Pediatric Dentist Near Me Maplewood, MO
Pediatric Dentist Near Me Maplewood, MO. The first few years of parenthood are stressful, to say the least. Looking, frantically trying to locate a “pediatric dentist near me” in Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, MO area, Martin Dental & Associates is the nearby pediatric dentist you’ve been looking 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 Maplewood, MO. Nothing matters more to him than making sure his Maplewood, MO patients’ oral health is taken care of, particularly children.
Our team is ready to serve your Maplewood, MO family’s complete dental needs, making our services as accessible near Maplewood, MO and as affordable as possible. Give us a call at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights office, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard office, or contact us online today to schedule an appointment. New Maplewood, MO patients are always welcome at either location.
Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, 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 a complete oral health plan from a pediatric dentist near you in Maplewood, MO.
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 today to schedule an appointment near you in Maplewood, MO.
Along with our pediatric dental services near you in Maplewood, MO, Martin Dental & Associates provides the following services:
Maplewood, MO Pediatric Dentist Near Me: Our Pediatric Dental Services
Good oral hygiene, particularly started at an early age by a pediatric dentist near you in Maplewood, MO, removes bacteria and leftover food particles that, without attention would, combine to create cavities. But cavities aren’t the only things building in your Maplewood, MO child’s mouth. Basic pediatric dental checkups every 6 months, as the AAPD suggests, will put your little one on a lifetime of good dental health. The pediatric dental services supplied by Martin Dental & Associates near Maplewood, MO, include:
- Maplewood, MO Infant Care
- Maplewood, MO Tooth Brushing
- Maplewood, MO Thumb Sucking
- Crooked Teeth
- Constricted Palate
- Orthodontic Problems
- Speech Issues
- Maplewood, MO Tooth Eruption
- Maplewood, MO Early Childhood Tooth Decay
- Maplewood, MO Cavity Prevention
- Cutback on the frequency of meals and snacks
- Encourage brushing, flossing, and rinsing
- Watch what you drink
- Avoid sticky foods
- Make treats part of meals
- Select nutritious snacks
- Drink an adequate amount of tap water daily
- Maplewood, 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 beneficial for your pediatric dentist in avoiding cavities and decay, and bolstering tooth enamel near Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, MO.
- Root Canal Therapy — Root canals minimize further harm when inflammation, infection, or damage has happened near Maplewood, MO. Getting rid of pulp and nerve tissue from within an affected tooth relieves pain, prevents the formation of abscesses, and can stop issues like malocclusion from starting.
- Fillings — Children near Maplewood, MO are more susceptible to tooth decay, plaque, and cavities because they normally tend to eat more sugary, sticky foods and may not be as staunch to the recommended oral hygiene routine as adults.
- Bonding — Bonding is used for both general and cosmetic dentistry. A resin material similar in appearance to a natural tooth is shaped, inserted, and hardened. It is a quick and easy method to protect an exposed root, and is a common solution for hiding minor chips, cracks, and gaps to give your kid a perfect smile in Maplewood, MO. Especially after falling face first into that table.
- Orthodontic & Other Treatments — As your young one grows in Maplewood, MO, they may need procedures like mouth guards, space maintainers, or braces to assist in the alignment of their teeth and jaw. As they age, they will likely need wisdom teeth removal. Your pediatric dentist near you in Maplewood, 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 office, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard office.
Even before your child gets teeth in Maplewood, MO, there are several habits that you should work on to help ensure good oral health. Starting the habit of cleaning your baby’s mouth with a wet washcloth after nursing/feeding is a great regime to help in establishing strong oral health in Maplewood, MO.
As your baby gets older and teeth erupt, begin using a child’s toothbrush with a small, pea-sized dab of training toothpaste. After age 2, children’s fluoridated toothpaste may 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 Maplewood, MO, at Martin Dental & Associates will assist with the procedure.
Non-nutritive sucking habits cause damage to developing oral cavities in Maplewood, MO. These habits can lead to:
There are several ways to help break a thumb or pacifier habit, and our pediatric dentists near Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, MO
Teeth always seem to erupt according to the circadian rhythm, and go through the greatest amount at nighttime in Maplewood, MO. As teeth begin to erupt into the mouth, your child may experience some discomfort or sleepless nights in Maplewood, MO. A good amount of individuals believe that teething causes fevers, however, this is just not true.
Many Maplewood, MO parents ask our pediatric dentists, “Why worry about baby teeth when they are just going to fall out?” 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. When primary teeth get decay, they can lead to dental pain and abscessed teeth. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, and another by the CDC, kids who have poor oral health are absent from school and receive lower grades than those who don’t. It is important for Maplewood, MO children to develop solid preventative habits, beginning at an early age with Dr. Martin and his staff near Maplewood, 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 Maplewood, MO will go over some tips for cavity prevention:
While many people think periodontal disease is an adult problem in Maplewood, MO, studies indicate that gingivitis is essentially a universal problem among children and adolescents. Gingivitis is avoidable and treatable with a regular routine of brushing, flossing, and professional pediatric dental care near Maplewood, MO, from Martin Dental & Associates. Dr. Martin’s signs of gum disease near Maplewood, MO, are:
Reach out to 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 book an appointment.
Maplewood, MO Pediatric Dentist Near Me: Our Pediatric Dental Treatments
The staff at Martin Dental & Associates, the pediatric dentist near you in Maplewood, MO, realizes 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 Maplewood, MO. So we know the importance of being able to communicate with your child and build a rapport. Some of the common pediatric dental treatments we use near Maplewood, MO, are:
Make an Appointment at the Pediatric Dentist Near Me in Maplewood, MO | Martin Dental & Associates
You deserve a pediatric dentist near you in Maplewood, MO that you feel comfortable with and trust with your child’s dental care and overall well-being. From the minute you step inside either of our two offices near Maplewood, MO, your child’s comfort and happiness is our number one goal. Our cordial and knowledgeable staff will take care of any questions or concerns you may have before, during, or following your visit.
Great smiles begin with us, especially at an early age. Call us at 314-739-1222 for our Maryland Heights office, or 573-764-2425 for our Gerard office, or contact us online today to schedule an appointment. New Maplewood, MO patients are welcome at either location.