Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

While it may seem that your child should not face the same dental problems as you do because they have only baby teeth, or maybe they don’t have as many of their permanent teeth in, they in fact, face all of the same problems you face.   Plaque and decay can build up on their teeth causing cavities and if the cavity is not taken care of then there may be a need for a more invasive dental procedure such as a root canal.     Preventative dental care is the key to protecting their smile from plaque and buildup. By having them brush, floss and receive routine dental cleanings you can prevent minor problems from turning into a major dental problem. Gum Disease, while it isn’t typical, in children, is possible. You may notice signs of redness or swollen gums. Without proper treatment, it can lead not only to more severe dental problems such as loss of teeth, but it can also lead to health problems later on. Gum disease is an infection that the body is fighting. T...

Thumb sucking is a natural response for children who usually do it because it helps console and comfort them.   This is a natural event for children and is not usually anything you need to be concerned about until they begin to get their permanent teeth. Some factors can damage the alignment of the teeth more so than other factors. Research shows that the intensity in which your child sucks their thumb along with how often they suck their thumb are two factors that can influence the potential damage to their teeth.   Most children will naturally stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2 and 4. If your child gets their permanent teeth and they are still sucking their thumb, you may want to begin helping support them to stop. You do not want to nag or punish your child for this behavior as it only may increase their need for comfort, thus increasing their desire to suck on their thumb. You may want to curb this habit if you begin to notice that the shape...

The teeth are carefully designed to allow your child to safely consume food without causing damage to their teeth and to avoid problems with their jaw. Having teeth or jaw alignment problems can create damaging long term effects to your child’s smile. Bite alignment problems can be caused by a variety of things including: fillings that are high, injury, thumb sucking, grinding of teeth and trauma. If you notice any problems with your child’s bite, or if they have cracked or broken teeth it may be time to have their bite looked at by Dr.Cameron Fuller and his team. Your child’s bite can be evaluated as early as age 6 or 7. You may notice that their bite is off by their upper or lower teeth sticking out further than their other teeth. Or, they may have unbalanced facial features when their facial muscles are relaxed. However, they may also have crowding of teeth or wide spaces between their teeth. Your child may not need any major dental work done right away, but leaving ...