kind of dental local… Continue reading Painless Novicaine for Kids: Dr. Erica’s New Magic “Wand”
Silver Diamine Fluoride (or SDF) is a non-invasive treatment option for cavities that is painted on the tooth instead of drilling and filling the cavity. The use of SDF in the United States is relatively new (approved by the FDA in 2014), but it has been used in Japan for over 40 years and in… Continue reading SDF: Pediatric Dentistry’s New Silver Bullet
You look inside your child’s mouth and something looks a bit off. There’s a double row of teeth in the front of their mouth. Cue the soundtrack from “Jaws” – it’s Shark Week in there! But no need to worry, this occurrence is actually not a dental emergency, and is very common among our 5-7… Continue reading HELP! My child has shark teeth!!
As a pediatric dentist, I am always being asked by parents whether or not they should be in the room with their child during dental treatment. The quick answer is – it depends! My goal is to always work with parents so we are on the same team, trying to improve the oral health of… Continue reading Parental Presence During Dental Treatment
The use of x-rays in dentistry is considered a necessary component of a thorough dental examination. Problems cannot be treated without first being detected. Diagnosing and treating dental problems at an early stage can prevent pain, promote future dental health, and save time and money. In addition to cavities, x-rays allow us to detect an… Continue reading Dental X-Rays: The Whole Tooth
Once again, the end of the year is quickly drawing near. Here are a few important reasons to consider using your dental insurance before the year is over. 1) Annual Maximum Your insurance policy entitles you to a set amount of coverage each year. This is typically referred to your policy’s annual maximum. Most dental… Continue reading 5 Reasons to Use Your Dental Insurance Before the Year Ends
