Problems with teeth alignment and bite, also known as malocclusion, are a very common issue amongst kids and teens. In fact, around 45% of adolescents need some form of orthodontic treatment to correct issues relating to malocclusion. Some research suggests that this percentage may be even higher due to more subtle problems that can be overlooked. But is your child one of the many who need League City dental braces? And when should that treatment begin? Our League City pediatric dentist receives these questions often and is here to provide the answers you need!
Dental Braces Explained by Our League City Dentist
Dental braces are made up of a combination of wires and metal brackets that gradually shift teeth into the proper position. Our League City kids dentist recommends braces for teeth crowding, the presence of an overbite or underbite, when the lateral incisors are missing, or when there’s too much space between teeth. The sooner these issues are addressed, the more effective the treatment. But you can’t begin treatment too early or it may need to be repeated. So when’s the perfect time?
When to Begin League City Dental Braces Treatment
The best time to begin League City dental braces treatment is once all baby teeth have fallen out and most adult teeth have erupted, which is usually between the ages of 8-14. There are times when our League City family dentist will begin dental braces treatment earlier in order to address severe malocclusion. In these circumstances, two rounds of dental braces treatment may be required, the first to shift baby teeth to make room for the adult teeth to come in properly, and a second once all adult teeth are present. The best way to know which course of treatment is best for your child is to schedule a consultation with our League City dentist.
Our League City Family Dentist Also Offers Invisalign
While metal dental braces are the most common way to treat alignment issues, League City Invisalign is another path to straighter teeth for you or your child. Invisalign works to gradually shift teeth through a series of clear, flexible plastic aligners. Many parents and teens prefer Invisalign because the aligners are virtually invisible and can be removed when eating, drinking, and for special occasions. While Invisalign is more expensive than traditional metal dental braces, the streamlined appearance makes the added cost worthwhile for many of our patients.
Beautiful Smiles Begin at Autumn Family Dentistry
The health of your teeth and gums is our top priority, and we strive to ensure you and your family receive quality dental care in a comfortable environment. If you’re ready to discuss you or your child’s orthodontic needs, schedule your consultation today. Our League City family dentist will perform a thorough exam in order to recommend a specific plan of treatment that’s tailored to you or your child’s specific needs. We look forward to helping you achieve a brighter, more confident smile!
Regular dental cleanings with our League City dentist are an important part of your oral health, and one aspect of that visit may be dental x-rays, which reveal the condition of your teeth and gums. However, because dental x-rays expose patients to low levels of radiation, their safety has been the subject of debate for decades. Our League City family dentist is often asked if dental x-rays are safe and why they’re necessary, which we’ll explain here.
Why Will Our League City Dentist Perform a Dental X-Ray?
Dental x-rays are a safe and effective way for our League City dentist to assess the condition of your teeth and gums, revealing issues that may not be observable to the naked eye. Some of the issues dental x-rays reveal have the potential to become major health issues if left untreated. As a result, we typically perform dental x-rays once a year, in the hope that these images allow our League City dentist to identify the following problems:
- Cavities between the teeth
- Tumors (both benign and malignant)
- Infections of the bone
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Bone loss
- Hidden dental decay
- Tartar buildup
Dental X-Ray Safety with Our League City Dentist
Because dental x-rays do expose patients to a low level of radiation, we take certain steps to ensure exposure is minimal. This is accomplished through the use of digital x-rays, which are not only more accurate than traditional dental x-rays, but also expose patients to 80% less radiation than older technology. Given that dental x-rays allow our League City dentist to identify issues that would not be detected without this procedure, such as problems below the gum line that could lead to a serious infection, it’s actually riskier to skip this part of your dental exam.
Schedule Your Dental Checkup with Our League City Dentist
We recommend you receive a dental cleaning with our League City dentist every six months, which means we’ll likely perform dental x-ray imaging at every other appointment. This is the best way to maintain your oral health and catch any problems early before they require more invasive treatments like root canals or tooth extractions. This is also true for younger patients, as we recommend annual dental x-rays and regular check ups with our League City pediatric dentist in order to establish healthy habits at an early age.
