Extraction Site Preservation

Sometimes pulling teeth is a necessary procedure for overcrowding in the mouth or infection due to tooth decay. It isn’t a procedure to be taken lightly. Like wisdom teeth removal, where the teeth are located in the back of the mouth and sutures are used, the tooth extraction site essentially becomes an open wound and one that needs to be monitored and given time to heal. We at Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces in Phoenix, AZ, understand that getting a tooth pulled isn’t very pleasant, but we are committed to making the procedure and healing process as comfortable as possible for all patients.


If you ever think your healing process doesn’t feel normal, you should contact our office. Signs of complications include:

- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

- Severe nausea or vomiting

- Redness, swelling, or excessive discharge from the extraction site

- Signs of infection, such as fever and chills


Something else to keep in mind when removing teeth is what to do with that open space once it has healed. If a tooth is removed and nothing is done to the extraction site, your jaw bone will degenerate and change shape while the site heals. This can create problems in your bite and may affect chewing and speaking. Make sure you and your dentist come up with a plan to fill this space.


We are happy to address any questions or concerns you might have. Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces has three separate offices in the Phoenix, AZ, area for your convenience. For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, please visit kidzconnextion.com. You can also call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for the N. 24th St. office, and 480-405-4714 for the E. Baseline Rd. office.

Digital X-Rays

The advancements in dental technology make it easier for dentists to deliver efficient care and diagnoses to their patients. One such advancement is digital x-rays, which are a staple in dental practices all over the country. We at Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces in Phoenix, AZ, are always looking to stay up to date with the latest technology, products, and treatments. Digital x-rays allow dentists to look more closely at your teeth than ever before!

A digital x-ray takes an image of your teeth and puts it into an imaging program. With special tools exclusive to this imaging program, your dedicated dentist can take a closer look at your teeth with impeccable accuracy. Digital x-rays emit 80% less radiation than a standard x-ray since they are actually sensitive to radiation. This is a great benefit since the patient is exposed to less radiation. Digital x-rays can be classified as intraoral (inside the mouth) or extraoral (outside the mouth), though intraoral x-rays are the most commonly taken.

Intraoral x-rays allow us to:

- Observe the status of developing teeth
- Monitor tooth health
- Look at the tooth roots
- Find cavities
- Check the health of the bony area around the tooth
- Determine if there are signs of periodontal disease

We are happy to address any questions or concerns you might have. Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces has three separate offices in the Phoenix, AZ, area for your convenience. For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, please visit kidzconnextion.com. You can also call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for the N. 24th St. office, and 480-405-4714 for the E. Baseline Rd. office.

Space Maintainers

If your child loses a baby tooth earlier than expected or needs it removed due to other complications, they will require a Space Maintainer. These keep the space secure for when the adult tooth does erupt from the gum line. If your child needs a space maintainer, contact Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces right away. We have various offices in the Phoenix, AZ, area that can accommodate your needs.

It’s important to understand why exactly your child requires a space maintainer before having it done. The baby teeth are important for the healthy development of the mouth. The baby tooth is what guides its adult counterpart into place. When it’s missing, other teeth will try to accommodate for the gap. Teeth that move or partially obstruct the gum prevent the adult tooth from erupting normally. The space maintainer prevents all of that from happening.

There are two types of space maintainers available: removable and fixed. Your Phoenix, AZ, dentist will recommend which is best for your child. Removable maintainers are often made of acrylic and are very similar to orthodontic apparatuses. Fixed maintainers come in four separate kinds: unilateral, crown and loop, lingual, and distal shoe.

The unilateral and crown and loop space maintainers work similarly. These are placed on one side of the mouth to keep the space open. A crown and loop consist of an actual crown placed on an adjacent tooth. The loop attaches to the crown and extends over the space, protecting it from other teeth. The unilateral wraps around the perimeter of the nearby tooth and use a metal loop to keep the space clear.

The distal shoe is a more advanced space maintainer, commonly used with molars. The end of the maintainer is inserted into the gum line.

The lingual space maintainer connects the molars to the front tire with a wire.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces top-tier pediatric dental services. We have three separate offices located in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit https://www.kidzconnextion.com/ to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.

Dry Socket

Children, just like adults, can require a tooth extraction. Parents need to take good care of their child’s extraction site afterward, otherwise, they are at risk of developing a dry socket. A dry socket is when the blood clot doesn’t form normally after tooth removal. The best thing you can do is follow all the instructions given by your dental team at Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces. Located in various offices across the Phoenix, AZ, area, our professional pediatric dentists are here for you.

