Dentistry for Kids – Garland, TX

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

Every six months, your child should be coming to see us for regular dental checkups and cleanings. These visits allow our team to check for problems before they start, keeping you’re their smile free of cavities and any signs of abnormalities that may affect their teeth, gums, and bite development. In addition, we will also thoroughly clean their teeth and soft tissues to minimize the potential for cavities and gum disease.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is extremely rare among children; however, it is not impossible. Because early detection is key to ensuring successful treatment, we will perform a simple and painless screening during their regular checkups. In just minutes, we can easily check for sores and abnormal growths that are commonly associated with oral cancer. Should we detect any issues, we will help you and your child get the immediate care they need.

Dental Sealants

To better protect your child’s molars and premolars, we can apply dental sealants. Whether white or clear, we can apply the coating to the chewing surfaces of these teeth and create a barrier against harmful bacteria and food particles that may try to penetrate the surface. Because these teeth have many pits and grooves, dental sealants act as a layer of protection against decay, keeping your child’s teeth in better shape for many years. The process takes only minutes and is relatively painless.

Fluoride Treatment

If we find that your child is high-risk or prone to tooth decay, fluoride treatments can add a layer of protection to their teeth. This beneficial, natural mineral is safe to use when administered by a pediatric dentist in Garland. We can apply fluoride during their regular six-month checkups, as it is a quick and easy process, and it will strengthen their tooth enamel while combatting tooth decay in-between appointments.

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatment

Does your child already have a cavity? If so, we can easily apply silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to the affected area. This substance actively kills the bacteria that are causing the decay while preserving and protecting the remaining, healthy tooth enamel. Because it is applied quickly and without a drill, it is a great way to treat cavities and minimize any potential dental anxiety your child might experience. SDF is also a great way to reduce tooth sensitivity, allowing your child to enjoy their favorite hot and cold foods and beverages once again.

Nightguards/Sportsguards

The Dental Specialists can provide your child with a unique solution that is designed to better protect their teeth while engaging in their favorite sport or while asleep at night. With a custom-made nightguard and/or sportsguard, we can ensure their teeth and soft tissues remain damage-free. While on the field, court, or track, these devices can keep smiles fully intact. While asleep, a comfortable nightguard can keep them from grinding or clenching their teeth and causing chronic jaw pain and wear and tear to their tooth enamel.

Space Maintainers

Baby teeth are meant to stay firmly in place until it’s time for them to naturally fall out; however, should your child lose a tooth too early, it will be necessary to put something in its place until their permanent tooth erupts. With space maintainers, we can keep your child’s other natural teeth from shifting out of alignment and causing potential orthodontic problems from developing. These will allow your child’s adult teeth to erupt normally and move into position with any issues.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

When oral hygiene is sidelined, minor cavities can form that result in unhappy smiles. Fortunately, with the help of tooth-colored fillings, we can easily clear away decayed areas of your child’s tooth and fill them with composite resin that is matched to their natural tooth color. Not only does this replace the lost tooth structure, but it also creates a tight seal, preventing future re-infection and damage. Not to mention, no one will ever be able to tell your child has dental work because it will blend in with their regular tooth.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are never the go-to solution at The Dental Specialists. Instead, they are considered a last resort when other solutions simply are not possible. If your child experiences severe trauma, has a significantly decayed tooth, needs to have a baby tooth removed to allow a permanent tooth to erupt, or requires tooth removal to avoid misalignments, overcrowding, or other orthodontic problems, it is likely we will recommend a tooth extraction. Our team will go the extra mile to ensure your child remains safe at all times throughout the procedure.

Pulp Therapy

If your child develops a cavity, it typically only requires a dental filling to fix the problem. However, should it remain untreated, the bacteria can penetrate the innermost layer, the pulp, and cause intense pain. To remedy this problem, our team can perform pulp therapy by removing any infected pulp and leaving any healthy, remaining structure behind. This process will allow the tooth to avoid extraction and ensure it can function and re-strengthen over time.

Non-Nutritive Habits

By the time your child is in school, thumb-sucking and pacifiers are usually no longer an issue. However, if your little one is having difficulty letting go of these non-nutritive habits, it can become detrimental to their oral health. Not only can they create many orthodontic problems, but they can also throw teeth out of alignment. Fortunately, our team can help you introduce positive strategies at home that will help your little one break the habit and avoid more serious dental problems in the future.

Metal-Free Dental Crowns

Should your child develop a decayed or damaged tooth that requires more than a filling to fix, The Dental Specialists will happily provide a discreet solution in the form of a metal-free dental crown. Keeping your child’s aesthetics in mind, these customized restorations blend in with the rest of their healthy teeth, offering greater protection to the weakened tooth while creating a seamless and beautiful smile that looks and functions just like before.