Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry sets the stage for great dental care throughout a child’s life. From that first wiggly tooth, to regular cleanings, at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry we are excited to be at the starting line of your little one’s oral health journey. Our dentist, in Torrance, California provides warm, personalized care that makes every patient feel comfortable and relaxed. At Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we keep your child and their needs in mind every step of the way.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that makes tooth enamel harder and more resistant to decay. While some products and drinking water contain small amounts of the protective mineral, dentists can apply a higher concentration of fluoride to your child’s teeth to provide maximum protection.
A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is typically applied to the pits and fissures of the back teeth (premolars and molars), which are vulnerable to trapping food particles and bacteria that can lead to decay (cavities). Your dentist can apply them to help protect your teeth for years.
A pulpotomy is a dental procedure that involves the partial removal of the pulp tissue from inside the crown portion of a tooth. It is most commonly performed on primary (baby) teeth but can also be done on permanent teeth under certain circumstances.
Pulp therapy can save a severely injured or decayed tooth.
A child’s front teeth are vulnerable to chips and minor fractures. Your child’s dentist can repair these chips and fractures with tooth-colored bonding materials.
A gentle and thorough cleaning every six months helps prevent cavities and promotes good oral health.
Even with great care and good oral hygiene, cavities happen – and when they do, your dentist can use composite fillings with a tooth-colored resin to fill them in.
When more conservative measures to save a tooth fail, it is sometimes necessary to extract (pull) a tooth.
If you think your child is having a dental emergency, please call us right away.
Our dentist continually assesses the alignment of our patients’ teeth. In some cases, early orthodontic intervention can prevent or reduce the need for braces later.
Depending on the procedure and a child’s specific needs, we may recommend child-friendly sedation.
More than 45 percent of children ages 2 to 19 have had a cavity in one or more of their teeth. Also known as dental caries, cavities can cause pain, bad breath, infections, difficulty eating, and problems speaking. These complications can make it hard for a child to learn at school or play with their friends. We work hard to reduce the risk of cavities and their complications in all of our patients.
The dental care a child receives provides immediate benefits, and helps build a solid foundation for oral health throughout their lives.
Many people don’t think that primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are important because these little teeth fall out. You might be surprised to learn just how important these primary teeth are to the health of a child and even to the health of an adult!
Primary teeth help permanent teeth come into, or erupt into, the right place on a child’s jawbone. The tops of the permanent teeth push against the roots of the baby teeth. This pressure breaks up the roots, creating a path for the permanent teeth to replace the baby teeth.
If a baby tooth comes out too soon, either knocked out by accident or decayed from disease, it can have lasting consequences for the permanent tooth. The empty space can allow the corresponding permanent tooth to erupt too soon, before there is enough room for it, and this can cause overcrowding and crooked teeth. What’s more, the other baby teeth can drift into the empty space, thereby allowing their corresponding permanent teeth to erupt prematurely.
Baby teeth that stay in too long can also cause a problem. Permanent teeth will still erupt through the gums, even if the primary teeth are still there. The new teeth often come in directly behind the old teeth to create “shark teeth,” or an extra row of teeth.
For about the first six years of your child’s life, their primary teeth will do all the work of biting, chewing, and speaking. Over the next half dozen years or so, permanent teeth will gradually replace all the baby teeth. As this transition happens, pediatric dentistry can ensure that the baby teeth stay healthy and fall out at the right time, and that permanent teeth come in straight and healthy.
Early dental care is important for other reasons too. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months of getting their first tooth. This early visit helps dentists spot problems early, while they are most responsive to treatment. One such dental problem is early childhood caries, which is a form of tooth decay that can develop and progress rapidly.
Experiencing high-quality, compassionate dentistry can also give a child a positive view of going to the dentist. Dental anxiety, which is a common problem that prevents adults from getting the dental care they need, often starts in childhood. Receiving personalized care in a fun, compassionate environment from a pediatric dentist can help kids develop a positive attitude towards going to the dentist. Caretakers and children alike will feel at ease in the comforting, calm environment at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
For more information on pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. We love meeting new patients!
Please call 424.458.6007 or click below to schedule an appointment online. We can't wait to meet you!
