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Pediatric Dentistry

University City, MO

University City, MO Pediatric Dentistry

One of a parent's many jobs is to take care of your child's oral health. But between a demanding work schedule, the hectic schedules 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 helps growing University City, MO children of all ages with all dental concerns they have as they develop.

John Martin Dental is the top University City, 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. Our team is skilled not only in high quality dentistry, but also in creating a welcoming, pleasant experience 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 University City, MO pediatric dentistry appointment for your child.




Pediatric Dentistry : When and Why

Providing your child with quality dental care from a young age sets them up for success. Early oral health education, treatment, and routines help a young one develop strong and healthy teeth and gums that will positively impact their oral health 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 University City, 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, 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 all the oral health needs of developing individuals in University City, MO - from routine teeth cleaning, examinations, 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. University City, 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.

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 aggitated about receiving dental care, 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 your dentist must be able to effectively communicate with your child and build a relationship between them.



Pediatric Dentistry Treatments

Some of the most common treatments conducted in pediatric dentistry are:

  • Topical Flouride: Flouride is great for 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 are used when there is inflammation, infection, or nerve damage to prevent additional damage. Removing pulp and 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 easy 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 regimin as adults are.
  • Emergency Dental: Children are active, and like it or not, at some point they will get hurt on some scale. If you have a dentist for your University City, 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 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 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 University City, 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 University City, 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. 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.