Category: Pediatric dentist

If you have been told that your child needs tooth extraction, it can be a bit alarming – both for you and for your child. Fortunately, knowing what to expect can make the whole process easier and help you prepare your child for treatment. 

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, we take our responsibility to children and their parents seriously. We want to make every treatment, whether it is a routine cleaning or a dental extraction, as easy and stress-free as possible. Dr. Matt and the team at our Overland Park, KS, office will answer all your questions. And, of course, we will perform a gentle procedure with minimal discomfort and recovery time. 

Contact us today to learn more about tooth extraction or to schedule an evaluation for your child. 

When is tooth extraction necessary?

There are several reasons that extraction may be required:

• Cavities are the most common reason for pediatric tooth removal. According to one study, tooth decay accounts for half of all extractions in patients between the ages of 3 and 13. That being said, extraction is a last resort. If your child has a cavity, Dr. Matt will first try to treat it with a filling or other restorative procedure.
• Dental trauma, such as a broken or cracked tooth, may necessitate extraction. Here, too, tooth removal is a last resort.
• If your child has severely crowded teeth, extraction could create space in their mouth. This will allow for proper dental development. 
• Most people need to have their wisdom teeth removed. Oral surgeons and dentists typically recommend doing it at a younger age before the teeth erupt. This will help to prevent problems such as impaction and overcrowding.

What’s the difference between a standard and a surgical extraction?

During a standard extraction, Dr. Matt will simply loosen the tooth roots before removing the tooth from the mouth. A surgical extraction requires the removal of some gum or jawbone tissue. These procedures are usually necessary for impacted teeth.

Will tooth removal hurt?

Prior to the procedure, Dr. Matt will numb your child’s tooth and gums. He or she should experience no pain, at most feeling only a mild sense of pressure. We can also provide nitrous oxide sedation if your child is anxious.

What can my child eat afterwards?

Your child will need to eat a soft diet for several days. It’s a good time to treat your little one to all the milkshakes, smoothies, and ice cream they want! Of course, good nutrition is important for healing, so make sure they are getting plenty of protein and vitamins. Avoid very hot foods and drinking from straws for a few days, as this can irritate the extraction site. 

Contact Smiles Dentistry for Kids Today

To learn more about what to expect during tooth extraction or to find out if this treatment is necessary for your child, contact our Overland Park, KS, office today. 

Reach out online or call us at (913) 685-9990.

The last Saturday of September is the annual celebration of National Family Health and Fitness Day USA. It’s the perfect opportunity to establish good habits for all aspects of your health – physical, mental, and oral! Here your pediatric dentistry office provides five great ideas to celebrate this important but little-known holiday. 

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Matt and his team are committed to your family’s complete wellbeing. That’s why we offer free exams to children under two. And we take all the necessary time to make sure little ones feel comfortable in the office. 

In addition to the ideas listed below, make sure your kids are up-to-date on their dental care. Contact our office today to book your appointment.

Exercise Together

The American Heart Association recommends that children ages 6 to 17 get at least an hour of moderate to strenuous physical activity each day. 

Exercising as a family doesn’t have to mean sweating it out at the gym! There are lots of ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine:

• Go for a family walk after dinner
• Take a bike ride
• Have a dance party
• Go ice skating
• Go for a hike
• Sign up for a family exercise class

Cook a Meal as a Family

Even if you regularly cook healthy meals, your kids may not have any grasp of what makes a food nutritious or not. Cooking together is not only a fun family activity. Research shows that kids who cook at home are more likely to make healthy eating choices. 

Try making some of the following with your children:

• Healthy homemade pizzas with whole-wheat crusts and loads of veggies
• Turkey meatballs over whole-wheat spaghetti
• Homemade hummus with veggie sticks and grilled chicken
• Chicken and vegetable soup

Set a Limit on Screen Time

In the US, children ages 8 to 12 spend an average of 4 to 6 hours a day watching screens. Teens can spend 9 hours a day on electronic devices! This means kids are not getting the right amount of exercise, which can lead to obesity and poor body image. Too much screen time can also lead to poor sleep, lower grades, and a reduced quality in relationships.

Set a realistic screen time limit for your children based on their ages. Discuss other activities that your kids can do to fill up the time.

Take an Emotional Temperature Reading

Around 70% of parents say they struggle to have deeper conversations with their kids. Encourage meaningful discussions with a weekly “temperature reading.” Have each person share:

• Something they appreciate in another member of the family
• New information
• Puzzles they may have
• Polite requests for change
• Apologies
• Wishes and dreams 

Encourage Family Dental Health

Children will more likely practice good dental hygiene if they see their parents doing so. Be sure that everyone – including mom and dad – are brushing twice daily and flossing at least once. 

You should also make sure that everyone is visiting the dentist regularly. Children should visit the dentist for a biannual exam and cleaning as soon as their first teeth appear.

Schedule an Appointment at Your Pediatric Dentistry Office 

Celebrate Family Health and Fitness Day by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Matt. 

Make an appointment online or call our Overland Park, KS, office at (913) 685-9990.

Excellent oral hygiene at a young age is vital for keeping the teeth and gums healthy and harmful bacteria at bay. A high-quality toothpaste can help prevent dental decay, periodontal disease, and bad breath. With so many kinds of toothpaste on the market, it can be challenging to understand which products are the best. Dr. Matt, a pediatric dentist from Overland Park, KS, explains how parents can choose the best toothpaste for their children based on their needs and preferences.

