Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Did you know that x-rays could help evaluate the health of your child’s smile? There are cavities that could be lurking in between the teeth that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Having regular x-rays can help your child’s dental provider evaluate and ensure that they are on the right track with their smile.   An x-ray allows for an image to be shown which will allow the dentist not only to see if there are cavities, but also if there are structural concerns that are below the gum line. Your child may return to their activities immediately following an x-ray and there are no other immediate side effects that should impact your child. Once the dentist has a clear picture of your child’s smile if they have concerns, or other treatment is needed to address a problem, they will walk through this with you to ensure you have all the information you need. X-rays are usually quick and easy. There is nothing special that needs to be done prior to an x-ray. You may want to exp...

Did you take preventative action this dental year to keep your children’s smile healthy? Visiting the dentist 2x a year is fantastic. It is a great way to take advantage of the dental benefits you have already paid for. But you may have a pocket of dental benefits you have not taken advantage of that will expire at the end of the year. It is important to understand your dental benefits in order to know what treatments for your children your dental benefits do and do not cover. Getting x-rays done can ensure there are no other problems that are between your children’s teeth. If you did not have x-rays done during their regular check-up, now may be the time. Does your child have a cracked or broken tooth that cosmetically bothers them, but is not causing pain? If you have a flex spending account, that money will no longer be available to you at the end of the year. This can be a real problem, because you have already paid this cash. But at the end of the year it is gone. Fi...

At your child’s dental visit, after an extensive health history is taken and your pediatric dentist has taken a look at your child’s teeth, it may be recommended for them to have x-rays taken. It may also be recommended that your child has X-rays more frequently than you as an adult. The reason is because their mouth changes quickly.  An x-ray allows the dentist to see what is below the gum line, between the teeth and shows potential problems that may impact your child in the future. X-rays should be taken every six months at their regular dental appointment. Once the x-rays are taken not only is the dentist able to see if there are any problems below the gum line, but they also can determine if there are cavities between the teeth that need to be taken care of. The number of x-rays that need to be taken will depend on the size of your child’s mouth and how well the x-ray is able to be taken.  If it is recommended that your child have x-rays they...

It can be nerve racking to take your child to the dentist for the first time. You don’t know how they’re going to respond, or if they are going to have cavities and require extensive dental procedures to fix decay. Instead of worrying about the visit, here are 4 tips from pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller to help decrease the anxiety. 1.      Prepare your child for the visit. The calmer they are, the calmer you will be. This can include a pre-visit to the dentist where they see the office, meet the dentist and maybe even sit in the dental chair. This doesn’t have to be an official visit. 2.      Take your child to the dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts. This can help to ease them, and you, into the habit of visiting the dentist on a regular basis. If they always know 2x a year they visit the dentist it will help to establish a regular routine. 3.      Have your children...

When your son or daughter visits the dentist it can be scary for them, especially if they are in pain and require a more extensive dental procedure. While the pain and procedure may be scary to your child, the cost may be making you sweat. Prior to having your child get a pulpotomy or root canal read this article to know if they really need one. Here are 3 reasons why your child may need a pulpotomy. When first presented with the problem, you may think your child’s tooth is going to fall out anyway. If they are going to lose the tooth, do they really need a root canal? Removing a child’s tooth can cause problems with speech and eating later on. This procedure can save the tooth and allow your child to resume normal eating patterns. If the cavity in the tooth is large and the decay is causing pain, the root needs to be cleaned out in order to remove the problem. Decay left in the tooth will continue to create pain and problems for your child. Decay le...

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...

Dr. Fuller states, “We know how important it is to have a fun and enjoyable visit to the dentist.” Your child's needs are as unique as they are, and we want to make sure your child has an awesome visit each and every time. Establishing a positive connection with your child is the key to a positive visit. From the start to the end of each visit the entire team will work to help keep your child as calm as possible.   We know that the first visit will set the tone for all of their future visits. We'll spend extra time getting to know your child and building a positive relationship with them. If a certain toy or stuffed animal helps relax them, you may want to bring it to the visit with you. They can hold onto it in the chair.   If it is the first time they have visited, you can expect an oral exam to make sure they do not have any cavities or decay. X-rays may also be taken to ensure there are no problems brewing below the gum line or even missing ad...