We live in a day and age, thankfully, where options and information abound. This encompasses all manner of life decisions big and small, and for our purposes here today, it includes specifically choices and options in dental care. If you have small children, odds are high that your daily tasks revolve around meeting their needs and whether you’ve thought a lot about it or not you have options when it comes to choosing a dentist for your kids.
It’s not unusual for new parents to assume that their family dentist would be a logical choice when it comes time for their kids first dentist office visit, but before you make that first appointment let us inform you about the differences between your general dentist that meets your adult dental hygiene needs, and a pediatric dentist.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
The educational path of a pediatric dentist is perhaps more involved than you might have assumed. A pediatric dentist must first obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree, typically in a field of science, and then be accepted to a dentistry school (similar to the path of a doctor obtaining a bachelor’s degree before being accepted to medical school). Just as medical school is highly competitive, the same is true for dental school.
Dental school is a four-year program in which the future dentists choose a path of either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM). In order to become a pediatric dentist, once their DDS or DDM is obtained, further education and training is required.
Pediatric dentists complete an additional two-year or three-year residency program following their DDS or DDM. This additional two to three years focuses on applying the training and knowledge from their doctorate program to the specific differences of dentistry procedures, techniques, behavior, psychology, and biology of infants, children, and teens.
It’s important to note that the biological and behavioral differences between adults and children are significant. For that reason, in our society we have pediatricians in the field of medicine who study specifically to monitor, diagnose, and treat children as they grow to adulthood. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the field of dentistry should further specialize for the dental healthcare of children as well.
Once a dentist completes their pediatric dentistry residency, they must become board certified which is a rigorous testing process including written, oral, and practical elements. All five of our pediatric dentists have board certification to practice as pediatric dentists.
What is a General Dentist or a Family Dentist?
A general dentist or a family dentist has the DDS or DDM but has not taken the additional residency program to specialize in pediatric dentistry. A general dentist may limit the ages of their patients to adults only, whereas a family dentist will provide certain dental services for children such as dental cleanings and possibly composite fillings (cavities). However, a family dentist will likely refer you to a pediatric dentist for more involved or serious pediatric dental concerns.
Why Should You Find a Pediatric Dentist for Your Child’s Dental Care?
One obvious benefit to taking your child to your family dentist is the convenience factor. We can’t argue the truth that if you can schedule your own cleaning and that of your child to happen at the same time under the same roof that it’s certainly advantageous. So by comparison, what are the benefits to utilizing a pediatric dentist?
Pediatric dentists treat only children, consequently they have a treasure trove of experience working with kids of different personalities, behaviors, and fears.
Because their work revolves around children, pediatric dental offices are typically designed with an eye to what feels safe, inviting, and interesting to a child.
The equipment, tools, and machines are designed specifically to be used for children, which means the size is typically smaller and thereby more comfortable for kids.
Part of the two-year specialization training for a pediatric dentist focuses on working with special needs patients.
Pediatric dentists are specially trained for dental services that utilize anesthesia.
Pediatric dentists have detailed and focused knowledge about preventative dental care, specifically for infants, children, and teens.
Dental Services Provided by Our Pediatric Dentists
As previously mentioned, a family dentist may provide some basic dental services for children, but more involved or serious concerns they will refer to a pediatric dentist. Which begs the question, what types of services do pediatric dentists provide?
Pulpotomies
Frenectomies
Dental Sealants
Extraction
Crowns
Composite Fillings
Sedation
For more information about these services, please visit our services page where we’ve provided a summary for each of the services and what you can expect when you choose us as your pediatric dentistry.
Why Choose One of Our Pediatric Dentists in the South Davis Area?
Our pediatric dentists have dedicated their lives to the dental care of the children in our community. Combined they’ve performed over 30,000 in office sedation and have over 40 years of experience. Our offices are designed with your child in mind to be warm and inviting. We are trained to work with special needs patients and can make the dental office visit a positive experience for all children regardless of their needs.
When it comes to making the decision, information and options are important, but so are first impressions! Our group is comprised of five pediatric dentists: Dr. Jason, Dr. Chuck, Dr. Walker, Dr. JD, and our newest addition to the team Dr. Blake. They rotate working in our three fully-staffed and equipped pediatric dental offices in the area: Bountiful, Taylorsville, and Herriman. Each of our locations can provide in-house sedation services as well.
Give us a call at 801-948-8880. We’d love to have you in for a consultation to meet your kids and let them meet us and see our office space. We are devoted to seeing happy, healthy smiles on the children in our communities, and look forward to adding yours to the group.
