As your child starts attending school, participating in activities, and making friends outside of the home, their attention can drift from good brushing and flossing habits. Thankfully, Dr. Sam and the Bright Pediatric Smiles team is here to help! We really enjoy working closely with school-aged children by providing fun oral hygiene tips, keeping track of their growing smile during routine dental checkups, and assisting them with the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth seamlessly. If it’s been more than six months since their last dental appointment, contact our Poway, CA dental office today.

DENTAL CHECKUPS & TEETH CLEANINGS

Even if your son or daughter has a squeaky-clean oral hygiene routine at home, dental decay and other problems can still sneak into developing smiles over time. That’s why Dr. Sam urges parents to bring in children for routine checkups and cleanings every six months on average so that she can take a closer look at their teeth, gums, and overall bite, recommending personalized treatment as needed. A dedicated professional cleaning will also go a long way towards getting rid of cavity-causing plaque and leaving their smile looking and feeling polished.

DENTAL SEALANTS

Did you know that a whopping four out of five cavities occur in a person’s back teeth over the years? These hard-to-reach premolars and molars can prove tricky to keep clean, especially for young patients who are still learning how to brush and floss effectively. At Bright Pediatric Smiles, Dr. Sam strongly recommends dental sealants as a simple and effective preventive measure that can help cut down on tooth decay. The application process only takes a few minutes and is virtually painless for your child. Once the thin, plastic-based substance hardens in place over the chewing surface, it will form a barrier that keeps food particles and harmful bacteria from sticking.

FLUORIDE TREATMENTS

Fluoride is a mineral that’s found in more places than you’d think – lots of different foods, countless toothpastes and mouthwashes, and even the water we drink from the tap. Decades of research have demonstrated a clear link before consistent exposure to fluoride and stronger, healthier teeth, particularly in children. That’s why our Poway team strongly recommends making topical fluoride applications a regular part of your son or daughter’s checkups – their smile will surely appreciate the added boost of protection!

AT-HOME HYGIENE PRODUCTS

Making sure your son or daughter has the proper tools and know-how to practice oral hygiene at home is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy smile as they grow – but what toothpastes and mouthwashes are the right fit? Do they really need an electric toothbrush, or is a manual one fine? If you’d like some extra guidance with figuring out these answers, don’t hesitate to talk to Dr. Sam and the rest of our team at Bright Pediatric Smiles. We’d love to shed some light on the subject and offer some personalized recommendations!

TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS

Despite our best efforts, most children will experience at least one pesky cavity at some point. This doesn’t have to be an upsetting event, though! Dr. Sam provides tooth-colored fillings as an easy and stress-free restorative measure for repairing spots of damage. Unlike traditional metals, the composite resin our team uses is highly flexible, biocompatible, and so lifelike that your son or daughter won’t even notice it once it’s safely sculpted into place.

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Whether the tooth is a permanent one or a “baby” version, extractions are never fun or desired events. Parents can rest assured that Dr. Sam will do everything she can to help children preserve their full, healthy smiles over the years. Unfortunately, problems can arise where this service is the best option available to preserve their health and wellbeing, such as:

  • When a tooth is badly decayed and can’t be treated with a filling or other restorative procedure.
  • When one or more teeth have suffered a serious injury and can’t be preserved.
  • When a “baby” tooth is overstaying its welcome and needs to be removed to not impede the eruption of the adult tooth.
  • When a child is in need of orthodontic treatment but additional room must be created inside the mouth.

Sedation dentistry is available upon request to help young patients feel calmer and more comfortable in the treatment chair during their extraction procedure.