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| Our Services |
Kid's teeth need routine dental care just like grown-up teeth. At Mercer Island Pediatric Dentistry, we provide comprehensive dental care for children, from infancy to young adulthood. In addition to implementing many preventive measures, we educate parents about the oral health and dental development of their children, including the effects of thumb or finger-sucking habits on facial development, teeth grinding, and baby bottle-related tooth decay. Regular examinations by a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist help to identify any problems with oral development early and can minimize the impact of tooth decay on your child's overall health by identifying and treating cavities as early as possible.
Examinations
Regular examinations help prevent dental health issues and detect problems before they become serious. Getting a dental check-up every six months helps to identify problems when they are small and easier to treat. When left unattended, small problems may become worse and may require more extensive and expensive treatment.
Dental examinations generally include:
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Digital x-rays to assess tooth development and growth of primary and permanent teeth.
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Careful visual examination of the head, neck, and mouth.
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Thorough examination of the teeth, looking for areas of decay, teeth that will be exfoliating (coming out soon), future orthodontic needs, and abnormalities of the oral cavity. |
Routine professional cleaning is about more than giving your child shiny teeth, it also provides us with the opportunity to teach your child proper brushing and flossing techniques, which are very important in maintaining the best dental health.
Digital X-rays
We use digital x-rays rather than traditional x-rays because digital x-rays:
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Emit up to 90% less radiation
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Can be viewed on a computer screen nearly instantly
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Can be refined and enlarged to show finer detail
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Are safer for the environment |
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Do not require chemicals for processing |
Dental Cleaning
Professional cleaning performed by a dental hygienist or dental assistant is important for your child's dental health. Using specialized, kid-friendly tools, our specialists:
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Remove plaque build-up from the surfaces of teeth (Bacteria in the mouth form plaque, which collects on teeth and causes decay, gum disease, and gingivitis)
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Remove tartar (Tartar, or calculus, is plaque that has become so hardened on the teeth that its removal requires special procedures. Tartar below the gum line is also an indicator of gum disease, especially in older children and adults.)
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Remove surface stains from teeth |
Children With Special Needs
Some children lack the ability to open their mouths fully due to abnormal development of the jaw. Difficulty with regular brushing and flossing places them at increased risk for developing cavities. Children with sensory challenges may be averse to the texture or sensation of a toothbrush and toothpaste. Other children may have a diet that is rich in sugar, which can affect oral development. Finding a dental team that listens carefully, becomes a therapeutic partner, and provides child-specific resources is key to establishing a life-long relationship that will improve the health of your child. Board-certified Pediatric Dentists receive special training in caring for children with special needs.
At Mercer Island Pediatric Dentistry we work with children who have a wide range of needs. Many children, especially those with increased anxiety, benefit from graduated dental visits, to slowly introduce them to dental care. We can help prepare you and your young child for changes in oral development and address challenging feeding issues. Our office provides several types of sedation dentistry for children with special needs to help ensure your child's oral health and development stay on the right track. Call our office to learn more about sedation dentistry.
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