December 2020 - Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry

Is Invisalign Bad If I Have Cavity Prone Teeth?

July 6, 2021December 30, 2020 by Pedro Lacerda

Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional braces. This treatment does not have any brackets or wires, and uses removable acrylic trays. The trays are worn in a series over time each day, and move your teeth gently into place. Invisalign trays are easily removable for eating, drinking, and cleaning. They have a blue indicator that helps to tell the patient that they have worn the tray for the required time each day. This indicator is especially helpful to younger teen patients, and helps to alert parents if the child is wearing their trays for the required amount of time.

Are You a Good Candidate for Invisalign?

We want our patients to be proud of their smile and choose the option that works best for them. A smile is the first thing you see, and our team will ensure each patient achieves their smile goals. When you choose Invisalign you may wonder if you are a good candidate. Both adults and teens are good candidates for Invisalign. This type of treatment helps with overcrowding, chewing, or overbite problems. During our thorough consultation process we will discuss each patient’s level of correction, age, and smile goals to help them choose which orthodontic treatment is best.

Can I Still Get Invisalign if I Have a Cavity?

We want our patients to be in good general and oral health. If you tend to have cavity prone teeth, you still are a candidate for Invisalign. Our team will work with you to address any current cavities before you begin your Invisalign treatment. We will closely monitor your oral health with visits to our office to get in front of any future cavities.

Treatment of cavities takes priority before a patient can begin Invisalign treatment. Once a cavity is treated the filling can change the shape of the tooth. It is important to treat the cavity before the patient is fitted for the Invisalign aligner trays.

What If I Develop a Cavity During My Invisalign Treatment?

Developing a cavity during Invisalign treatment is possible, and we always address a cavity right away when they are identified during your dental exam in our office. Our staff will determine a treatment plan, and recommend how to handle the cavity during your orthodontic treatment.

In some cases we can ensure the shape of the tooth remains the same by shaping the filling to match your Invisalign aligner trays. If the cavity is small enough we may just monitor the area, and recommend good oral hygiene habits to ensure the cavity does not get worse. It is important for patients wearing aligner trays to practice proper oral hygiene habits to ensure food and bacteria do not get stuck underneath the trays. Cleaning the trays daily is important to rinse any bacteria or particles away.

How Can I Learn More About Invisalign?

If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign, and if this is the orthodontic solution for you, our team is here to help get you on the road to a beautiful smile. Our detailed consultation process will examine your teeth and mouth, and we will recommend what treatment options are available. We work with each patient to help decide which orthodontic treatment works best.

To schedule your orthodontic consultation, contact our office and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!

How Do I Prepare My Child For Their First Dental Visit?

July 6, 2021December 21, 2020 by Pedro Lacerda

Process Of Drying The Dental Seal After Treatment Of The Patient's Tooth In Pediatric Dentistry. Little Girl In Dentist Office.

Planning your child’s first dental visit can be stressful. Many parents wonder when the perfect time is to bring their child in for their first exam. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists or AAPD recommends that children visit the dentist by the age of one, or when they first notice signs of teeth erupting. Typically, primary teeth do not erupt until about six months of age.

Parents tend to worry how their child will feel or behave at the dentist for the first time. There are many benefits to visiting the dentist starting at a young age, and with positive encouragement and our amazing staff we always ensure your child’s first visit and every visit after will go well.

There are a few things we recommend to parents to help prepare their child to visit our office for the first time. We want all of our patients to feel calm and relaxed and enjoy their visit. Our staff is specially trained to work with children, and they are in good hands while in our care.

Helpful Ways to Prepare Your Child Before Their First Visit to Our Office

We welcome all new patients to schedule a tour of our office and meet our staff. This helps your child get to know where they are going, and when they arrive they will feel more comfortable because they have already been here for a visit.
Talk to your child about how important it is to see your dentist regularly. With positive attitude your child will feel excited and not afraid, and will enjoy visiting our office.
There are dental books and TV shows available that you can show your child so they can get an idea what a dental office looks like, and what we do during a dental exam and cleaning.
During your child’s appointment we recommend bringing in any comfort items such as a stuffed animal or blanket to make your child feel relaxed.
Our staff provides each child with a reward at the end of each visit so they have something to look forward to. Parents are welcome to plan for a reward as an incentive to help the child get through their first appointment.
It is important to talk to your child about how important dental hygiene is. Keeping our teeth and gums clean so we can have beautiful smiles can help teach them good oral hygiene habits at a young age.

Starting your child out right with proper dental care helps to set the stage for later in life and teaches children good oral hygiene. We look forward to establishing a good relationship with each of our pediatric patients, and our staff will help your child understand how important it is to take care of your teeth and visit our office regularly.

Our dental exams are thorough and we can check for any issues as your child grows older. We believe in preventative care to help keep your child’s teeth feeling and looking their best.

Are You Interested in Scheduling Your Child’s First Exam?

If you are interested in scheduling your child’s first dental exam we are here to help. Contact our office and our friendly staff can assist you!

Helping your child take charge of their oral health at a young age is important and our staff is here to support both our pediatric patients and their parents, and provide the highest level of dental care.

We look forward to meeting you and having your child join our dental family.