Our office can potentially sedate children as young as 2 and as old as 75.  We do offer the conscious sedation.  With conscious sedation there is a chance you might be awake.  Conscious sedation does effect the memory, yet most people do not remember everything that happens during sedation.  It is not a full sedation where patients are unconscious. However, most patients are very relaxed.  The medication comes in a liquid form and it is based on weight (the less you weigh the less meds you can get).

Radiographs (X-Rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed.

Radiographs detect much more than cavities. For example, radiographs may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. Radiographs allow dentists to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination.

Most dentists recommend visits every six months, beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits will start your child on a lifetime of good dental health.

Your dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces.

A sealant is a protective coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.

Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the left over food particles that combine to create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water.

For older children, brush their teeth at least twice a day. Also, watch the number of snacks containing sugar or acids that you give your children. High-acid foods and drinks can wear away your teeth, causing decay, sensitivity and discoloring.

The diagnostic evaluation is generally done during the exam portion.  We look for everything such as oral cancer, periodontist, TMD, as well as cavities and various oral conditions.

This is done when an infection gets inside the tooth. Bacteria gets inside the tooth and one of the first things it does is kill the blood supply and nerve to the tooth.  After this happens the body has no way to rid the infection from the tooth and a root canal is necessary.  A root canal basically shapes the inside of the tooth and fills it with a plastic like material so the bacteria can no longer live there.  Most people are very scared of root canals but most of our patients walk out saying “that was not that bad.”

This is the removal of teeth.  There are a couple of things to keep in mind when getting an extraction.  If you have an infection while getting an extraction there is a very small chance that the tooth does not get as numb as it could possibly get.  Now this is very rare and I have not seen this scenario for a long time, however, it does happen.  The other thing to keep in mind when getting an extraction is if you are conscious you are going to feel pressure.  I can take away all the pain but not all the pressure. Sometimes it can get a little intense, and for that I do apologize.  If these are not conditions you are comfortable with, I would suggest either conscious sedation or going to see the oral surgeon whom will sedate you completely.

Whitening is something that can be done in our office or at home.  Most forms of whitening are temporary.  If you use the light to whiten your teeth it generally lasts about 2-3 weeks.  If you use other chemicals you may have longer lasting results, however, they not as drastic.  If there is a build-up of tartar on the teeth a cleaning should be done prior to whitening.