You need a proper blood socket to form after an extraction. This is what keeps out harmful bacteria and pathogens. Your Phoenix, AZ, dentist will give you pain medication to administer to your child. Pay attention to complaints of severe pain that doesn’t diminish. This can indicate the development of a dry socket. Look for these symptoms:

-A visible lack of a blood clot in the socket
-Low-grade fever
-Bad breath
-Pain radiating from the tooth into other areas of the face, head, and neck

The best treatment for dry sockets is prevention. Avoid letting your child drink anything with a straw. Also, try to have them avoid spitting. Contact us right away with symptoms of a dry socket. We may advise a change in their prescriptions, along with providing them medical gauze for the socket.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces top-tier pediatric dental services. We have three separate offices located in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit https://www.kidzconnextion.com/ to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.

Children & Abscessed Teeth

At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, located in offices across the Phoenix, AZ, area, we offer dental treatment and preventive care for children of all ages. We can even treat Abscesses in the teeth or gums. An abscessed tooth occurs when there is an infection, resulting in pus. The pus has no place to drain, causing problems and discomfort. It’s important to schedule an appointment for your child right away. An untreated infection can spread to the rest of the body without medical intervention.

If your child has an abscessed tooth, they’ll complain of a bad taste in their mouth, a fever, swelling in the jaw, swollen gums, and throbbing pain. You need to have them see our dentists in Phoenix, AZ, right away.

The first thing the dentist will do at your child’s appointment is to examine the infected area. They can make a diagnosis off of this alone. From there, the dentist prescribes your child an antibiotic to stop the infection. If the infection is severe enough, the dentist might drill a hole in your child’s tooth. This lets the pus and infection drain out. Doing this relieves some of your child’s discomfort. A root canal treatment is another possibility. A root canal removes more of the infected tissue while saving the tooth.

Follow-up care is extremely important for guaranteeing your child’s speedy recovery. Place an icepack on your child’s face or jaw for 10-20 minutes. Do this on and off through the day to manage discomfort. Follow the directions on your child’s medications. Give pain medication and antibiotics as directed.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces top-tier pediatric dental services. We have three separate offices located in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit https://www.kidzconnextion.com/ to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.

Over-Retained Baby Teeth

At some point in everyone’s childhood, their baby teeth inevitably fall out. This isn’t always the case. Over-retained baby teeth need proper evaluation, monitoring, and possibly removal. When a baby tooth doesn’t exfoliate, the adult teeth cannot properly erupt. Schedule an appointment for your child with Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces right away. Our pediatric dentists in the Phoenix, AZ, area are here to help.

There are a few causes for over-retained baby teeth. It’s important that your child receives an evaluation to determine why. Your Phoenix, AZ, dentist performs a dental examination and takes X-rays. This will provide you with the answers you need. The most common reason is that your child is missing permanent teeth. Hence, there is nothing to push out the baby tooth. A more rare possibility is that the baby tooth is fused to the bone.

Here are a few other possibilities for an over-retained baby tooth:
-Obstructions in the jaw or mouth
-Misalignment of the baby or permanent tooth
-Infection
-Trauma or injury to the specific area
-A late or slow eruption of the permanent tooth

Treatment depends entirely upon the tooth and the condition it is in. If the tooth does not require interference, it is left how it is. A weirdly shaped baby tooth is safe to leave retained with modification. Lastly, a crooked or strangely positioned retained tooth will require an extraction.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces top-tier pediatric dental services. We have three separate offices located in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit https://www.kidzconnextion.com/ to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.

Sjorgren's Syndrome

There are certain medical conditions that have a direct impact on your oral health. Sjorgren’s syndrome is one of them. This is a systemic autoimmune condition that targets the tear and salivary glands. Dry mouth is a very common side effect. If you are struggling with a dry mouth or have been diagnosed with Sjorgren’s syndrome, schedule an appointment with Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces today. Your Phoenix, AZ, dentist helps you alleviate your symptoms.

Your entire body is affected when you have Sjorgren’s syndrome. Here is a list of the common oral complications:

-Dry mouth, throat, and lips
-A hoarse or scratchy sounding voice
-Chronic coughing or wheezing
-Problems swallowing
-Swollen salivary glands in the face and neck
-Frequent oral infections or cavities

There is no known cure for this condition. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to treat it! The first thing you need to do is get a diagnosis. Set up an appointment with your Phoenix, AZ, dentist. At your appointment, they will examine your salivary glands and flow. They can also help with any of your other symptoms, like cavities.

Treatment is customizable for each patient. You need to talk to your Primary Care Physician or General Practitioner about medication for your immune system. Your dentist focuses just on oral symptoms. The first thing you need to do is increase your salivary production. We recommend Artificial Saliva. This keeps your mouth moist when your body can’t. You can also invest in over-the-counter dry mouth treatments. These are available as both toothpaste and mouthwash.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces provide quality pediatric dental care. We have three offices spread across the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit our website to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th AVe. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.