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Kirkwood, MO

Kirkwood, MO

Pediatric Dentistry Kirkwood, MO

Pediatric Dentistry Kirkwood, MO. One of a parent's many jobs is to take care of your child's oral health. But between your demanding work schedule, the hectic lives of your children, and the several other priorities you surely have, it can be difficult to find a way to fit it in your life. Start by scheduling a simple biannual pediatric dentistry appointment with John Martin Dental and Associates. Pediatric dentistry helps growing Kirkwood, MO children of all ages with the wide range of dental concerns they experience.

John Martin Dental is the best and most convenient Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry solution. We are a family dental center, equipped to be by your family's side for all your dental needs for many years to come. Our team is skilled not only in technical dental work, but also in creating a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere for all ages. You and your children will leave our office smiling. Call us today at (314) 739-1222 for our Maryland Heights location or (573) 764-2425 for our Gerald location to schedule a Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry appointment for your child.




Pediatric Dentistry : When and Why

Exposing your children to quality dental care from a young age sets them up for success. Learning about teeth, practicing oral health care habits, and receiving general dental treatment help a young child with a foundation for strong and healthy teeth and gums that will put their oral health at an advantage throughout the rest of their life. As soon as a child gets their first tooth, the principles of oral health and pediatric dentistry should be introduced. Dentists highly recommend that each child should begin seeing a dentist by the time they are a year old.

But how important is pediatric dentistry? After all, we spend much of childhood with a set of baby teeth, which aren't permanent. We realize that we have to take good care of our permanent teeth, but why is Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry necessary? First, pediatric dentistry is for a large age range. Patients range from less than one year to eighteen years old, and sometimes continue into adulthood. Additionally, healthy baby teeth are a necessary foundation for healthy, well-aligned permanent teeth. Lastly, a child still relies on their baby teeth for years, usually working with a combination of adult and baby teeth until they reach early teenage years. Keeping baby teeth healthy helps us bite, chew, and speak effectively and comfortably during this time.



The Role of Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is used for all the oral health needs of developing individuals in Kirkwood, MO - including routine cleanings, examinations, and special procedures. At the very least, every child should receive pediatric dentistry care for regular dental check-ups. However, many patients require additional pediatric dentistry services. Some of the most common issues seen by pediatric dentists include delayed teething, malocclusion or misaligned teeth, dental caries and tooth decay, and ongoing thumb-sucking.

A child has unique needs from their dental care team, both physiologically and emotionally. Many young people get nervous or aggitated about receiving dental care, and can be easily upset by the pain they feel and the intimidating tools they see and hear. Pediatric dentistry not only requires the dentist to have an understanding of children's developing dental needs, but also possess a skill for keeping children calm, distracted, and comfortable and motivating them to follow dental hygiene instructions. All parents have faced the challenges of trying to coax a child to sit through an uncomfortable experience, so it is vital that your dentist is able to successfully communicate with your child and build a rapport between them.



Pediatric Dentistry Treatments

Some of the most common treatments conducted in pediatric dentistry are:

  • Topical Flouride: Flouride is great for in preventing cavities and decay, and strengthening tooth enamel
  • Dental Sealants: Sealants effectively prevent foreign particles such as food from getting into the crevice of a tooth, and they are easy and painless to apply. They are great for protecting a child's molars from infection and cavity.
  • Root Canal Therapy: Root canals are used when there is inflammation, infection, or nerve damage to prevent additional damage. The removal of pulp and damaged nerve tissue from inside a damaged tooth aleviates pain, prevents the formation of abscesses, and can prevent a child from developing maloclussion.
  • Bonding: Bonding is both a general and cosmetic dentistry tool. The dentist molds a resin material to the size, shape, and appearance of a natural tooth, and it is then applied and hardened. It is a swift and simple way to protect an exposed root, and is a popular solution for hiding minor chips, cracks, and gaps, leaving your child with a perfect smile.
  • Fillings: Sometimes even those of us who take the best possible care of our teeth still end up with a cavity or two. Young people are at a higher risk of tooth decay, plaque, and cavities because they tend to eat more sugary, sticky foods and may not be as strict in their oral hygiene routine as adults are.
  • Othrodontic & Other Treatments: Some kids need devices like mouth guards, space maintainers, and braces to assist the placement of their teeth and jaw as they grow. As they get older, they will likely need wisdom teeth removal. Your pediatric dentistry clinic, John Martin Dental, is the leader all these services and will work with your child throughout the stages of their dental needs.
  • You can count on John Martin Dental for any of our other services in addition to these common pediatric dentistry procedures. As your Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry team, we are committed to educating both parents and children, helping children form good oral hygiene habits, tracking their oral development, keeping families abreast of their child's dental needs, and supplying dental hygiene products developed specifically for kids, like soft-bristle toothbrushes that are bright and colorful.


    Pediatric Dentistry Services Near Me | John Martin Dental & Associates



    Dr. John Martin and the team at Martin Dental is committed to helping Kirkwood, MO children of all ages with all of their dental needs. With us, a visit to the dentist is a positive experience that your child won't dread. It brings us joy to partner with our pediatric dentistry patients over the years and see them grow and develop into strong adults with a beautiful, healthy set of teeth. Your children deserve the skilled dental work and stress-free experience that we provide at John Martin Dental & Associates. Send us a message online or call the office nearest you to get your child's pediatric dentistry plan on track right away.