Category: Pediatric dentist

We are excited to welcome Dr Tara Craven to the Smiles Dentistry for Kids team!

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Kids' Dentist, Kids' Health, Pediatric dentist

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Dental Hygiene, Pediatric dentist

Dress to Win: A Pediatric Dentist Talks About Mouth Injuries in Sports

As parents, we love to see our children having fun and trying new things! There’s hardly anything sweeter than watching your child run around the bases during their first tee-ball game or run up and down the soccer field. Not only is it exciting for us to watch, it’s both fun and healthy for them. Sports help kids develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Unfortunately, participation in athletics also comes with some risks to your child’s physical wellbeing—including their teeth. This shouldn’t stop you from allowing them to play! In this blog, Dr. Matt suggests practical ways to protect your child’s teeth during sporting events.

Tooth Injuries in Sports

Before we get to the “how,” let’s talk about why injury prevention is so important. Here are the most common types of tooth injuries in sports:

Knocked-out tooth

If your child loses a baby tooth during a sports game, it may seem like no big deal, but there could be serious consequences. The impact that made your child’s tooth fall out could also cause damage to the underlying nerves, tissue, or permanent tooth.

Cracked tooth

A cracked or fractured tooth could be a simple fix, but it can also lead to serious dental problems. You should take your child to the dentist immediately if he or she experiences these symptoms:

Sharp pain when biting
Tooth pain that comes and goes
Sensitivity to hot and cold foods

These symptoms arise because cracks and chips can expose the innermost part of the tooth. This requires immediate professional care.

Fractured Root

When the root of the tooth is cracked, it often spreads to the chewing surface of the tooth. This is usually not visible to the eye, and sometimes there aren’t any symptoms, until an infection develops. If this is the case, your child may need root canal therapy.

Prevention

Here are two of the best ways to protect your child’s teeth during an athletic event:

Get a custom mouthguard

The American Dental Association reported that of the 5 million teeth that are knocked out each year, 13-39% of them are a result of sports-related injuries. Mouthguards can help lower that percentage because they are essential to protecting your child’s teeth, mouth, and jaw during contact sports.

Most children don’t want to wear mouthguards because they are uncomfortable. To combat this, your dentist can create a custom mouthguard that fits your child’s mouth perfectly.

Another reason to have a mouthguard made is to prevent concussions. According to Science Daily, a custom-made mouthguard reduces an athlete’s risk of concussion by half.

Put on a helmet

Helmets help absorb the brunt of any sort of impact to the head. As a result, wearing a helmet protects children from head, jaw, and teeth injuries.

Your kid is most likely wearing a helmet during football or baseball games, but make sure he is wearing a helmet during practice too. While practice may not be as intense as games, there are still many chances for your child to be injured.

Encourage your child to wear a helmet while skateboarding, skiing, or snowboarding as well.

While helmets will help protect your child’s head and teeth, they aren’t nearly as beneficial as mouthguards. It’s best to give your child both a mouthguard and helmet to ensure he is as safe as possible.

Treatment

If your child does experience a dental injury, follow this protocol:

Call a pediatric dentist, like Dr. Matt, immediately
Place the tooth (whole or part) in a Ziplock bag with milk
Keep the milk and tooth cold
Bring to the dentist

Protect Your Child’s Teeth Every Day

Children’s teeth need to be protected and cared for every day through good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular dental cleanings. Our pediatric dentist and dental team are passionate about helping your child achieve a healthy mouth because we love seeing happy children!

Contact our friendly dental team today at 913-685-9990 to schedule your child’s cleaning and exam with Dr. Matt.

"*" indicates required fields

We are excited to welcome Dr Tara Craven to the Smiles Dentistry for Kids team!

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Kids' Dentist, Kids' Health, Pediatric dentist

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Dental Hygiene, Pediatric dentist

10 Questions for Your Pediatric Dentist

For healthy teeth and gums, regular dental visits are essential—especially for children! Using proper brushing and flossing techniques at home is great, but nothing beats the thorough cleaning that only happens at the dentist’s office. Keeping your child’s mouth clean is important for their overall health.

So, if you’re getting ready to take your child in for a regular dental cleaning and exam, check out these common questions parents have for their child’s pediatric dentist.

For more detailed information, ask our team at Smiles Dentistry 4 Kids during your child’s appointment.

1. Why do baby teeth matter?

Even though baby teeth don’t last forever, they serve some pretty important purposes. Baby teeth help your child move from mushy baby food to solid foods that supports good nutrition. They help your child speak clearly and support their jawbone until the permanent teeth develop.

2. How often should my child visit the dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should have their first dental visit as soon as their first tooth erupts and every six months after that. These visits will help track your child’s dental development, prevent tooth decay, and inform you about ways to best care for your child’s teeth.

By attending these regular dental appointments, you will be setting your child up for oral health success when he or she gets older!

3. Should I brush my baby’s teeth?

Absolutely! As soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts, you can use a soft-bristled, child-sized toothbrush and toothpaste to clean his or her tooth. Use toothpaste that is recommended by your pediatric dentist, follow the instructions, and make sure your child does not swallow excess toothpaste.

4. Will thumb-sucking hurt my baby’s dental development?

Before age three, thumb-sucking shouldn’t be a problem. However, it can become a problem if your child continues to suck on his or her thumb after their third birthday.

Talk to your dentist about the best ways to wean your child off thumb-sucking (or using a pacifier).

