Pediatric Dentist Near Me Gray Summit, MO
Pediatric Dentist Near Me Gray Summit, MO. It’s no secret that the first few years of parenthood are stressful. Searching, desperately attempting to find a “pediatric dentist near me” in Gray Summit, MO shouldn’t be adding to that pull-your-hair-out or hit-the-roof level of stress. We’re here to help. With over 30 years of experience, along with two convenient locations in the Gray Summit, MO area, Martin Dental & Associates is the nearby pediatric dentist you’ve been searching for.
Dr. John Martin is the dentist on staff at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital, providing free pediatric dental services for the children they serve. He and his team of pediatric dentists, hygienists, and staff is committed to providing top-quality dental care near you in Gray Summit, MO. Nothing matters more to him than making sure his Gray Summit, MO patients’ oral health is taken care of, particularly children.
Our team is ready to serve your Gray Summit, MO family’s complete dental needs, making our services as accessible near Gray Summit, MO and as affordable as possible. Call us at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights location, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard location, or contact us online today to schedule an appointment. New Gray Summit, MO patients are always welcome at either location.
Gray Summit, MO Pediatric Dentist Near Me: What Is a Pediatric Dentist and When Do I Need One?
Pediatric dentists are specialists dedicated to the oral health of children, from infancy throughout the various stages of childhood and teenage years. They have an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school. Some of this training includes:
- Advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures
- Oral pathology
- Child development
- Clinical management
- Child psychology
- Child-related pharmacology and radiology
- Management of oral and facial trauma
- Care for young patients with special needs
- General anesthesia for children
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents establish a pediatric dental home for their child by their first birthday, or within a few months of their first tooth coming in. This will help you introduce your child to oral care in a relaxed first meeting near Gray Summit, MO, and will put them on the right path to a healthy smile. The sooner children begin getting regular dental checkups, the healthier their mouths will stay throughout their lives. Early checkups help prevent cavities and tooth decay, which can lead to pain, trouble concentrating, and other medical issues.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among kids near Gray Summit, MO. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 40 percent of children have decay by the time they reach kindergarten, and 52 percent among kids aged 6 to 8. In order to ward off this decay, your child needs an entire oral health plan from a pediatric dentist near you in Gray Summit, MO.
Contact us or give us a call at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights office, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard office now to schedule an appointment near you in Gray Summit, MO.
In addition to our pediatric dental services near you in Gray Summit, MO, Martin Dental & Associates provides the following services:
Gray Summit, MO Pediatric Dentist Near Me: Our Pediatric Dental Services
Good oral hygiene, especially initiated at an early age by a pediatric dentist near you in Gray Summit, MO, removes bacteria and leftover food particles that, normally would, combine to cause cavities. But cavities aren’t the only things building in your Gray Summit, MO child’s mouth. Basic pediatric dental checkups twice a year, as the AAPD suggests, will put your child on a lifetime of good dental health. The pediatric dental services provided by Martin Dental & Associates near Gray Summit, MO, include:
- Gray Summit, MO Infant Care
- Gray Summit, MO Tooth Brushing
- Gray Summit, MO Thumb Sucking
- Crooked Teeth
- Constricted Palate
- Orthodontic Problems
- Speech Issues
- Gray Summit, MO Tooth Eruption
- Gray Summit, MO Early Childhood Tooth Decay
- Gray Summit, MO Cavity Prevention
- Limit frequency of meals and snacks
- Encourage brushing, flossing, and rinsing
- Watch what you drink
- Stay away from sticky foods
- Make treats part of meals
- Choose nutritious snacks
- Drink an adequate amount of tap water daily
- Gray Summit, MO Gum Disease
- Swollen, red, or tender gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Bad breath
- Buildup of hard brown deposits along the gumline
- Loose teeth or teeth that are moving apart
- Changes in the way dental appliances fit
- Topical Fluoride — Fluoride is specifically helpful for your pediatric dentist in avoiding cavities and decay, and bolstering tooth enamel near Gray Summit, MO.
- Dental Sealants — Sealants are painless and relatively simple to apply, and work to block unwanted particles from entering the crevices of a tooth. They are great for protecting a child's molars from infection and cavity in Gray Summit, MO.
- Root Canal Therapy — Root canals minimize further injury when inflammation, infection, or damage has occurred near Gray Summit, MO. Getting rid of pulp and nerve tissue from within a damaged tooth soothes pain, prevents the formation of abscesses, and can stop issues like malocclusion from starting.
