Twelve Corners Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry

Routine exams and cleanings

• Routine dental visits are an important element in preventative dental care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children visit the dentist every 6 months. We focus on prevention and early intervention​ to make your child's dental treatment as comfortable and conservative as possible.

• At your child's check up the hygienist will review how best to care for your child's teeth, complete a dental cleaning, and apply fluoride varnish. 

• The dentist will complete an exam of the teeth and soft tissues and provide counseling on oral habits and dental trauma. We also evaluate growth and development at each visit for early referral to an orthodontist if necessary. 

• Xrays of your child's teeth will be recommended when we observe a cavity or when a child's back teeth are touching together. Xray interval is determined by patient age, risk of cavities, and dental findings.

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Sealants​

• Dental sealants are thin coatings that are painted on the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars) to keep out food and plaque and help prevent the occurrence and progression of caries. 

• Quick and easy application (wash and dry tooth, apply bond and flow sealant into grooves, shine a special light).

• Your child can eat and drink directly afterwards.

• Even with sealants, it is very important to continue excellent hygiene (brushing and flossing) to prevent cavities.

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Tooth Colored Fillings

• Cavities on front teeth and small cavities on back teeth can often be treated with white fillings. 

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Crowns

• Back teeth (molars) with large cavities may require a crown to keep a tooth healthy and prevent it from fracturing. 

• Primary tooth crowns fall out when baby teeth are lost. 

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Pulpotomy

• When a cavity extends into the nerve (pulp) of a baby tooth, it may be necessary to clean out and apply a medicament to the pulp prior to placing a crown. 

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Extraction

• A baby tooth may need to be removed if an infection is present or if a tooth does not have enough healthy structure left to be restored will a filling or crown.  

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Space maintainers 

• If a baby molar is lost prematurely, a space maintainer may be required to prevent neighboring teeth from shifting into it's position.

• The goal is to keep enough space available to allow future eruption of the permanent tooth.

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Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)

• Silver Diamine Fluoride is a liquid that can be painted on a tooth to help arrest dental decay and prevent/delay the progression of a cavity

• Often utilized to stabilize cavities in young patients while waiting for cooperation to improve prior to definitive treatment.

• SDF permanently stains cavities (NOT healthy tooth structure) dark brown or black.

• May require multiple applications.

• SMART (Silver Modified Atraumatic Restorative Technique)

  • After SDF is applied to a large cavity, a white filling material called glass ionomer can be placed to fill the hole in the tooth and prevent food impaction.

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Mouth-guards and night-guards

• Our office utilizes a 3D intra-oral scanner to create a custom mouth-guards and night-guards, so no impressions are needed!

• For patients participating in contact sports, we recommend a mouth-guard for practices and games to prevent dental injury.

• A night-guard may be recommended if grinding/ attrition of permanent teeth is observed.