5. How much fluoride is safe for my child?

Fluoride can be found in most tap water sources and toothpaste. As long as these are your child’s only sources of fluoride, there shouldn’t be a problem.

In fact, as soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, you should use fluoride toothpaste (albeit, an amount the size of a grain of rice) to brush it.

Stay away from fluoridated mouthwash until your dentist recommends it or your child is more than six years old.

As long as you follow these guidelines (and recommendations from your dentist) your child shouldn’t experience any negative effects of fluoride. However, if you notice a change in the appearance ofyour child’s teeth, talk to your dentist or healthcare provider.

6. How do I keep my child from being afraid of the dentist?

The best thing you can do is talk about the dentist in a positive way. Many adults are afraid of the dentist and pass that fear on to their child. This can make pediatric dental appointments difficult for both of you.

You can also find books or tv shows about the character’s first dental appointment, promise your child a treat after the appointment, or tell him or her a positive story about a time you went to the dentist.

Hopefully, the pediatric dentist and dental team you’ve chosen also help make going to the dentist fun for your little one.

7. Are dental x-rays safe?

X-rays are one of the most important parts of the diagnosis process. To keep your child safe, and lower the risk of radiation exposure, your dentist will use protective gear, keep up with the latest technology, and follow American Dental Association guidelines.

These things make the risk of radiation exposure almost nonexistent. It is actually much riskier to leave a dental problem undetected than it is to have an x-ray.

8. Are dental sealants worth it?

Dental sealants are a thin coating that protects your child’s back teeth from cavities for up to four years. This will save you time and money in the long run. We’d say that’s worth it!

9. How is a pediatric dentist different from a family dentist?

Pediatric dentists are specially trained to treat and care for children from infancy to adolescence. Family dentists typically receive a more general education so that they can treat patients of all ages.

In addition, pediatric dentists design their offices specifically for children to feel comfortable. Their goal is to create a fun and educational environment that children enjoy coming to.

10. How can I help my child avoid baby bottle tooth decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is the leading cause of tooth loss in infants. To protect your baby’s teeth, follow these guidelines:

Clean your baby’s gums with a washcloth or gauze pad after feeding
Make sure he or she is getting enough fluoride
Brush the baby’s new teeth
Schedule regular dental visits

Ready to meet with your pediatric dentist? Call today to schedule an appointment for your little one!

To meet with Dr. Matt at Smiles Dentistry 4 Kids, contact our friendly team today at 913-685-9990.

"*" indicates required fields

We are excited to welcome Dr Tara Craven to the Smiles Dentistry for Kids team!

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Kids' Dentist, Kids' Health, Pediatric dentist

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Dental Hygiene, Pediatric dentist

Is there a great pediatric dentist near me?

There’s a popular quote from Theodore Roosevelt that says, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” This is especially true for medical professionals.

A pediatric dentist doesn’t become great by simply having a good education. A great pediatric dentist will make your child feel safe, cared for, and important. In doing so, your child is much more likely to look forward to visiting the dentist and taking care of their teeth at home.

The best pediatric dentist for your child will have these five characteristics:

1. A love for children

This may seem obvious, but if you ever had a teacher who seemed to dislike all of their students, you know why this isn’t such a silly quality to look for. As a student, you didn’t care if that teacher went to Harvard or had a doctorate, you probably just wanted out of that class.

The same is true for a pediatric dentist. He or she should love dentistry AND children in order to provide quality care and keep their little patients at ease.

When you meet with a pediatric dentist for the first time, watch how he or she interacts with your child, and don’t be afraid to ask questions like:

What made you choose pediatric dentistry?
What other experience do you have with children?
Do you have children of your own?
What do you love about your job?

2. A good education

Just as important as a love for children (or maybe a little more so) is the dentist’s education. Their website should give you information about there educational background.

If you can’t find it on the website, ask questions about their education during your first visit.

3. Knowledge of children

To work with children, pediatric dentists must understand how children are wired. A pediatric dentist should be able to keep your child’s attention, distract them from uncomfortable moments, and calm them in fun and friendly ways.

Obviously, your children’s dentist should also be an expert on children’s teeth—always looking for signs of common dental issues in children caused by thumb sucking, pacifier use, and teeth grinding.

As a parent, you should feel confident that your child’s dentist can answer all of your questions about your child’s oral health. If not, it may be time to start looking for another dentist.

4. A teaching spirit

A huge part of children’s dentistry is educating both children and adults on oral health and best oral health practices. Your pediatric dentist should be able to explain these things to you and your child in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.

You should never feel like a burden to your dentist because you have questions. That’s exactly what they are for! Choose a pediatric dentist who is happy to listen to and answer any questions you may have about your child’s oral health needs.

5. An approachable countenance

Talking with someone in the medical field can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Your pediatric dentist should make you feel welcome the first time you meet and every time after that. You and your child should feel completely comfortable in his or her presence.

This relationship shouldn’t be one-sided; your pediatric dentist should make an effort to get to know you and your child as well.

A Great Pediatric Dentist in Overland Park, KS

Dr. Matt at Smiles Dentistry for Kids has a love for both children AND dentistry. We think he’s one of the best around!

Don’t just take our word for it, schedule an appointment for your child by contacting our friendly team today at (913) 685-9990.

"*" indicates required fields

We are excited to welcome Dr Tara Craven to the Smiles Dentistry for Kids team!

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Kids' Dentist, Kids' Health, Pediatric dentist

Children's dentist, dental check-up, Dental Hygiene, Pediatric dentist