5 Popular Treatments a Kid Friendly Dentist Performs

Kid-friendly dentists offer a variety of treatment options, including routine cleanings, sealants, dental fillings, dental crowns, and tooth extraction. Of course, most kid-friendly dentists have a more extensive list of services and personalize the treatment plan based on each child’s needs. This article aims to give parents an idea of what services they can expect their child to receive at a kid-friendly dental office.

Common pediatric dental treatments

Every kid-friendly dentist has their own set of services. This may include early orthodontic care, baby root canals, and many other options in addition to the five discussed in-depth below. The best way to find out how a kid-friendly dentist can help your child’s oral health is to schedule a consultation.

Routine cleaning

Routine cleaning is one of the best ways to prevent oral health concerns from developing. This popular preventive procedure a kid-friendly dentist performs involves removing plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of enamel and along the gum line. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends this once every four to six months to prevent oral health concerns from developing.

Dental sealants

Dental sealants are protective, medical-grade plastic coatings placed over the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars. These are the areas that are the most susceptible to childhood cavities. Dental sealants can protect children from the unnecessary discomfort that cavities often bring and save parents money, as they will not have to pay for cavity fillings, baby root canals, and tooth extraction later.

Cavity fillings

A cavity filling is a dental restoration that restores the function and structure of a tooth damaged by enamel decay. It is a non-invasive procedure, although the child may feel numb in the affected area after treatment. The procedure involves removing the decay and filling it with a healthy substitute material. In most instances, the kid-friendly dentist can use a tooth-colored material.

Dental crowns

A dental crown may be necessary for more severe tooth decay. The dentist often places a dental crown after a baby root canal procedure in order to preserve the remaining natural tooth structure. A dental crown may also be necessary for instances where a child’s tooth is severely damaged by dental trauma, such as a blow to the face during a sporting event. There are different types of dental crowns. The dentist can review all available options and the pros and cons of each before the procedure.

Tooth extraction

Kid-friendly dentists try and avoid tooth extraction whenever possible. However, there are times when doing so is necessary. If a kid-friendly dentist recommends tooth extraction, they can work with the parent and the child to find a way to make the process as easy as possible, including going over the available sedation options (i.e., laughing gas).