Pediatric Dentistry

Teeth cleanings are part of any standard Palmetto Bay dental visit. In general, this involves six steps:

• A physical examination of the teeth, mouth, and gums
• Removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth and gumline
• Gritty toothpaste cleaning using an electric brush to remove all particles and polish the teeth
• Expert flossing that removes buildup and particles from any area you might struggle to reach
• Rinsing to remove any debris that remains in the mouth
• An application of a fluoride treatment

Make certain to schedule pediatric dental visits every six months at our Palmetto Bay office to get the best results from your teeth cleanings.

Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth -- usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars) -- to prevent tooth decay.

The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Composite resins, or tooth-colored fillings, provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing.

They can be used on either front or back teeth. They are a good choice for people who prefer that their fillings look more natural.

Pediatric crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” that are placed over a child's existing teeth to restore their original shape, size, strength and appearance. Crowns for primary teeth are mainly used for the restoration of decayed, discolored, misshapen or broken teeth.

Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sports injury. The majority of these injuries are minor - chipped teeth. It’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out but these injuries are more severe.

Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires immediate examination by a dentist or an endodontist.

Sometimes, your neighboring teeth suffer an additional, unnoticed injury that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.

Each patient has his or her own set of special needs, but some children and adults have special medical, physical or mental conditions that require special needs dentistry. A special needs dentist utilizes adaptations to dental care beyond the routine.

Special needs dentistry includes accommodating patients with needs in treatment rooms and planning preventive special dental care to prevent dental disease. As a special needs dentist, your Palmetto Bay dentist should maintain the knowledge and skill to provide special needs dental care to patients with disabilities.

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a safe, effective sedative agent used to calm a child’s fear of dental visits and enhance effective communication. Additionally, it works well for children with strong gag reflexes.

A fitted mask is placed over the child’s nose and, as the patient breathes a blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen normally, uptake occurs through the lungs. At the end of treatment, it's eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen and has no lingering effects.

For many of us, going to the dentist means going where we really, really don't want to be. While that's an unfortunate stereotype that's as outdated as it is undeserved, the fact remains that many people are afraid they will experience pain while undergoing dental procedures.

Sedation dentistry is dentistry that provides patients with medicine that helps a patient to relax and/or feel sleepy. This specific technique is called “conscious sedation,” which means the patient is awake during the treatment. In most cases, the patient won’t remember the dental experience, but he/she will be able to respond to voices and maintain his/her reflexes while under sedation.

Dentistry can be performed in a hospital setting for certain conditions including:

• Severe Anxiety
• Cerebral Palsy
• Autism
• Behavioral Disorders
• Physical Mobility Impairments
• Special Needs
• Down Syndrome
• Complex Medical Disorders