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Pediatric Dentistry

Kirkwood, MO

Kirkwood, 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 busy lives of your children, and all your other needs and priorities, it can be difficult to find a way to fit it in your life. Schedule a simple biannual pediatric dentistry appointment with John Martin Dental and Associates. Pediatric dentistry guides growing Kirkwood, MO children of all ages with the wide range of dental concerns they experience.

John Martin Dental is the top Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry appointment for your child.




Pediatric Dentistry : When and Why

Providing your child with quality dental care from a young age will only benefit them. Learning about teeth, practicing oral health care habits, and receiving general dental treatment help a young one 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. The dental community agrees 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 all know that we have to take good care of our permanent teeth, but why is Kirkwood, 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 healthy, well-aligned permanent teeth. Lastly, baby teeth are important in themselves. Most people have 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 addresses the wide array of the oral health needs of developing individuals in Kirkwood, MO - from routine cleanings, x-rays, and special and emergency 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. Many young people get nervous or aggitated about receiving dental care, and can be easily upset by the pain they feel and the unfamiliar, hostile tools they see and hear. Pediatric dentistry not only requires the dentist to be congnizant 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 your dentist must be 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 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 relieves pain, keeps abscesses from forming, and can prevent problems like maloclussion from developing.
  • Bonding: Bonding is both a general and cosmetic dentistry tool. A resin material similar in appearance to a natural tooth is shaped, applied, and hardened. It is a quick and simple way to protect an exposed root, and is perfect for hiding minor chips, cracks, and gaps, leaving your child with a perfect smile.
  • Fillings: Sometimes cavities happen even when we take the best possible care of our smile. Children are more suseptible to tooth decay, plaque, and cavities because they generally eat more sugary, sticky foods and may not be as faithful to the recommended oral hygiene routine as adults are.
  • Emergency Dental: Children are active, and they are likely to encounter their share of accidents on some scale. If you have a dentist for your Kirkwood, MO pediatric dentistry needs, there is no question about who to call when your kid trips on the playground and chips their tooth, or cracks a tooth playing ball. John Martin Dental provides excellent emergency dental services for patients of all ages.
  • 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. Most of us need wisdom teeth removal when we reach young adulthood. Your pediatric dentistry clinic, John Martin Dental, can provide all these services and will be there to help your child through every stage of their dental needs.
  • John Martin Dental provides quality dental procedures from pediatric dentistry to many our other services. 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 youth-specific and youth-oriented dental hygiene supplies, 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 Kirkwood, MO all of their dental needs. With us, a visit to the dentist is a pleasant 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. Give your child the pediatric dentistry they deserve by bringing them to John 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.