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Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry

As a great parent, you know how big of a deal oral health is for your children. But between your demanding work schedule, the hectic lives of your children, and the several other priorities you surely have, how do you help your children care for their teeth? Schedule a simple biannual pediatric dentistry appointment with John Martin Dental and Associates. Pediatric dentistry helps growing children of all ages with the wide range of dental concerns they experience.

John Martin Dental is the best and most convenient 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 pediatric dentistry appointment for your child.




Pediatric Dentistry : When and Why

Providing your child with proper dental care from a young age will only benefit them. Early oral health education, treatment, and routines help a young child develop 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 age of one year.

But how important is pediatric dentistry? After all, we spend much of childhood with a set of baby teeth, which aren't permanent. We all know that we have to take good care of our permanent teeth, but why is 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 pave the way for strong, 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. To avoid pain and discomfort and to be able to bite, chew, and speak effectively, these teeth need to be well taken care of.



The Role of Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is used for all the oral health needs of developing individuals - from routine teeth cleaning, x-rays, 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.

Your child's dentist and hygenist should be familiar with the unique needs of children, both physiologically and emotionally. A young person may be nervous or unhappy about receiving dental care, and can be easily upset by the discomfort they feel and intimidating tools they see and hear. Pediatric dentistry not only requires the dentist to have an understanding of the needs of a developing mouth, but also a skill for keeping children calm, distracted, and comfortable and motivating them to follow dental hygiene instructions. Anyone with a child knows it can be challenging to get them 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 especially helpful in preventing cavities and decay, and strengthening tooth enamel
  • Dental Sealants: Sealants are painless and relatively simple to apply, and works to block tooth and other unwanted particles from entering the crevices of a tooth. They are great for protecting a child's molars from infection and cavity.
  • Root Canal Therapy: Root canals minimize further damage when inflammation, infection, or damage has occured. By removing pulp and nerve tissue from within a damaged tooth relieves pain, prevents the formation of abscesses, and can prevent problems like maloclussion from developing.
  • Bonding: Bonding is used for both general and cosmetic dentistry. A resin material similar in appearance to a natural tooth is shaped, applied, and hardened. It is a quick and easy 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.
  • 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 more suseptible to tooth decay, plaque, and cavities because they generally tend to eat more sugary, sticky foods and may not be as faithful to the recommended oral hygiene routine as adults are.
  • Othrodontic & Other Treatments: As your child grows, they may need things like mouth guards, space maintainers, or braces to assist in the alignment of their teeth and jaw. As they get older, they will likely need wisdom teeth removal. Your pediatric dentistry clinic, John Martin Dental, can provide 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. Besides performing the necessary work on your child's teeth, your pediatric dentistry team is here to provide education to both the child and the child's parents, assist in forming responsible oral hygiene habits and eradicating unhealthy ones, provide reports and updates on their dental development, monitor their overall oral health, and provide youth-specific and youth-oriented dental hygiene supplies, like soft-brissle tooth brushes 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 children of all ages with all of their dental needs. We make going to the dentist a pleasant experience that your child won't dread. It brings us joy to work with our pediatric dentistry patients over the years and see them grow and develop into strong adults with a beautiful, healthy set of teeth. Give your child the pediatric dentistry they deserve by bringing them to Martin Dental & Associates. Reach out to us online or call the office nearest you to get your child's pediatric dentistry plan on track right away. Learn more about pediatric dentistry in your area by selecting the service area most convenient for you.