Young Dentistry provides BPA-free sealants that safely and effectively protect the biting surfaces of your child’s teeth, where decay is most likely to form. Posterior teeth (the premolars and molars) have pits and fissures that are difficult to clean. Sealants provide a smooth surface so bacteria will not stay in those hard-to-reach grooves. The care of sealants is very important to ensure their efficacy. Frequently chewing gum or hard ice will risk pulling off or fracturing sealants. Additionally, nighttime grinding may also prematurely wear down sealants. We evaluate your child’s sealants at every 6 month recall visit and repair or replace those that are damaged.

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Once your child starts playing competitive sports (such as lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, football, and others) we strongly recommend that they wear a sports mouth guard to protect their adult teeth from fracturing due to trauma. Over-the-counter sports guards are readily available; however, if you need a more comfortable alternative we are happy to help.

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Fluoride… the big debate! We look at every child individually to figure out thedifferent sources from which they are getting their fluoride. Depending on your personal preference and your child’s risk of getting cavities, we will come up with a preventive plan that you are comfortable with. A little bit of fluoride goes a long way, and the safety of your child is our top priority.

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Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that, in the right amount, may help reduce the type of bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities. We will discuss xylitol as an option for your child.

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If your child loses a baby tooth early, through decay or injury, their other teeth could shift and begin to fill the vacant space. When your child’s permanent teeth erupt, they may be blocked out. The result is crooked or crowded teeth, difficulties with chewing or speaking, and orthodontic treatment.

To prevent space loss, which is important for proper growth and development, Dr. Marcie will insert a space maintainer to hold the space left by the lost tooth until the permanent tooth emerges. Later, as the permanent tooth emerges, the space maintainer is easily removed.

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If you child has a non-nutritive sucking habit such as thumb, fingers, pacifier, lip or tongue sucking that is causing damage to the oral structure (i.e., abnormal shape of mouth, protruding teeth, or bite opening or shifting). If traditional counseling and positive reinforcement strategies are not successful, we can offer many types of custom-made oral appliances to help your child stop these harmful habits. We never make your child feel bad or embarrassed, but instead offer positive encouragement that leaves them feeling empowered and in control, thereby motivating them to want to stop the harmful habit.

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Let’s get back to the basics.

It’s important for kids to learn the best way to brush their teeth! Sometimes it’s hard to see where plaque and food build up, so we like to show children how they can see the before-and-after difference in a mirror by having them close closing their teeth after they brush and floss. Now that they can see these areas, we hope that between visits, they will “slow down” and take the time to brush these spots extra good.

At each visit we will also spend time reviewing your child’s dietary intake and daily dental hygiene routines, and encourage healthy eating habits and instruct on proper brushing and flossing techniques.

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