You might be surprised to see a pediatric dental blog post about the topic of breastfeeding. However, the truth is, that the topic of breastfeeding applies directly to the education and direct work practices of pediatric dentistry, especially ours.
Firstly, let’s address the topic of breastfeeding and dental health for your baby. We’ve written before about the topic of what is called bottle rot, which is when your infant’s teeth are exposed to sugary drinks (such as formula or juice) over a long period of time and can cause tooth decay. For breastfeeding mothers, it’s important to know that while yes your breastmilk does have some sugars in it, studies have shown that breastfed babies have a lower risk of tooth decay. Furthermore, conclusions based on studies show that breastfeeding can assist with proper tooth alignment and a good bite structure. So how can a pediatric dentist help mothers who want to breastfeed their babies but are having issues with latching, infant weight gain, and/or pain while breastfeeding?
Latching Issues While Breastfeeding Your Baby
If you and your baby are having issues with attaining a good latch for breastfeeding, you might be encountering an ankyloglossia, more commonly referred to as a tongue tie. To explain what this is, we need to first go over what is required for your baby to make a good latch and the anatomy of the mouth.
A proper latch occurs when the mouth of your baby is able to create a seal with their mouth around your areola (not just the tip of your nipple) that allows them to create a strong pressure that sucks the milk out of the breast much like a vacuum.
Every tongue is rooted to the floor of the mouth by a thin membrane called the lingual frenulum. Moreover, the lips are connected to the gum line by a thin membrane called the labial frenulum. Typically, these membranes thin out and lengthen somewhat before your baby is even born thereby allowing tongue mobility and easy movement of the lips.
When the frenulum is short or tight and consequently restricts the mobility of the tongue or the ability to move the upper or lower lip then your baby might have a tongue-tie or a lip tie. These restrictions could have an impact on your baby’s ability to create a sealed latch for strong suction and may have them squeezing the breast in an attempt to draw out the milk instead.
It is important to note that a tongue tie or a lip tie does NOT mean your baby has a disfiguration. Nor does it automatically mean there is or will be a problem with breastfeeding, dental alignment, or speech as they get older. If your pediatrician or lactation consultant believes a tongue tie or lip tie is causing issues with breastfeeding, we can help you.
How We Can Help with Tongue Ties and Lip Ties
In our offices, we provide a variety of pediatric dental services just for kids, but one important service we provide for infants and breastfeeding mothers is called a frenectomy. A frenectomy is also referred to as a lip tie release or a tongue-tie release. Remember that the restricted movement of the tongue or lip means the membrane is tight or short? A frenectomy procedure will remove the membrane, and as the area heals it will then reform with a longer frenulum that allows greater mobility.
How Do We Perform a Frenectomy?
We perform a frenectomy using cutting-edge technology from our LightScalpel CO2 laser. Unlike other lasers used in the industry that burn away unwanted tissue, our CO2 laser vaporizes the frenulum away. This vaporizing action is preferable overburning for several reasons:
It is gentler
It does not generate heat or burn
It does not damage the surrounding area tissues
It is more precise
It results in little to no bleeding
It lowers the risk of infection
It disinfects the wound
It cauterizes the wound
Healing Phase After a Frenectomy
As mentioned above, the procedure is gentler on your baby than you might expect, and the wound will be cauterized by the laser thereby protecting it from infection. The wound will be visible and appear diamond in shape. During the healing phase, you can expect the wound (diamond) to change color. White, yellow, and green tone are all acceptable colors during the healing phase. On other parts of the body white, yellow, and green may cause you concern for infection. However, this wound is healing on the inside of the mouth and we call it a “wet scab”. Watch the diamond for the growth of a new frenulum. The new frenulum should grow and lengthen. A collaborative follow-up is important because we want the frenulum to regrow to be a healthy length that allows mother and baby a better breastfeeding experience.
We Collaborate with Your Supports
We know that issues with breastfeeding can be emotionally and physically exhausting for mothers. Furthermore, while a frenectomy can help, we believe that mothers need to be supported when making the decision and have that support continue during the healing phase. We believe that collaboration with your pediatrician and/or lactation consultant will help you feel that support. When possible, and expressly approved by you, we can consult with you and your providers during follow-up with the exercises and stretching post-procedure that are an important part of aftercare.
We Are Experts at Frenectomy Procedures
Yes, we said it. We are experts at this and people come from hundreds of miles away for our help. We have offices in four different locations of the South Davis area; Bountiful, Taylorsville, Stansbury Park, and Herriman. Our pediatric dentists in each office are equipped with compassion, experience, and the state-of-the-art LightScalpel CO2 laser to serve you and your baby.
If you have questions or concerns about lip ties or tongue ties, we are happy to help you. Give us a call at 801-948-8880.
