Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Developmental milestone charts are everywhere at your doctor’s office. You know exactly when your baby is going to crawl, take their first step, and what their weight is supposed to be and you probably wait for that special day when you hear their first words. But vital information is missing from these lists. When are they supposed to get their first teeth? How many are they supposed to have and what do you do if their teeth are spread apart or begin to decay. In the womb, when everything else is developing, their first teeth begin to also grow. Your baby, when born, actually has what are called, “tooth buds,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller , pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands and Associates.   It is not very common for babies to be born with a tooth or two however; it is not unheard of. Typically, the development of their first teeth breaks skin at seven or eight months.   You may see the tip of a tooth as early as three months or as late as one...

Sealants are a thin plastic covering that helps protect the grooves of your child’s teeth. You may wonder why the pediatric dentist is recommending putting sealants on your child’s baby teeth, especially because they are going to fall out any way. Sealants are important because these baby teeth hold the place for the permanent teeth. Therefore, you do not want their teeth to fall out sooner than expected or to be extracted due to extensive decay.   Sealants should be placed on molars and premolars due to the fact that there are deep grooves in these teeth, called “fissures.” The grooves on the teeth can trap food and be difficult for your children to remove all of the food from the surface. The longer that food stays on the teeth the higher risk your child has of decay.   While the molars and premolars are recommended, your dentist may also recommend placing sealants on the chewing surfaces of other teeth.   There is no time like the presen...

  A sealant is a thin plastic coating that protects the deep groves of the teeth. When placing sealants on your child’s teeth it does not hurt. It only takes a few short minutes to get all of the surfaces protected.   Usually sealants are placed on the pre-molars and molars however, sometimes they are recommended for other surfaces. The sealant can only be seen if you are looking very close and should not alter your child’s bite.   The color is generally white but may have a tint to it depending on the type of sealant used.   Usually, Dr. Fuller will recommend placing sealants at your child’s regular visit after their molars and premolars have come in. In order to place the sealant on the teeth, first the surface will be cleaned with a specific paste. Then an acidic solution will be placed on the surface of the tooth. This allows for a rougher surface to be created in order for the sealant substance to stick. Once this is done, the se...

After your child has been discharged from the dental office receiving intravenous procedures it is normal for a few hours for them to feel nauseous, and groggy. These side affects should only last for a few hours after the procedure. Your child should be monitored if they are feeling ill for longer than that.   Intravenous sedation is a deep sleep that allows long dental procedures to be completed or dental procedures to be completed on a child who is fearful or unable to stay seated for a long time. After the procedure some discomfort may be felt and is considered normal. If your child is uncomfortable from the procedure you can give them the appropriate dosage of Tylenol and Motrin up to twenty-four hours after the procedure. If the discomfort persists, after the twenty-four hours, you should notify Dr. Fuller and his team. If your child continues to be nauseous, has a fever, or their gums are bleeding you should also contact Dr. Fuller in orde...

Intravenous sedation or other types of sedation medication maybe recommended to you by Dr. Fuller, pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands and Associates in order to provide the necessary dental care for your child. Dr. Fuller will only recommend this if absolutely necessary.   Once your son/daughter’s procedure is completed you will be asked to stay with them until the medication wears off. IV medication can affect your child in different ways and depending on your child the medication may take a short amount of time or a long time to wear off.   They may also react in different ways. Some children will cry, be fussy, or they may feel nauseous. While all of these are normal, it is important for your child to continue to be monitored until all of the medication wears off. After the medication has worn off and your child is discharged home you will want to continue to monitor your child. Their mouth still may be numb as well as their mouth,...

You have recently visited the dentist, and Dr. CameronFuller and his team have recommended intravenous sedation for your child’s procedure. Now what, you may think? IV sedation may be recommended to help make your child more comfortable during a difficult or long procedure. Your child will be monitored during the entire procedure to make sure they are doing well. In order to prep your child for the sedation before the appointment, after midnight on the night before your child’s visit, they should only have clear liquids to drink. This includes but is not limited to milk, juice and formula. The morning of the procedure and up to two hours before the procedure you may give your child some clear liquids in order to hydrate them. Once at the office, it is helpful if you remain calm. If your child sees concern on your face it may cause problems for them. In order to stay calm you may want to bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket for you child. If you are...

Intravenous sedation is a mild sedation that is used to help your child be comfortable during dental procedures.   It can be used when your child is going to undergo a longer procedure, is fearful of the dentist, or has a difficult time staying still for long periods of time.   Although this type of sedation is not used often, it can safely be utilized to help provide the best possible dental care for your child. IV sedation is different than other types of sedation that may be used in that a needle is inserted in the vein. The dosage can be distributed in two different ways: a   high enough dosage can be given slowly in order to provide enough mediation during the entire procedure, or in a continuous amount throughout the entire procedure. There are requirements before this type of sedation is given. Once the proper dosage has been given to your child, pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller will continue to monitor your child’s heart rate, blood pre...

Conscious sedation is another method that can be used for children during a dental appointment. It may be recommended if your child is struggling to wear the Nitrous Oxide mask, if your child is apprehensive, has special needs or is very young.   Conscious sedation is considered safe in children to use for dental procedures. Your child will be monitored both during and after the procedure, as they can be very drowsy.   It is recommended that you keep your child awake after the procedure for at least two hours in order to make sure there are no problems.   There are multiple medications that can be used for conscious sedation.   While each medication is a little different, on the day of the appointment your child should not have a nap right before, should only drink clear liquids and should not eat. “Not eating reduces the risk of vomiting,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller.   Conscious sedation is not a common practice...

It can be scary if your child is required to have a dental procedure done that is going to cause them discomfort. Now you are confronted with information on sedation, nitrous oxide, procedure information, how to manage any pain, and what to watch for after the procedure. It can become very overwhelming. Here is some information in order to help you make the decision easier.             Nitrous Oxide or ‘laughing gas’ as it is called, can be used if your child is going to have a procedure done and is older or more controlled when seeing the dentist. Nitrous may be recommended is your child is   having a tooth removed, a root canal or a filling.   “Nitrous Oxide,” according to Dr. Cameron Fuller, “is a blend of two gases, oxygen and nitrous. It is safe for most patients and can be administered through a face mask. Your child will be fully awake, but the gas will allow them to relax, especially, if they are feel...