Dental Crowns for Children

Just because baby teeth will fall out doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. Children still need them to eat and speak, and an ache or break in one could cause them a lot of trouble. Although there are circumstances in which it would be necessary to extract one, we at Kidz Connextion would always rather save a natural tooth. This week, we’re discussing the process of getting a dental crown, and why it may be the best option.

 

Dental crowns are artificial replacements for the part of the tooth you can see. They are used if a tooth is too decayed or broken to support a filling or partial crown. If a tooth requires a new crown, but we determine that it’s root is still stable, the replacement process will involve cementing an artificial crown onto the root. In the cases of front teeth, when we want the crown to look like a natural tooth, this is done by smoothing the remaining enamel down into an abutment, and making a mold of the patient’s mouth. The patient will wear an artificial crown while the mold is sent to a dental laboratory, and a crown is custom-manufactured. During a return visit a few weeks later, the crown will be cemented over the abutment, and the patient will be eating normally within a few days. 

 

If the tooth getting a crown is a molar or premolar, we may determine that a stainless steel crown is a better option. This might allow us to adjust a pre-made crown to fit your child, which would only take a single visit. Patients are always numbed while crowns are being placed, and we offer additional sedation options to ensure each child’s comfort and safety. 

During the placement process, a patient may also require a root canal to remove infected dental pulp. Although it is always important to brush and floss regularly, a steel crown is more resistant to decay than other material. With a tooth in place, a child won’t need an orthodontic spacer to hold open a gap until its permanent replacement erupts, and they’ll be able to chew and speak without difficulty.

 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Panoramic X-Rays

Kidz Connexion in Phoenix maintains high standards for care, and part of that means having up-to-date equipment. Our practice utilizes panoramic x-ray machines, and you may have seen them on previous visits. These devices allow us to provide reliable orthodontic assessments and to intervene early if there’s an issue with a child’s facial growth, allowing them to be treated more effectively.

 

Panoramic x-rays provide a complete picture of a patient’s skull by observing them from all angles. This is an improvement over 2-d pictures, in which x-rays may be blocked by prosthetics such as fillings. In adult patients, panoramic x-rays are usually used to monitor the integration of implants, observe the progression of gum disease, and check for oral cancer. But in pediatric patients, 3-d x-rays allow us to observe the placement of impacted teeth and to better determine how to guide their eruption or plan their extraction. They also allow us to plan for orthognathic treatment such as palate expansion.

 

Panoramic x-rays are easy and safe for the patient. After removing metal jewelry, they simply have to bite their front teeth down on a plastic tab to help position their jaws while the scanners rotate around their head. The whole process only takes about a minute, and the scanners can be adjusted for people of different heights or who are in wheelchairs. There’s a limited time in a person’s life before their jaw bones solidify too much for unerupted canines and incisors to be guided into place, but with more accurate x-rays, we can plan for orthodontic treatments that will spare a pediatric patient from needing oral surgery as an adult.

 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

What are Sealants?

If you have children, it’s almost certain that we recommend they get dental sealants. This type of preventive care is nearly always covered by insurance and goes a long way toward reducing cavities. In fact, many adults could benefit from them, as well. But although you’ve probably heard sealants are helpful, you may still be unclear on what they are. At Kidz Connextion in Phoenix, we want the families we treat to feel confident in their care, so let’s take a closer look at what sealants do and why they should be applied in a timely manner.

 

A sealant is a plastic barrier between a tooth and decay-causing bacteria. It can’t substitute for regular brushing and flossing, but it can slow down the rate of decay. This is especially important for children, whose teeth are softer and who have more difficulty maintaining their oral hygiene. The process of receiving a sealant is simple and easy on the patient. After a professional cleaning, the teeth are etched with a mild acid in order to increase their surface area. The sealant is then painted on in liquid form and hardened under a blue light. The patient should be able to eat normally within a few hours, and the sealant can be expected to last for several years.

 

Usually, sealants are applied to the molars and premolars. These teeth have indentations between their cusps, which are used for chewing, and the indentations are where starchy food debris is most likely to get caught and fuel decay. In addition to providing a shield, sealants somewhat even out the tooth, removing the trap for food, while still allowing the cusps to serve their grinding function. Sealant plastic isn’t immune from acidic erosion and food debris still has to be brushed away, but sealants, along with brushing and drinking plenty of water, will allow a child to eat their favorite foods with significantly less risk of developing cavities on the teeth that are most vulnerable.

 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.