Preventative Dentistry
Does my little beach buddy really need to visit every 6 months?
Absolutely! Like the perfect sandcastle needs a good foundation, so does your child’s oral health. At Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, CA, we encourage you and your child to dive into their regular dental visits so we can make sure their smile continues to shine bright.
Building a Good Foundation
Maintaining your child's dental health now will provide health benefits well into adulthood, as primary (baby) teeth serve some extremely important functions.
Primary teeth guide the eruption of permanent (adult) teeth, holding the space into which these new teeth will erupt. The crowns (tops) of the permanent teeth actually push against the roots of the baby teeth, causing them to resorb, or melt away. In this way, the adult teeth can take their proper place.
For about the first six years, primary teeth help with biting, chewing and speaking. Until around age 12, your child will have a mix of primary and permanent teeth. We want those teeth to stay healthy until they are lost naturally. To ensure your child’s smile stays healthy, our regular checkups include the following to help prevent any oral health issues:
Topical Fluoride
Like magic sunscreen for your child’s teeth, fluoride makes teeth harder and more resistant to decay. Although there is a small amount of fluoride in toothpastes and in some drinking water, a higher concentration can be applied professionally to your child's teeth for maximum protection.
Dental Sealants
A plastic coating, like a life jacket for your child’s teeth, can be professionally applied to prevent cavities by sealing the chewing surfaces. Dental sealants are easy to apply and provide years of protection.
Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning) & Exams
During their regular six-month appointment, your child will experience a gentle and thorough cleaning to help prevent cavities and promote overall oral health. Dr. Marissa will also closely examine their teeth, mouth, and jaw to make sure there are no additional health issues that need to be addressed.
Digital X-rays
No more scary bitewings. Digital x-rays are painless and provide crystal clear images without chemicals or increased radiation exposure so it’s safe for your child.
Tooth Colored Fillings
When your little has a cavity or a crack from too much fun in the sun, Dr. Marissa uses her magic tooth-colored composites made from resin to fill in the damaged spot and blend seamlessly with your child’s smile. Composites are durable and bond to the tooth structure to keep your child’s smile strong and bright. Whether your child’s tooth has decay, a fracture, or other damage, tooth-colored fillings with dental composites can repair and restore your child’s smile and oral health.
Pulpotomy
When your child’s tooth has deep decay or has been injured, Dr. Marissa and our pulpotomy crew saves the day like lifeguards on the beach. They perform a pulpotomy to save the root of the tooth and relieve any pain. They remove the infected or damaged tissue in the pulp and preserve the healthy tissue at the root. The tooth is filled and capped with a crown for further protection. At Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, this treatment allows the tooth to stay anchored in place until it’s time to naturally fall out, keeping space for the permanent tooth and maintaining normal jaw development.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns offer restorative rescue from decayed, damaged, or cracked teeth. Crowns may be needed when there is extensive tooth decay, large cavities, or if the tooth is weakened from previous treatment or damage. Once any decay or infection is removed, dental crowns provide a protective cap to restore the tooth’s strength and beauty. These crowns can be shiny silver or pearly white depending on the material, but both are strong and effective in treatment. This solution protects the tooth from further damage and keeps your child’s oral health vibrant.
Tooth Extractions
When a tooth may disrupt normal oral development or health, it may need to be removed to calm the storm in your child’s smile. There are many reasons a tooth may need to be removed such as decay, disease, trauma, crowding, or impaction. If there is an unhealthy tooth, it can cause more damage to the surrounding teeth and your child’s overall oral health. When there are orthodontic issues, such as crowding, it may be in the best interest of your child’s smile to remove teeth. Sometimes teeth may get stuck or impacted and require removal.
Children love to run around and have fun in the sun, but sometimes that means accidents happen. If your child’s tooth experiences trauma, it may need to be extracted. If you are unsure if the pain and trauma to your child’s teeth requires immediate attention, please call Dr. Marissa at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, CA.
Space Maintenance
It’s important in your child’s smile for there to be adequate space for permanent teeth and normal jaw development. When teeth are lost too early, it can cause other teeth to shift causing misalignment or crowding. Dr. Marissa can use space maintainers to guide teeth into the correct position, maintain space for other teeth, and help avoid other oral health issues.
Healthy Hygiene Habits
Not only is visiting Dr. Marissa at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for regular checkups and cleanings important, practicing healthy hygiene habits at home is critical to good oral health. Here are some helpful hygiene habits to implement into your child’s daily dental routine:
- Brushing twice a day
- Flossing once a day
- Eating a balanced diet
- Avoid sugary drinks and snacks
Visiting Us Every 6 Months Means….
1. We can catch health issues early
Dr. Marissa is your personal lifeguard on duty that can catch health concerns like sleep disordered breathing early. Your child’s regular visit includes checkups for oral cancer and vitamin deficiencies. Without attending your regularly scheduled dental appointment, these and other concerns may remain undetected. Early detection often leads to greater treatment success while also saving time, money, and maybe even your child’s life.
2. We can prevent disease
Regular dental visits at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, CA focus on cleaning your child’s teeth to help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues. By staying up on your child’s regular cleanings, you lessen the build-up of bacteria which leads to plaque and possibly infection.
3. We can remove plaque and tartar
During your child's professional cleaning, we work to gently remove any plaque and tartar deposits that may have accumulated between visits. Plaque is a quick destroyer and regular visits can keep it under control. At Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, CA, our experienced team members use their magic to gently remove build up above and below the gum line. If tartar is permitted to remain on your child’s teeth it can allow bacteria to grow next to their gums leading to more serious concerns.
4. We can remove stains
Professional polishing can help remove external stains from substances like juice, tea, and other contributors that may have caused discoloration. We use a professional Prophylaxis paste during polishing designed to make your child’s teeth shiny and smooth like a pretty pearl.
5. We get to see you
Of course there are oral health benefits to visiting Dr. Marissa regularly, but she also really enjoys seeing her patients. Six months is a long time between visits and she loves to catch up and hear how your child’s been doing since she last saw you. We hope your child always leaves every visit looking forward to the next one.
Please make your regular dental visits a priority because we do. Dr. Marissa looks forward to seeing you again soon. Please call us to schedule your next hygiene appointment at Coconut Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, CA.
We Can’t Wait to Meet You!
Call (424)228-8229 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.