Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Broken teeth happen for a variety of reasons. Your child may have fallen from a bike or cracked their front teeth in a game of chase. No matter the cause, this dental problem is quite common and there are options in order to improve the overall appearance of their smile. 1.      Depending on the size of the chip or fracture, your pediatric dentist may be able to polish and smooth out the tooth. This procedure is relatively easy and does not take long. Once the procedure is completed your child is able to resume their daily activities. 2.      Pediatric dentist Dr. Fuller may use a procedure known as bonding if the crack is in the front, or if it is chipped badly. First, he will etch the tooth, creating a rough surface to allow the bonding material to stick. Once this has been done he will be able to apply the adhesive to the tooth and shape it to look more like a regular tooth. An ultraviolet light is utilized in order...

Vapor cigarettes may seem like a safer option then the real deal when your teen is smoking, but this type of cigarette is not any healthier. Vapor cigarettes contain a mixture of carcinogens similar to the ones found in regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes still contain nicotine and carbon monoxide and, when your teen inhales that vapor, they are taking in all of those other unhealthy chemicals as well. “Nicotine is not only highly addictive, when ingested, it speeds up the heart rate and blood pressure,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller .   Once the immediate effects of nicotine wear off you may find yourself irritable, crabby and tired. Your teenager already faces so many challenges this can only compound the issues they are facing.   E-cigarette companies market to kids using a variety of exciting and candy-like flavors. While the taste may appeal to your child, the unhealthy effects should keep them steering clear of these.   Talk to your teen about the negati...

When should my child visit the dentist? a. After the first tooth has erupted it is important for you to schedule the initial visit to the dentist. They will do an initial exam to check and see if there are any problems. They will also discuss brushing routine and any other questions you may have about your child’s care.    Why does the pediatric dentist recommend fluoride? A. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of teeth. While they get fluoride through multiple sources, you’ll want to make sure they only get the recommended amount. How frequently should I change my child’s toothbrush? A. Pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller says, “Their toothbrush should be changed every three to six months just as you would do for your own,.” This ensures the bristles are able to do their job.  Bacteria can stay in the bristles, so changing this often prevents germs from getting the upper hand. What should I do if my child hits their teeth? ...

A pulpotomy is a procedure completed in a pediatric dental office to help remove the pulp in a baby tooth. “ When bacteria or decay reaches the root of the tooth, it is important to take care of as soon as possible,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller. Your child may complain of pain or sensitivity if they are old enough. Otherwise they may just seem fussy. If left untreated, bacteria can cause your child to lose their baby teeth, have an infection and experience severe pain.     Dr. Fuller will suggest a pulpotomy if the decay is impacting the function of the tooth, or if they are in pain. Baby teeth are important in the development of your child’s adult teeth. If decay and bacteria in the root is left, that damage can spread causing problems for multiple baby teeth as well as their adult teeth. The tooth as it becomes m...

When your teenager comes home upset because kids are making fun of his smile, or are teasing her about the color of her teeth, it can be easy to want to fix the problem. Get the facts on teeth whitening for teens prior to making any decisions. The health of their smile lasts a lifetime. Their teenage years are only a fraction of that time. Prior to making any long-lasting decisions get the facts.     Your teen should be at least fourteen before having them utilize any whitening kits or having a whitening procedure completed. Pediatric dentist Dr. Fuller states, “By this age, the pulp is fully formed and will decrease the sensitivity to any whitening products they use.” Until age fourteen you can help ensure your teenager has a healthy, white smile by providing them with plenty of fruits and vegetables with high-water concentr...

The summer is here, and when the kids are complaining of being hot it is easy to quickly reach in the freezer and hand them a sugar pop or ice cream. More sugar increases your child’s risk of dental decay. Increase a lot and so does their opportunity for obesity and other diseases, such as diabetes. Instead grab for a healthier treat and improve your child’s dental health. Here are a few suggested treats. Yogurt Fruit Cups: ½ cup of fruit of your choice Low sugar yogurt Granola with pecans Mix the ingredients together and stick in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool down treat. Then enjoy. Yogurt Pops 1.      Ice cube tray 2.      Yogurt flavor of your choice 3.      Popsicle stick Take the yogurt and fill up the ice cube trays. Once the yogurt is in the trays, you can put the Popsicle sticks in and place in the freezer until frozen. Try different flavors to enjoy ...

Summer is here and now is the perfect time to take that vacation out of the heat. Before you hit the beaches, and cooler weather, here are four tips on how to plan for dental needs while traveling to keep your child’s smile healthy. 1.      Pack a new toothbrush with a brush protector. Toothbrushes are susceptible to gathering all of the bacteria that floats in the air when they are just sitting in the bathroom. Once you are traveling the bristles need to be protected from picking up the bacteria not only from the air, but also from other items coming in contact with the bristles. 2.      Don’t forget the floss. It is easy to forget items when packing for a trip. But you don’t want to forget this critical dental item. It can be difficult to establish and keep healthy habits while on the road, but when you plan ahead you can continue the healthy habits you’ve already started at home. 3.      Take wa...

Besides the obvious importance of water to nourish your children and their body, water is critical to their smile.   Water makes up half of your child’s body weight and is essential in order for their organs to work properly. Water helps their immune system to help fight off illness. Dr. Cameron Fuller suggests children drink half of their weight in water to remain properly hydrated. 1.      While the weather heats up this summer make sure your children are drinking plenty of water to clean any food from their teeth between brushing.   When their mouth is dry, food sticks to the surface of the teeth longer and once food is on the teeth for long periods of time, it increases the opportunity for decay. 2.      “Fluoridated water helps to decrease decay,” according to Dr. Fuller. Fluoride helps remineralize the enamel of the teeth and so helps decrease their opportunities for cavities.   It’s an inexpe...

Preventative measures are important in order to help protect your child’s teeth and ensure healthy habits. Ensuring your child visits the dentist on a regular basis can help prevent dental decay, dental emergencies, broken teeth and cavities. These preventative measures are just as important as taking care of any problems that pop up.   Bringing your child to the dentist can allow them to have x-rays taken to determine if there are any problems brewing between the teeth well before a major problem crops up. Dr. Fuller suggests, “Brushing is critical to remove food day to day.” Without this important step food builds up and sugar can eat the enamel causing cavities and other dental problems. Food often builds up in the back of the mouth on the outside of the check, a place that is particularly difficult for young children to reach without your help.   Starting this brushing process with your child early is as important as helping them continue the r...