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Pediatric Dentistry

Maplewood, MO

Maplewood, MO Pediatric Dentistry

As a great parent, you know how big of a deal oral health is for your children. But between a full-time job, the busy schedules of your children, and all your other needs and priorities, how do you help your children care for their teeth? Start by scheduling a simple biannual pediatric dentistry appointment with John Martin Dental and Associates. Pediatric dentistry helps growing Maplewood, MO children of all ages with all dental needs they experience.

John Martin Dental is the best and most convenient Maplewood, MO pediatric dentistry solution. Not limited to one age group, we provide family dental care for all ages and stages of life. Our team is skilled not only in technical dental work, but also in creating a welcoming, pleasant experience 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 Maplewood, 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 your 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. 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 sees a dentist by the age of one year.

But how important is pediatric dentistry? After all, we start the first few years of our life with baby teeth, which aren't permanent. We all know that we have to take good care of our permanent teeth, but why is Maplewood, 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 until they reach early teenage years. Keeping baby teeth healthy helps us bite, chew, and speak effectively and comfortably during this time.



The Role of Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry addresses all the oral health needs of developing individuals in Maplewood, 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. Maplewood, 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 scared or aggitated about receiving dental care, and can have a low tolerance to the pain 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 children's developing dental needs, but also have a disposition that keeps their young patients calm, comfortable, and motivated 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 are painless and relatively simple to apply, and works to block food and other unwanted particles from entering the crevices of a tooth. Sealants can be used to shield 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. Removing pulp and nerve tissue from within a damaged tooth aleviates 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 swift and simple way to protect an exposed root, and is a popular solution for hiding minor chips, cracks, and gaps, leaving your child with 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 faithful to the recommended oral hygiene routine as adults are.
  • Emergency Dental: Children are active, and like it or not, at some point they will get hurt 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 Maplewood, MO pediatric dentistry needs. John Martin Dental provides excellent emergency dental services for patients of all ages.
  • 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 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. As your Maplewood, 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 helping Maplewood, MO 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. We have had the privaledge 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. Send us a message online or call the office nearest you to get your child's pediatric dentistry plan on track right away.