- Fillings — Children near Gray Summit, MO are more prone to tooth decay, plaque, and cavities because they generally tend to eat more sugary, sticky foods and may not be as staunch to the suggested oral hygiene plan as adults.
- Bonding — Bonding is used for both general and cosmetic dentistry. A resin material almost identical to a natural tooth is shaped, applied, and hardened. It is a quick and simple way to protect an exposed root, and is a popular solution for hiding minor chips, cracks, and gaps to give your child a perfect smile in Gray Summit, MO. Particularly after falling face first into that table.
- Orthodontic & Other Treatments — As your young one grows in Gray Summit, MO, they may need procedures like mouth guards, space maintainers, or braces to assist in the straightening of their teeth and jaw. As they age, they will likely need wisdom teeth removal. Your pediatric dentist near you in Gray Summit, MO, Martin Dental & Associates, can provide these services and will work with your child throughout the stages of their dental needs. Reach out to us or give us a call at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights location, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard location.
Even before your child gets teeth in Gray Summit, MO, there are several habits that you should work on to help ensure good oral health. Starting the pattern of cleaning your baby’s mouth with a wet washcloth after nursing/feeding is a great routine to help establish strong oral hygiene in Gray Summit, MO.
As your baby gets older and teeth erupt, start using a child’s toothbrush with a small, pea-sized amount of training toothpaste. After age 2, children’s fluoridated toothpaste should be used, but only the size of a grain of rice. By age 3, begin to teach your child to brush. The pediatric dentists and team near you in Gray Summit, MO, at Martin Dental & Associates will assist with the process.
Non-nutritive sucking habits cause damage to developing oral cavities in Gray Summit, MO. There are several ways to help break a thumb or pacifier habit, and our pediatric dentists near Gray Summit, MO will work with you and your child to give specific strategies to help correct them. In some instances, an orthodontic appliance may be recommended in Gray Summit, MO. These habits can lead to:
Teeth always seem to erupt according to the circadian rhythm, and go through the greatest amount at nighttime in Gray Summit, MO. As teeth begin to erupt into the mouth, your child may experience some discomfort or sleepless nights in Gray Summit, MO. Many individuals believe that teething causes fevers, however, this is simply not true.
Baby (primary) teeth are important because they not only aid in the function of the oral cavity through chewing and speech development, they help to hold space for the developing permanent teeth. Many Gray Summit, MO parents ask our pediatric dentists, “Why worry about baby teeth when they are just going to fall out?”. When primary teeth get decay, they can cause severe dental pain and abscessed teeth. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, and an additional one by the CDC, children who have poor oral health are absent from school and get lower grades than those who don’t. It is critical for Gray Summit, MO kids to develop solid preventative habits, beginning at an early age with Dr. Martin and his staff near Gray Summit, MO.
Most of the time, cavities are due to a diet in sugary foods, drinks, and a lack of brushing. Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes, during which the acid environment can destroy tooth structure and lead to cavities. By age 3 your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 7 the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some do not. Dr. Martin and his pediatric dental staff near Gray Summit, MO will go over some tips for cavity prevention:
While many people think periodontal disease is an adult problem in Gray Summit, MO, studies show that gingivitis is essentially a universal issue among children and adolescents. Gingivitis is preventable and treatable with a steady routine of brushing, flossing, and professional pediatric dental care near Gray Summit, MO, from Martin Dental & Associates. Dr. Martin’s symptoms of gum disease near Gray Summit, MO, include:
Reach out to us or call us at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights office, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard location now to schedule an appointment.
Gray Summit, MO Pediatric Dentist Near Me: Our Pediatric Dental Treatments
The staff at Martin Dental & Associates, the pediatric dentist near you in Gray Summit, MO, knows the importance of being able to communicate with your child and build a rapport. We realize it can be difficult to get a child to cooperate with a dentist or hygienist, particularly after sitting for a long period of time near Gray Summit, MO. Some of the common pediatric dental treatments we use near Gray Summit, MO, include:
Make an Appointment at the Pediatric Dentist Near Me in Gray Summit, MO | Martin Dental & Associates
You deserve a pediatric dentist near you in Gray Summit, MO that you are at ease with and trust with your kid’s dental care and overall well-being. From the minute you step inside either of our two offices near Gray Summit, MO, your child’s comfort and satisfaction is our number one priority. Our cordial and experienced staff will take care of any questions or concerns you may have prior to, during, or after your visit.
Great smiles begin with us, even at an early age. Call us at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights location, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard office, or reach out to us online as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. New Gray Summit, MO patients are welcome at either locale.