1. Check for one key ingredient: fluoride.

Fluoride is a buzzword for many dental health enthusiasts, but what is it? Fluoride is a natural mineral that boasts anti-cavity and enamel-protecting properties. Researchers credit fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water with the recent substantial reduction of dental decay.

As crucial as the fluoride itself, it’s essential to monitor children as they brush their teeth to (1) ensure they brush thoroughly and (2) give kids a just-the-right amount of toothpaste. We recommend:

• A smear the size of a grain of rice for children under three
• A pea-sized amount for children between the ages of three and seven
• A small ribbon of toothpaste for anyone exceeding age seven

2. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

If you are unsure whether a dental product is worth trying, look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. For the past 90 years, American dentists have considered the ADA Seal of Acceptance as the “gold standard” for evaluating the efficacy and safety of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other dental products. 

In a nutshell, an ADA-approved toothpaste should: 

• Be high-quality, reliable, and safe
• Contain fluoride and active ingredients that improve oral hygiene 
• Not contain sugar, flavoring agents, or substances that contribute to cavities
• Be scientifically proven that it is safe and effective

3. Read the label carefully.

It’s wise to check labels gingerly because not all types of toothpaste are recommended for everyone (especially children). For example, some flavoring agents may be too harsh for kids. Toothpaste manufacturers should include a list of ingredients on the tube. If you know that your child is sensitive to specific chemicals, avoid toothpaste with those ingredients entirely. If you are unsure of which ingredients may be too harsh for children, speak with your pediatric dentist.

4. Figure out what flavors your child likes.

Contrary to popular belief, taste buds do not have much to do with what flavors your child may like. Instead, personal preferences are ever-changing and are shaped by personal experiences and special memories. 

While finding a toothpaste flavor that your children actually like can be tricky, understanding their preferences may encourage them to brush a little more. Feel free to experiment and shop around until your child discovers what works for them. While trying different options, always prioritize how well the product meets dental needs and beware of ingredients that may trigger sensitivity in your child.

Speak with a Pediatric Dentist in Overland Park, KS

With so many options to choose from, it can be tricky to select a trusted toothpaste brand that is good enough for your children. If you are ever unsure, please consult with a pediatric dentist. 

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Matt answers parents’ questions about life’s greatest dental mysteries and more. Schedule a children’s dental appointment with our Overland Park team. Call (913) 685-9990 or message us online today.

Have you noticed that your child’s incoming adult teeth appear more yellow or darker than their baby pearly whites? If your child is adhering to proper oral hygiene, then you can relax. This type of discoloration is normal and can be attributed to the fact that permanent teeth have more dentin (dense inner tissue) than baby teeth. Enamel (surface of the teeth) is translucent. Sometimes, the dentin is visible and appears more yellow and larger than little, light-colored baby teeth. As your child begins to lose their baby teeth, their permanent teeth will start to appear more uniform.

Other than the natural circumstances of normal development, Overland Park Pediatric Dentist Dr. Matt unravels four potential reasons why your child’s emerging teeth may appear darker or discolored.

1. Plaque and Tartar Accumulation

When kids don’t brush or floss their teeth as thoroughly or often as they should, plaque is highly likely to develop. Plaque is a film of bacteria that naturally forms on the teeth and has a yellowish, buttery tint. However, if plaque is not removed with frequent flossing and brushing, it solidifies and transforms into thick, yellow tartar. Tartar can only be removed with tools found in the hands of a dental hygienist. 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that children visit their pediatric dentist every six months for a check-up and dental cleaning to remove caked-on plaque and tartar.

2. Diet

You may be surprised by what foods and drinks can stain your child’s teeth. Some enamel-altering ingredients to look out for are:

• Acidic foods (such as citrus, tomato, and curry sauce)
• Tannins (found in tea, coffee, and red grape juice)
• Citric acid (serves as a preservative for many foods, including sports drinks and sour candy)

3. Trauma

Accidents can happen at any moment. If your child suffers from a blow that damages their inner dental tissue, their teeth may appear stained.

If your child has one tooth that appears yellow, brown, gray, or black after an accident, speak with your pediatric dentist immediately. This is considered a dental emergency and requires immediate action to save the tooth and inner nerves.

4. Certain Antibiotics

Doctors prescribe antibiotics to fight bacterial infections, but an unwanted side effect can be dental discoloration in children who are exposed during tooth mineralization and this can happen:

• In utero, during the second and third trimester of pregnancy
• Via breast milk, if the mother is taking it
• When children under the age of eight take it

Even though tetracycline may be the most common, doxycycline and minocycline can also produce similar consequences. Because this family of antibiotics binds with the calcium ions in teeth, they will oxidize as they erupt. In this scenario, teeth will first appear fluorescent yellow and may darken to brown. Thankfully, today’s doctors typically only prescribe tetracycline to children over the age of eight and adults.

Find Out More About Pediatric Dentistry in Overland Park, KS

The truth is that not all dentists are trained or equipped to handle the oral health needs of constantly growing children. At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Matt and his dedicated Overland Park, KS team facilitate a kid-friendly environment to provide oral health education for young minds. Pick a pediatric dentist with years of experience and call (913) 685-9990 or message us online right now.