Protect Your Smile with Autumn Family Dentistry
Our League City family dentist prioritizes quality dental care in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. We utilize the latest technology, such as digital X-rays, intra-oral cameras, and ceiling television screens, all of which provide a stream-lined and comfortable visit while providing the best in dental health services. Call us today to schedule your next appointment and see all the ways we strive to keep you smiling!
It’s no secret that most kids love sweets and sugar, and even moderate consumption of candy, cookies, and soft drinks can cause cavities without proper dental hygiene. That’s because children are more susceptible to cavities than adults and don’t always brush and floss as thoroughly as they should. Despite this, there are still many ways kids can enjoy the occasional treat without resulting in an unexpected trip to the dentist. Our League City pediatric dentist has some suggestions to reduce your child’s cavities and establish life-long routines that will ensure healthy teeth.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Explains Cavities
A cavity forms when bacteria eats away at the tooth’s surface, leading to decay. It usually presents as a gray or brown spot on the tooth and must be treated by our League City family dentist. Sometimes cavities form in between teeth, which can be difficult to see without xray technology, which is why dental checkups with our League City dentist are so important. If a cavity is left untreated, it will continue to grow until it reaches the inner layers of the teeth. When this occurs, more invasive treatment is needed, such as a root canal, to prevent infection or tooth loss.
How to Reduce Cavities According to Our League City Dentist
There are some important steps you can take at home to prevent cavities from forming on your child’s teeth:
Brush and Floss Regularly
Kids, especially younger children, need reminders and supervision when brushing and flossing their teeth. It’s common for kids to brush too hard, miss spots, or rush the process. Our League City family dentist insists that everyone brush and floss their teeth everyday for at least two minutes (30 seconds for each the top right, top left, bottom right, and bottom left quadrants). If your child is especially prone to cavities, it may be necessary to brush after every meal as well.
Moderate Access to Sugary Food and Drink
The occasional sweet treat is acceptable for children, especially on special occasions like birthdays and holidays, but these foods should be limited as much as possible. Sugar eats away at our tooth’s enamel and causes cavities that require a special trip to our League City pediatric dentist in order to remove. It’s best to limit candy, soda, and other high-sugar foods and always brush and floss your child’s teeth when they’re finished.
Maintain Regular Check Ups with Our League City Family Dentist
Given the prevalence of sugary treats they’ll see this Easter, it’s the perfect time of year to ensure your child’s teeth are healthy and identify any cavities as early as possible. We recommend your child receive a League City dental cleaning every six months, which will help maintain overall dental health by removing plaque and spotting cavities before they grow larger, leading to more significant problems.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Keeps Teeth Healthy
If you suspect your child has a cavity or simply needs a dental check up, call our League City Pediatric dentist today. We’ll schedule your appointment to provide quality, compassionate care as soon as possible in order to keep your child’s teeth healthy and bright.
Our League City pediatric dentist often receives questions from teenage patients regarding what age patients can begin League City teeth whitening. There are a number of factors that may determine whether or not your teen can begin professional teeth whitening in our League City kids dentist’s office, as long as certain precautions are taken to protect a younger patient’s teeth and gums, which tend to be more sensitive than those of an adult. In this article, our League City dentist explains teeth whitening for teens and how to determine the best course of treatment for your child.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Provides Teeth Whitening Options for Teens
While teens can begin receiving professional teeth whitening beginning at age 13, there are many factors that may impact when your child should begin this treatment. Our League City kids dentist recommends that your child has completed any orthodontic treatments and that all adult teeth have emerged before beginning teeth whitening for teens. That’s because baby teeth are more sensitive than adult teeth and the whitening procedure can be uncomfortable if performed on baby teeth. For this reason, our League City pediatric dentist will perform teeth whitening procedures on adult teeth only, except for rare cases in which there is a noticeable stain or discoloration.
