Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
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Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends finding your child’s Dental Home by age one or when the first tooth emerges, whichever occurs first. Establishing your child’s Dental Home provides the opportunity to implement preventive dental health habits that keep a child free from dental/oral disease. Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry focuses on prevention, early detection, and treatment of dental diseases. We work to keep current on the latest advances in dentistry for children, and our services reflect just that.
Our goal at Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and teach them how to care for their teeth. From our special office designs to our communication style, our main concern is what is best for your child.
For children with special needs, please call our office and our staff will work to ensure your child's has a stress-free and calming experience.
Studies have shown that children with good oral health tend to eat better, learn better, do better in school, and develop higher confidence.
During your child’s preventative visit, we use special tools to get those pearly whites glowing bright! Your child will be evaluated to make sure both his/her gums and teeth are healthy, and ensure no oral disease is present. Growth and development will be evaluated and any potential concerns discussed.
Teeth are composed of many tiny pieces called molecules that attach to each other. Throughout the day these tiny pieces are constantly breaking apart and reforming depending on our diet. Fluoride can be thought of as a “glue” for these pieces by keeping the molecules more tightly bound together and less prone to breaking apart. Topical fluoride treatment is effective in protecting children’s teeth and reducing cavities.
Think of the top (chewing) surface of a tooth as mountains with many grooves. When your child eats, food gets caught into those grooves. Although daily brushing is essential, applying dental sealant will enhance the ability to keep those hard to reach areas clean. A dental sealant flows into the grooves “sealing” the tooth and reducing the probability of cavities.
Radiographs (or x-rays) are an essential part of our diagnostic protocol. Without them, dental conditions may go undetected. Dental x-rays detect much more than dental cavities. They allow the dentist to evaluate growth and development, bone health, pathology, and evaluate trauma. At Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry we are using the latest dental x-ray technology with very minimal exposure.
It is our goal to make your child’s dental appointment as easy and enjoyable as possible! At Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry we promote healthy smiles in a friendly and compassionate environment. Our doctor and professional staff will discuss treatment options that will allow your child a stress-free dental experience.
In preparation for your appointment, try to refrain from using words such as “needle” “hurt” “pull” and “drill”. Dr. Kim and her staff are well versed and will explain everything to your child in a kid-friendly way. You can count on our team to calm your anxious child and answer all questions from your “Curious George”.
If your child’s cavity is too large to restore with a tooth-colored filling, a crown may be recommended. Crowns help protect the baby teeth, providing structure for the tooth. Crowning a tooth also maintains the space, allowing the eventual permanent tooth to erupt properly. If you are concerned about a silver crown, talk to Dr. Kim about the possibility of a tooth-colored white crown!
Baby root canals are often needed when the cavity approaches the nerve of the tooth. This procedure stops the progress of the cavity and minimizes the chances of an infection or abscess. The procedure is completed by cleaning out the center of the tooth where the nerve lives and placing soothing medicine. The tooth is then protected by placing a crown.
The baby teeth serve as space holders for the permanent teeth. With the loss of a baby tooth, neighboring teeth start migrating into that vacant space potentially causing space problems as your child grows. This may lead to the need for extensive orthodontic treatment at a later age. To minimize this potential situation, a space maintainer is placed in that area to hold the space open, so that the adult tooth can erupt in a more appropriate position.
Your child may need to have a tooth extracted. Most often, extractions are indicated due to infection or for orthodontic purposes. Dr. Kim will review your child’s needs and discuss treatment options with you.
Should your child have a cavity, we use a resin tooth-colored filling to restore function and comfort to your child’s tooth. These fillings restore teeth to an attractive, healthy state!
We will always choose the most conservative treatment options available to your child, and we seek to use non-invasive procedures whenever possible. However, there are times when your child may need to be sedated to care for them properly. Ultimately, their safety and comfort are our utmost concern.
Laughing gas is the common term for nitrous oxide. This is a safe and mild method used during dental procedures. Your child will be awake and responsive throughout the procedure, in a more relaxed state.
Because this type of dentistry is short-lived with a gentle effect, it is often used for children. Nitrous oxide puts patients at ease so they can remain relaxed during dental procedures allowing the anxious child a more pleasant dental experience! Dr. Kim customizes each case individually and will discuss sedation only if necessary.
Oral conscious sedation (OCS) is a safe, effective, and non-invasive method to help increase cooperation and reduce anxiety and discomfort/pain associated with dental treatment. Oral sedation is a moderate sedation where it is more effective than laughing gas alone but it is not as deep as IV sedation therefore kids are relaxed and sleepy but will respond when spoken to or with a light tap on the shoulder. Various medications can be used to sedate a child and are selected based on your child’s age, overall health, level of anxiety, and dental treatment recommendations.
Many children suffer from dental anxiety, feeling extreme fear that keeps them from attending dental visits. We want all patients to receive excellent dental care in spite of their dental anxiety. To this end, we offer in-house IV sedation dentistry from an anesthesiologist, to ensure the comfort of our patients. If your child suffers from a fear of going to the dentist, call us today to learn more about intravenous “IV” sedation.
In some cases, it may not be possible to perform dental treatment on a child safely while they are conscious, and nitrous oxide sedation may not be effective. In such situations, the dentist may recommend general anesthesia. This is especially true for very young children who require extensive dental work or children with high dental anxiety or special healthcare needs that may cause them harm during dental procedures.
At Glowing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we understand the importance of safety and comfort for your child. Dr. Kim has hospital privileges at Vanderbilt and Hendersonville Hospital where our practice works closely with the anesthesiology team.
We take the time to understand your child’s unique needs, evaluate their health history, and discuss the different options available to you. We will also provide you with a comprehensive overview of what to expect during the procedure. You can trust that your child is in good hands with Dr. Kim and her team.
