Oregon
When to Start Kids Braces?
Most of my Portland patients ask me when to start braces for their kids. I have been practicing orthodontics in Portland since 1995 and so I have seen many of my pediatric dental patients grow up from infancy through their teens.
Some orthodontists recommend treating crooked teeth or teeth that do not occlude (bite together properly) in two phases or treatment steps. The first phase usually starts around second or third grade and a second phase around sixth grade.
Tears & Fears
As a pediatric dentist, I specialize in children and special needs patients. Nevertheless, a large part of my job is overcoming parental fears.
Parents have an incredible influence on their children; both positively and negatively.
Kids are so tuned into parental non-verbal communication that even if a mother does not say anything negative about an upcoming dental visit, their own worries and fears will cause their child to worry too.
Molar Sealants
Permanent molars usually have very deep pits, grooves, and fissures on the biting surface. These holes can be very difficult to keep clean so they are the most common place to get cavities.
In the 1970′s dentists started cleaning out these pits and fissures then squirting runny plastic into the cleaned out grooves to keep bacteria from growing there. This procedure is called a dental pit and fissure sealant.
Cavity Infections
Some people tell me that “weak teeth” run in the family. I respond that everyone in the family most likely have an aggressive type of plaque on their teeth. Because cavities are caused by bacteria, they are the result of infection.
Infection with a specific type of bacteria is more likely to lead to a cavity than other types of bacteria. One of the most aggressive bacteria is called Streptococcus mutans. It is related to Strep throat bacteria but grows especially well on teeth.
Spotty Teeth
Many kids or their parents ask me about spots they see on teeth.
There are several different types of spots found on teeth:
- white spots
- chalky yellow spots
- chalky brown spots
- dark brown spots
- black spots
Each of these have different causes but most have similar treatment: Treatment is either leaving it, polishing off the surface of the tooth or placing a filling of some sort.
White spots can be caused by:
Brushing Braces
One of the hardest things to do as an adolescent is to brush your teeth. We give brushing instructions but when you have braces, it becomes much, much, much harder to do a good job.
Brushing teeth and especially brushing around braces requires attention to detail and taking enough time to do it well. These are not traits that teens are famous for.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Some children need help coping with the fear of the unknown or anxiety of the known. A five year old boy from Milwaukie, Oregon recently needed oral sedation for his dental care.
This child had several decayed molars and the cavity on one tooth was especially deep. Since his older sister had told him that we were going to use a big shot and yank out his tooth, he got really scared.
- GreatGood to see everyone. Keep working on Dorian's dad, to get Dorian in. Sad that he would let his teeth go!
- ReviewGreat Grins is a great place and have wonderful employees! Always a pleasure to go in and both my kids are very comfortable when there.
- We love going to the dentist!You are all so great. Very good with kids of all ages. Everyone is friendly and patient.
- Five stars!Very caring staff. Dr. Mark gave me great motivating advice for caring for my teeth. Appreciate the video games in the waiting room, toys and books for young children, coffee and magazines for parents. ~Jared (age 15)
- Bailey's Visit TodayYou guys always do an awesome job. I wouldn't take my sons anywhere else!
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