Meet the newest doctor to join our group of pediatric dentists in Utah, Dr. Blake McDonald. He will be accepting patients in our offices in Bountiful and Taylorsville starting August 2.
Not only did we want to give him a warm welcome, but we’d also like to introduce him to the patients and families of our Redwood and South Davis pediatric dentist offices. Keep reading to learn more about our newest kids’ dentist to partner with our team.
Background on Dr. McDonald
Effort. Teamwork. Family. Dr. McDonald highly regards these three principles, and he looks forward to working with kids and families at our office to demonstrate his commitment. Kids love to call him Dr. McDonald. If you would like to learn more about Dr. McDonald, you can read his full bio here. Or, get to know him better by reading his answers from our Q&A session.
Q. When did you become interested in dentistry and why?
A. “My dad is a dentist, so it’s always been part of my life and an area I was familiar with. However, I did not see myself becoming a dentist as a young kid. In fact, when I first started college, I was still undecided on the route I wanted to go. After I took a very challenging Anatomy course, I realized I wanted to help people and work with the human body. So I was debating between medical and dental, but based on my goals in life, dentistry was the choice that won out. I decided to go into pediatric dentistry because I love the family aspect of the practice. Other fields, such as oral surgery, are one-and-done sessions. With pediatric dentistry, I can build long-term relationships with my patients, their parents, and even siblings. It’s also rewarding to see a family where one child has a great experience and then serves as a role model for their sibling(s).”
Q. As a father of three and a man who comes from a huge family with more than 30 nieces and nephews, you definitely spend a lot of time with children. How does this experience help you with pediatric dental patients?
A. “I talk to kids. All-day. Every day. I play with them. Hang out with them. Teach them. Chastise them, when needed. Being around kids is just so natural to me, I don’t have to try too hard or be fake with my patients. It just flows. I am blessed with the gift of being able to work with them and communicate with them well because it’s been my day-to-day routine for many years to be in the company of children.”
Q. What do kids fear more about the dentist, and how do you help ease their worries?
A. “The number one fear is the unknown. There are a lot of different smells, sights, and sounds in the office, and they relate shots and needles to vaccines and pain. I combat that and resolve their concerns by being upfront and communicating really well with them. I let them know there will not be any surprises. I show them the material, let them get comfortable with it. Through teaching and making it fun, their anxiety is lessened, and they usually enjoy the experience.”
Q. Do you have experience with special needs children, including autism and/or other disorders?
A. “I have several family members that have special needs. I have also been a youth group leader at my church for more than six years, which has given me a lot of experience with kids with a variety of special needs. Also, during my two-year residency work in pediatric dentistry, I was at a highly specialized clinic in San Diego where I worked with all types of special needs kids on a daily basis. It was common to work with four or more kids daily with special needs, including those with very rare diagnoses.”
Q. You speak Spanish, which is a great asset for the local community. How did you learn, and where have you practiced Spanish?
A. “I studied Spanish throughout high school and my college years. I also went on a two-year church mission in Chile after my freshman year of college. I wanted to improve my dental vocabulary during dental school, and since we didn’t have a class, I started one so I could teach others and learn it better myself. Then, during my residency in San Diego, I was able to perfect my dental spanish as about a third of all our patients spoke Spanish, and for most of them, that was their only language.”
Q. What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
A. “I love turning kids around from hating dentists to liking dentists. There was one little boy in particular in San Diego that came into his first appointment in tears due to previous negative dental experiences. He was convinced he did not like the dentist, but after his first appointment he left saying that I am the best dentist he ever had! Winning over the parents is also key to helping the child relax. I love when the family is astonished at how well their child did, and they insist on bringing their other children to me as well. This is especially rewarding when the parent had a negative experience in the past.”
Q. What’s the best advice you give kids about maintaining optimal oral hygiene?
A. “Everybody knows that you need to brush your teeth. However, a lot of people do not realize that you wouldn’t really need to brush so often if you eat the right things. I emphasize diet and food choices. Eat your three meals per day, pick one snack in between, and be done. Whatever you do, do not snack all day.”
Q. What’s the best advice you give parents about their children’s dental health?
A. “Many kids establish their thoughts and feelings about the dentist based on their parents’ opinion. I advise parents to keep talking about dentists positively and give us a fighting chance. If they have had any negative experiences or horror stories, they should not tell their kids about it so that we can start out with a clean slate and fresh mindset.”
The enamel of our teeth is stronger than even our bones, it’s almost rock-like in fact. This serves us well in part, because unlike our bones which are protected by muscles, and skin, our teeth are out on display and put into direct contact with crunchy, chewy foods day in and day out. Also in contrast to our bones, our teeth cannot repair themselves. Although they are incredibly strong and damage resistant, our teeth can break, or chip.