The Teeth Whitening for Teens Procedure With Our League City Kids Dentist
If your teen has been given the green light to begin professional League City teeth whitening, it begins with a consultation with our League City Dentist. We will first confirm that your child’s teeth are strong and healthy enough for the procedure and that the right shade has been selected. Teens tend to want the whitest and brightest shade available, but that doesn’t always look natural or compliment your child’s skin tone. Furthermore, the whiter the shade desired, the longer the bleaching agent stays on the tooth’s surface, leading to the potential for increased sensitivity. Before the bleaching agent is applied and activated, your teen’s teeth will be polished to ensure even results. Once the bleaching agent is thoroughly rinsed, our League City pediatric dentist will take care to make sure there is no lingering sensitivity, as this is more likely in younger patients.
Our League City Dentist Says Avoid DIY Teeth Whitening Options
At-home teeth whitening options are becoming more and more popular, but our League City pediatric dentist highly recommends patients steer clear of these products, as they can be damaging to your child’s teeth. Most DIY teeth whitening options available in drugstores come in strips and gels that not only contain harsh chemicals that are known to cause pain and sensitivity, especially for teens, but they’re results are only temporary. Because we specialize in effective teeth whitening methods in a closely-monitored, professional environment, your best bet for safe and successful teeth whitening for teens is to schedule a visit to our League City kids dentist instead.
Schedule Teeth Whitening for Teens With Autumn Today!
Our League City dentist wants everyone in your family to embrace the confidence that comes from flashing a whiter, brighter smile. If you have questions about League City teeth whitening for teens, call our office to schedule your child’s consultation. Our League City kids dentist can determine if your teen is a good candidate for teeth whitening and if any other dental procedures may need to be performed first. We look forward to meeting with you and your teen!
There are few things more difficult for parents than the helplessness that comes with knowing your child has a medical emergency. You’re desperate to solve their problem, but some issues require professional intervention. If you or your child is facing a dental emergency, our League City pediatric dentist is here to help, as your child’s dental health and overall comfort is a top priority.
Types of Dental Emergencies That Warrant a Call to Our League City Pediatric Dentist
These issues are cause for concern and should not be ignored. Sometimes these problems could be accompanied by bleeding, pain, and/or swelling.
- Cracked teeth
- Broken teeth
- Teeth that have been knocked out
- Tooth pain
- Swollen gums
- Damaged dental implants
- Other oral traumas
How To Prepare for Your Child’s Dental Emergency Visit with Our League City Dentist
First and foremost, calm your child and try to stop any bleeding. You can use sterile gauze–or, if the bleeding is heavier, a clean towel–and apply firm and steady pressure at its source. Once you have slowed or stopped the bleeding, give your child an over-the-counter pain medication to address discomfort and then apply a cold compress or ice to the location of the dental trauma or pain in order reduce swelling before calling our League City family dentist’s office to discuss the incident and schedule a time to come in as soon as possible.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Offers a Full Array of Dental Services
Whether you’re facing a dental emergency or looking for routine dental care, our League City dentist offers procedures and treatments to meet your entire family’s dental needs. Here’s a look at the services we offer, which cover a number of routine and cosmetic purposes:
- Dental cleanings
- X-rays and imaging
- Oral surgery and extraction
- Dentures
- Veneers
- Crowns and bridges
- Orthodontic services
- Dental implants
- Root canals
We pride ourselves in providing these services in a state-of-the-art facility that is intended to make you feel comfortable and ease any potential anxiety you or your child may be feeling. We offer three levels of safe sedation techniques to keep you relaxed: inhaled sedation (nitrous oxide), oral sedation (pill), and deep sedation (full anesthesia). Our League City family dentist will discuss these options with you to determine the best choice for your dental procedure.
Autumn Family Dentistry is Your Best Resource for Dental Emergencies
Don’t waste a moment when you or your child are facing a dental emergency; instead, call our League City family dentist so we can assess your issue immediately. Failure to do so may cause additional problems or undue pain that can be avoided with prompt dental care. We are here to help you in your time of need and will work diligently to address your dental needs and while maintaining your whole family’s smiles.
