Is it time for your child's next dental visit? At East Madison Dental Tenafly, our team treats every member of the family with the same gentle, attentive approach. Kids will feel right at home receiving dental treatment from our pediatric team in Tenafly, NJ!
Preventive Dentistry for Kids
Optimal oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and maintaining regular dental visits starting at age one or the eruption of a child's first tooth, are all critical components of maintaining a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Choosing in-office preventive treatments at East Madison Dental Tenafly, including fluoride treatment and sealants, are safe, easy ways to protect the natural teeth and help keep cavities away. Even though baby teeth are normally replaced by permanent teeth, it is important for them to fall out naturally for optimal growth and development of the child.
Custom-Fitted Athletic Mouthguards
Professionally fitted sports mouthguards can eliminate or reduce unwanted traumatic injuries to the teeth (such as fractures and dislocations) and surrounding tissues during collision and contact sports. Ask your dentist about fabricating a custom-fitted mouthguard to provide optimal protection for your child's athletic activity!
Dental Fillings for Kids
Smaller cavities in the primary or baby teeth are often restored with dental fillings. A tooth-colored material called composite is made of resin and provides a natural-looking appearance. These fillings are ultra-durable and can resist heavy forces. Our dentist will help you determine the best filling material for your needs and lifestyle!
Silver Diamine Treatment
Silver Diamine Treatment is approved to treat dentin sensitivity and is effectively used as a caries-arresting agent. The treatment acts mainly on the tooth structure to promote remineralization and slow down the progression of a cavity or halt it completely. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) supports the use of SDF, and our team at East Madison Dental Tenafly is proud to offer this treatment to our young patients! SDF may cause permanent staining of treated teeth and should not be used in patients with a known silver allergy.
Dental Crowns for Children
Preformed metal crowns, also known as stainless steel crowns (SSCs), are the restoration of choice for primary molars that have extensive cavities. Stainless-steel dental crowns are also supported in children who have high caries-risk, due to the crowns' proven longevity. After the decay is removed, your child's dental crown will be fitted then cemented in place.
Thanks to CEREC technology, we can provide same-day restorations at our Tenafly dental office!
Strip Crowns
Strip crowns are full coronal restorations composed of a white filling. They are indicated for decayed primary incisor teeth when the cavity is present on multiple surfaces or if there is loss of tooth structure that involves the edge of the tooth. Strip crowns provide excellent esthetic results but requires cooperative behavior for better results. It is important to avoid biting on the restored incisors to prevent chipping of the restoration.
Dental Extractions
Sometimes, when there is a dental abscess, swelling, or loss of too much tooth structure, a child's primary tooth is typically unable to be saved and requires a gentle tooth extraction. Sometimes this may also be the case for permanent teeth if root canal treatment cannot be performed for the patient.
Most of the time, primary teeth can be wiggled out safely at home with clean hands. If however, the adult teeth are ectopic or coming in an abnormal position then your dentist can help extract the primary tooth to allow proper eruption of the permanent teeth or refer the child to an orthodontist if more movement of teeth is required.
Orthodontic Appliances
Space maintainers are small metal devices that help hold space in your child’s mouth if a baby tooth is lost too early. This keeps nearby teeth from shifting and allows the adult tooth to come in properly. They are placed on the back teeth and stay in place until the new tooth is ready to grow in. Good brushing, healthy eating, and regular dental visits help keep the appliance working well.
Habit Appliances
Thumb sucking and pacifier use are normal for young children, but it’s best to stop these habits by around age 2. If they continue past ages 4–5, they can start to affect how your child’s teeth and mouth develop. If your child is having trouble stopping on their own, a small dental appliance may be recommended to help break the habit. This appliance gently discourages the habit and helps guide proper development, and is usually worn for several months for the best results.
Emergency Dental Treatment for Kids
Childhood dental emergencies and injuries can be common, and are quickly treated at East Madison Dental Tenafly. Some common causes of a dental emergency in children can be food impaction (when food gets stuck in or around the teeth), swollen gums, tooth decay, wiggly tooth, tooth eruption, tooth fracture, trauma, or dental abscess or infection.
Laughing Gas Sedation for Kids
Mild sedation dentistry can be safely achieved for slightly anxious children (and adults) using laughing gas. This form of sedation can make the patient happy and giggly. It is breathed in together with oxygen by wearing a mask over the nose and helps your child feel more relaxed while staying awake. After treatment is completed, 100% oxygen is breathed in and the nitrogen levels are returned to normal with no residual effects.
Higher levels of sedation (with oral or IV conscious sedation, or general anesthesia) may be needed if your child requires extensive treatment, is extremely anxious, is medically compromised or has special needs.
Schedule Your Child's Next Dentist Appointment
Our pediatric dentist and team are here to make your child's dental experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible! Contact us today to schedule your child's next dentist appointment.