How Does a Chipped or Broken Tooth Occur?
When we use our teeth as tools – Unfortunately, people use their teeth to open objects, packages, bottles etc.
Fall down – A fall can cause the jaw to snap shut harshly or to hit our jaw on some other object thereby causing the damage.
Blows to the face such as from fights, sports, bicycle, or car accidents.
Chewing ice or other especially tough foods could also cause chipping.
Bruxism is another potential cause that is grinding and/or clenching your teeth in your sleep, or unconsciously when awake.
Reason number one is why every dentist will tell you that you should never use your teeth to open something. Even an object as harmless-seeming as plastic packaging.
Reasons number two and three are why we strongly advocate the use of mouthguards for kids when they go biking or play any sport, even if that sport isn’t considered a contact sport.
Reason number four is a little trickier, but we encourage you to avoid hard candies for your kids, and explain to your kids early on that chewing ice is harmful to their teeth before it can develop into a habit that is challenging to break.
Reason number five can be alleviated by the use of a mouth guard at night. For more information about mouthguards, check out our in-depth post on the topic titled, “Why Your Kids Should Use a Mouth Guard“.
Regardless of the reason, if your child chips or breaks a tooth you should call us immediately for a dental emergency appointment. We have four office locations in around Salt Lake City, and our pediatric dentists and hygienists are here to help.
What Can a Pediatric Dentist Do for a Chipped or Broken Tooth?
So, we’ve established that a broken or chipped tooth can’t repair itself, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. We may recommend a bonding repair method, veneers, dental crowns, or a dental filling. The options depend on the severity of the chip or break, and the location of the damaged tooth. You might think having a chipped front tooth is the worst due to the fact that it’s impossible to hide. Nevertheless, a broken or chipped molar is often incredibly painful and more serious for the reason that your molars are vital to the chewing of your food.
More Information About the Repair Options
Bonding is exceedingly common for smaller chips or breaks. The dentist roughs up the area around the damage a bit and next, molds and a bond composite over the damaged spot. This bond composite is a color similar to that of the actual tooth so as to not be obvious. This repair method can last approximately ten years. In this process of restoration, we might be able to use the piece that broke off.
Veneers are a more expensive repair option and often are chosen because of their cosmetic appeal. Veneers are a porcelain cover for the outer face of the tooth. They can be applied to the nearby teeth as well to create a blended cosmetically appealing look. This is more typical in cases when a front tooth has been chipped.
We may recommend a dental crown when the chip or break is large. A dental crown is a two-step process. We start by doing a mold and then fitting a temporary crown, this will protect the vulnerable inner part of the tooth. The mold is then sent to a lab for a long-term crown to be created. At the second appointment, we remove the temporary crown and attach and seal the lab crown, which will also match the tooth in color. It’s important to note that a temporary crown will not be as strong as the lab-created. Avoid crunchy, chewy foods in the area of that tooth if possible.
What If You Have the Piece of Tooth that Broke Off?
Remember, don’t wait to call the dentist. You should call us for an emergency appointment, immediately. If you have a piece of the tooth, here is how to take care of it until you can get in to see us:
1. Submerge the piece of tooth in a container with milk, do not rinse it first with water.
Rinse your child’s mouth out with warm water.
Give them an ice pack for their jaw around the area to help with the pain.
Come in to see us, and don’t forget to bring the chip in the milk container.
What If the Whole Tooth Is Knocked Out?
Call us immediately for an emergency dental appointment! Do not touch the root part of the tooth, pick it up by the crown (the part that sits above the gum line) and submerge it in a container with milk.
If the tooth that was knocked out is a permanent tooth but is whole and not chipped or broken, you can, depending on your child’s emotional state, place the tooth back into the vacated socket. That should only be done if you can manage it without touching the root if it won’t upset your child, and you are sure the tooth is not broken or chipped.
The longer a permanent tooth is outside of the socket the less likely it is to re-embed into the gum. If the thought of reinserting the tooth on your own is too overwhelming, don’t feel guilty. The key is to get it submerged quickly into milk so that it doesn’t have the chance to dry out before you can get in to the dentist’s office and we’ll take care of the rest.
Reminder of Caution
If your child has already chipped or broken a tooth once, no matter how skilled the restoration work is, that tooth is at a higher risk of chipping or breaking again. Take extra care to utilize mouth guards at night in case of bruxism, and during sports activities. Moreover, please, please, please, don’t crunch ice or use teeth to open packages, bottles, etc.
