Pediatric Dental Care in Muskego, Wisconsin

Pediatric dental care is for children of all ages, from infancy through adolescence. 

When it comes to their dental care, children and teenagers are different from adults – they are much more than just “small adults.” Kids have different dental problems, and many of the dental issues they experience during childhood can affect them as young adults. A child’s baby teeth help their permanent teeth come in at the right spot on their jawbone, for example, and this can affect how straight their teeth are as an adult. A teenager who loses a permanent tooth has lost that tooth forever.

Children are at a high risk for certain dental problems, such as cavities. In fact, cavities are the most common childhood disease. The good news is that cavities, also known as dental caries, are preventable with good pediatric dental care. 

Pediatric Dental Care in Muskego Builds a Good Foundation for a Lifetime of Smiles

Taking good care of your child’s dental health while they are young will provide them with a wide range of health benefits when they get older. 

Baby teeth help adult teeth come in, or erupt, in the correct place on your child’s jaw. The tops, or crowns, of the permanent teeth actually push against the roots of the baby teeth. The pressure causes the roots of the baby teeth to melt away. (The next time your child loses a baby tooth, look at how short the root is!) 

Your child will have 20 baby teeth in all, and these primary teeth usually begin to appear when a baby is between six and nine months old. The two lower front teeth usually erupt first, followed by the two upper front teeth. Molars and canines, or “eyeteeth,” come in later. 

Teething can be painful. You can reduce teeth discomfort by wiping your child’s gums and newly-erupting teeth with a damp washcloth or a water-soaked gauze pad.

For the first six years or so, your child’s primary teeth do all the heavy lifting when it comes to biting, chewing, and speaking. Between the ages of 6 and about 12, your child will have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth. It’s important that your child loses their baby teeth at the right time, as losing a tooth too early can allow the adult tooth to come up in the wrong place or at a bad angle. For optimal dental health for a lifetime, you’ll want to make sure your child’s primary and permanent teeth stay healthy. 

Daily brushing routine

We encourage you to establish a daily brushing routine when your child is about 2 years old. Apply a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste onto a small, soft-bristled toothbrush, and gently brush each of your child’s teeth. As your child grows, encourage them to take the lead in brushing their teeth – they may need your help until they are about 6 years old. 

Pediatric Dental Treatments

Our Muskego dentist offers a wide variety of pediatric dental treatments that prevent tooth decay and cavities in children, and to save or repair teeth. 

Topical fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps teeth resist decay. While some toothpastes and municipal drinking water supplies contain a small amount of fluoride, the fluoride treatments your dentists provide offers maximum protection. 

Dental sealants

Our dentist can apply a plastic coating to your child’s teeth. This coating prevents cavities by sealing the chewing surfaces of teeth. Easy to apply, dental sealants provide years of protection. 

Root canal treatment

Root canals can save a damaged or severely-decayed tooth. 

Dental bonding

Chipped teeth and small fractures to the front teeth are fairly common in children. Dentists use tooth-colored bonding materials to repair chipped and broken teeth. 

Teeth cleaning

Also known as prophylaxis, professional teeth cleaning helps prevent cavities and promote overall dental health. 

Tooth-colored fillings

Even with the best care, cavities can happen. Our dentist uses composite fillings with a tooth-colored resin to fill in cavities – these fillings are less noticeable. 

Dental sealants

Our dentist can apply a dental sealant to the surface of teeth to help protect tooth enamel from plaque, decay, and cavities. 

Tooth extractions

Having a tooth “pulled” is a last resort, of course, but it may be necessary to remove a tooth that is decayed, diseased, traumatized, or interfering with the normal development of your child’s teeth or gums. 

Dental emergencies

Dental emergencies include broken teeth, lost teeth, bleeding and serious tooth pain. 

Orthodontic evaluation

Our dentist will continually assess your child’s teeth for malocclusion, or crooked teeth. We’ll suggest an orthodontic intervention if we think teeth straightening will help. 

Child-friendly sedation

Sedation can help you child feel relaxed throughout their treatment. 

Restorative treatment

Restorative treatment helps improve the appearance, health and function of a damaged or lost tooth. 

For more information about pediatric dentistry, contact our dentist in Muskego, Wisconsin. We offer a full range of pediatric dentistry services, from filling cavities to restorative treatment. Contact us today.

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