Kids Dentistry
Our goal is to provide your child with a comfortable, positive, and relaxed experience every time they visit Rosharon Family Dental.
Our office is super kid-friendly.
We see patients as young as 6 months.
We provide the following services to keep your child’s teeth healthy:
Cleanings
Sealants
Fluoride Varnish
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Athletic Mouth Guards
Crowns, Pulpotomies, Space Maintainers
Sedation for anxiety
Check out our KID ZONE to see all the amenities we have available for your child!
FAQs
Why Are the Primary Teeth Important?
Primary teeth, or baby teeth, are vital to help your child chew. They also aid in speech development. Primary teeth also act as “space maintainers” to hold the space until the adult teeth are ready to come in. If a child loses a baby tooth early due to cavities or trauma, we may recommend space maintainers to prevent space loss and reduce the need of orthodontic treatment in the future.
When Should I Take My Child to The Dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend that children have their first dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of their first tooth eruption. Babies usually have their first tooth come in around 6 months of age.
Why Would My Child Need Crowns Instead of Fillings?
In some cases, a cavity can be too large to restore with a filling. When a cavity reached the nerve and pulp therapy is needed, a crown would be the best treatment option to prolong the tooth’s life and hold it together until the baby tooth is ready to fall out. Sometimes baby teeth (like molars) don’t fall out until a child is 12 years old so it is best to protect the tooth and maintain the space.
Adult Teeth Coming in Behind Baby Teeth. What to Do?
When permanent teeth grow behind the roots of the baby teeth, sometimes they can be seen erupting behind the existing baby tooth. Usually no treatment is needed, but occasionally we’d have to help take the teeth out to help guide the permanent teeth into place.
Why Does My Child Need X-Rays?
X-rays, or radiographs, are necessary to properly diagnose teeth to identify if there are any cavities or infections. Sometimes a tooth can look perfectly fine with a quick visual exam, however, it is impossible to detect the integrity of the tooth structure. With advancements in technology, digital x-rays produce very low levels of radiation. Lead aprons will always be used to protect every patient.
What is Pulp Therapy?
Pulp therapy can also be known as a root canal, nerve treatment, pulpotomy, and pulpectomy. Pulp therapy can help treat and restore a tooth that has been affected by decay or trauma. After pulp therapy is completed on a baby tooth, a crown is usually recommended to help hold the tooth together until it is ready to fall out.
Conscious Sedation
Conscious Sedation is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs. It is used to calm your child and to reduce the anxiety or discomfort associated with dental treatments. Your child may be quite drowsy, and may even fall asleep, but they will not become unconscious.
There are a variety of different medications which may be used for conscious sedation. The doctor will prescribe the medication best suited for your child’s overall health and dental treatment recommendations. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have concerning the procedure.
Prior to your sedation appointment:
Please notify us of any change in your child’s health and/or medical condition. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection, cold, nasal or chest congestion, or recent head trauma. These can put your child at an increased risk for complications. Should your child become ill, please contact us. It may be necessary to postpone the appointment.
You must tell the doctor of any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications that your child is currently taking. Check with us to see if routine medications should be taken the day of the sedation. Report any allergies or reactions to medications that your child has experienced.
Please dress your child in loose fitting, comfortable clothing. This will allow us to place monitors that evaluate your child’s response to the medications and help ensure your child’s safety. These monitors may measure effects on your child’s breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the appointment time so that your child can use the restroom immediately prior to their treatment.
Your child must have an EMPTY STOMACH. They should not have anything to eat 8 hours before sedation. Clear liquids are okay 4 hours before sedation.
During the sedation appointment:
The child's parent or legal guardian must remain at the office throughout the sedation appointment. You may not leave the office for any reason.
Please watch your child closely while the medication is taking effect. They may become sleepy, dizzy, unsteady, uncoordinated, or irritable. You will need to remain close to your child to prevent injuries that may occur from stumbling/falling.
Your child will act drowsy and may become slightly excited at first.
If you must bring any other children with you to this appointment, it is preferable to have two adults accompany the patient home. On the way home, one individual should be able to observe the child’s breathing without any distractions, especially if the patient falls asleep while in the car or safety seat.
After the sedation appointment:
Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.
Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
Please call our office for any questions or concerns that you might have.