When your kid colors a tongue on an animal or a person in a coloring book, what color do they use? We tend to think of tongues as being red or pink. Although, sometimes our tongues (our, meaning humans in general) can appear as other colors to be sure. The color possibilities of our tongue are visual signs or indicators that perhaps something is not quite right with our health. Let’s review the potential colors and what they might mean.
A Colorful Review of the Tongue
A healthy tongue is customarily pink, with a slight white coating. The pink can vary from a dark pink to a light pink and still be considered healthy or “normal”.
A red tongue (not to be confused with dark pink) can signify a few different possibilities: a deficiency of vitamin B, scarlet fever, allergic reaction, Kawasaki disease, and/or even eczema. Smooth red patches or red islands on the top of the tongue or the sides is indicative of a condition called geographic tongue or glossitis. The red patches may appear and then disappear only to reappear in a different spot on the tongue later.
An orange-colored tongue can be the result of certain antibiotics or foods. Also, dry mouth and poor oral hygiene can manifest this color as well.
A yellow tongue is most likely to be the result of bacteria buildup. Smoking or chewing tobacco are common miscreants for this in addition to copious amounts of black tea, coffee, and/or alcohol. More serious conditions can present a yellow tongue as well such as jaundice and possibly diabetes. Lastly, the tongue can turn yellow right before it turns black and hairy. (More on black in a bit.)
A green tongue most likely indicates oral thrush. Oral thrush is an easily treated condition that occurs when the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in your mouth tips and the yeast takes over. Initially, thrush may look white, but if untreated can turn green. Oral thrush is quite common in breastfeeding infants and can cause them pain during swallowing.
A bluish tongue is likely an indication of issues with blood circulation. This should be taken seriously for the reason that it can mean a blood disorder, kidney disease, or respiratory issues.
A purple tongue may similarly, be indicative of poor blood circulation, but could also point to heart problems or Kawasaki disease.
A white tongue is most commonly indicative of oral thrush. It can be thick and patchy, and if not addressed could turn greenish (as previously stated). Another possible cause of a white tongue could be a rash called lichen planus, but this would appear more as streaks or stripes instead of coloring the entire tongue.
A gray tongue may indicate digestive concerns or eczema.
A brown tongue is usually the result of smoking or excessive consumption of dark liquids, notably coffee or black tea.
A black tongue has a few different possible explanations. It can be due to excessive consumption of dark liquids such as black tea or coffee. However, it can also be a result of bacteria due to poor oral hygiene. It is also worth noting that the common over-the-counter medicine of Pepto Bismol can temporarily turn a tongue black. This occurs because the main ingredient in that special pink medicine is bismuth, and our mouths have sulfur (the presence of sulfur in your mouth is completely natural). The combination of sulfur with bismuth can cause your tongue to turn black but the discoloration should subside a few days following the last time you or your kid ingested the medicine.
A keratin buildup is another likely cause of black tongue, this often is accompanied by a hairy texture (more on tongue textures in the next section). In rare cases, diabetes or HIV can be a cause.
Tongue Textures
Your tongue in its natural, healthy state, is pink, but not is not smooth. Our tongues all have little bumps on the top and sides; these are called papillae. Contrary to common misperception, these papillae are not in and of themselves the taste buds, but some of them are homes to the taste buds. In addition to some of them containing taste buds, they also trap bacteria and serve the important function of helping to grip our food to make chewing and swallowing easier.
If your child’s tongue (or yours) appears hairy, this is not normal. Also, it’s not actually hair, it’s the papillae. Normal, healthy papillae are no more than 1mm long. The “hairiness” comes because the dead cells or the papillae aren’t shedding properly. A component of papillae is keratin, which is also the main protein of the hair on your head. The length of the normal short papillae continues to grow as they build up which explains the hairy appearance. Moreover, food, bacteria, and yeast will accumulate in the mass of lengthened papillae and will cause the discoloration. The hairy tongue can present because of poor oral hygiene, as a side effect of certain antibiotics or radiation, or tobacco use.
In most circumstances, hairy tongue can be eliminated by tongue brushing and/or a tongue scraper. It is important to note that once a person has had hairy tongue, they are more susceptible to a recurrence. The best way to avoid hairy tongue is to be sure you are brushing/scraping the tongue with the toothbrush as part of your daily dental hygiene routine.
Time for a Checkup at a Nearby Pediatric Dentist?
You now know more about the tongue than you ever thought (probably), and we hope it’s helpful! If your child’s tongue is discolored, make an appointment for us to check it out. As you likely noted, many of the possible discolorations of the tongue are related to oral hygiene. Keep up good brushing routines, and come to see us at least once every six months.
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