Dental Treatment for Kids
Dental treatment in children is important just as it is in adults. Baby teeth serve children by allowing them to eat, speak, smile, and they also hold space for the permanent teeth. Problems may start out small, but can get much bigger. Scheduling a child and following a treatment plan can allow treatment to be provided in a comfortable and child friendly manner. Our office offers multiple treatment modalities to attempt to ensure patient comfort so treatment does not have to be delayed.
Possible effects of waiting too long for treatment may include:
• More pain
• More complex and lengthier dental treatment
• Increased dental treatment costs due to more harm to mouth and teeth
• Higher risks of infection or complications
• Longer recovery time
• Having to take more time off from school for treatment and recovery
At our office, we offer various treatment modalities for children including fluoride therapy ( silver diamine fluoride [SDF], which is not a complete solution to cavities), local anesthesia, nitrous oxide/oxygen therapy (laughing gas), moderate sedation, general anesthesia (sleep dentistry) in a hospital setting, and emergency care if needed. Our office will discuss the risks and benefits of each treatment modality before providing care. Not all patients are candidates for moderate sedation or general anesthesia.
