FAQ
Q: What are dental sealants?
A: A sealant is a protective coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth. The chewing surface of children’s teeth are the most susceptible to cavities and least benefited from fluorides. Sealants act as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.
Q: What should I do if my child has a cracked tooth?
A: Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. He or she needs to come in for an x-ray and exam as soon as possible. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Treatment options could be as simple as smoothing the chip out, placing a small composite filling, doing a root canal and crown, or in the most severe cases, extraction of the tooth.
Q: Are dental x-rays really necessary?
A: X-Rays are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed. Radiographs allow dentists to diagnose and treat conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, such as lead aprons and high-speed films, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small.
A: A sealant is a protective coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth. The chewing surface of children’s teeth are the most susceptible to cavities and least benefited from fluorides. Sealants act as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.
Q: What should I do if my child has a cracked tooth?
A: Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. He or she needs to come in for an x-ray and exam as soon as possible. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Treatment options could be as simple as smoothing the chip out, placing a small composite filling, doing a root canal and crown, or in the most severe cases, extraction of the tooth.
Q: Are dental x-rays really necessary?
A: X-Rays are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed. Radiographs allow dentists to diagnose and treat conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, such as lead aprons and high-speed films, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small.