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Pediatric Dentistry

Clayton, MO

Clayton, MO Pediatric Dentistry

One of a parent's many jobs is to take care of your child's oral health. But with a demanding work schedule, the hectic schedules of your children, and all your other needs and priorities, 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 guides growing Clayton, MO children of all ages with all dental needs they experience.

John Martin Dental is the top Clayton, MO pediatric dentistry provider. We are a family dental center, equipped to be by your family's side for all your dental needs for many years to come. We pride ourselves not only in our high quality dentistry, but also in providing a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere for all ages. Our patients always 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 Clayton, MO pediatric dentistry appointment for your child.




Pediatric Dentistry : When and Why

Exposing your children to proper 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. Oral health and pediatric dentistry should be brought into an infant's life as soon as their first tooth emerges. The dental community agrees that each child should begin seeing a dentist by the age of one year.

Have doubts about the importance of 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 Clayton, MO pediatric dentistry necessary? First, pediatric dentistry is not just for young children. 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 up until the 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 addresses all the oral health needs of developing individuals in Clayton, MO - from routine teeth cleaning, x-rays, and special and emergency procedures. All children should at least see the dentist every six months for regular pediatric dentistry appointments. However, many patients require additional pediatric dentistry services. Clayton, MO pediatric dentists see a host of issues, the most common of which 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 when going to the dentist, and can have a low tolerance to the discomfort they feel and the intimidating tools they see and hear. To be successful in pediatric dentistry, a dentist must not only have an understanding of the needs of a developing mouth, but also have a disposition that keeps their young patients calm, comfortable, and motivated 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 effectively 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 food 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. The removal of pulp and damaged nerve tissue from inside 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. 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 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. Children 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 regimin as adults are.
  • Emergency Dental: Children are active, and they are likely to encounter their share of accidents on some scale. When they fall face first into your coffee table or get hit in the face with a baseball, count on the same dentist you use for your routine Clayton, MO pediatric dentistry needs. John Martin Dental is equipped to address any dental emergency for a patient of any age.
  • 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 be there to help your child through every stage 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 Clayton, MO 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 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 serving children in Clayton, MO all of their dental needs. With us, a visit to the dentist is a positive experience that your child won't dread. We have had the privaledge 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. 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.