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Pediatric Dentist

Jun 20

How often do pediatric dentists take x-rays?

By Pediatric Dentist, X-rays

Is it normal practice to give kids x-rays with every 6 month checkup? Whenever I take my kids to the pediatric dentist the x-rays are done. Our insurance only pays for yearly x-rays, but the dentist does it twice a year. I am not really used to this. We’ve had this dentist 2 years and no previous dentist did x-rays twice a year. Of course I asked about it and I was told that it’s their normal practice. The radiation exposure on my kids makes me nervous. I have three kids under the age of 8 and I think they are too young for frequent unnecessary x-rays. I want to call ahead before the next dental cleaning to ask the office to waive the x-rays. I don’t want it to be an issue when I arrive. I am just wondering if this office is an exception to the usual yearly x-ray rate. If so maybe I need to switch to a new dentist. – Xaria W.

Xaria- The most common practice is for x-rays to be completed yearly. Some pediatric dentists increase the rate to every six months—particularly with children you are cavity prone. X-rays can assist with early detection of tooth decay. Early detection can help prevent the need for a filling, or only a small filling may be needed, as opposed to deep decay that requires a dental crown. Your dentist or dental hygienist will be able to tell you if it’s their practice for all patients, or if there is a specific reason that your children’s x-rays are being done more frequently.

Digital dental x-rays emit low levels of radiation. The level is equivalent to receiving rays from the sun after standing outside for a few minutes. Today’s x-rays have 80% less exposure to radiation than traditional film x-rays. Although the exposure level is low, patients are protected with a lead apron.

Insurance companies provide benefits for adequate preventive care, including x-rays. If more frequent care is needed, patients pay out of pocket. If your children need more frequent x-rays, but your insurance plan won’t cover the additional diagnostic studies, we recommend that you put your children’s oral health first.

If you call in advance as planned, you can find out why more frequent x-rays are being recommended. If you are skeptical about the reason given, you can opt to receive a second opinion from another pediatric dentist.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Anthony LaVacca for Innovative Pediatric Dentistry in Naperville.

May 19

Do pediatric dentists fix upper lip tie?

By Pediatric Dentist

If a baby has upper lip tie is this something a pediatric dentist can fix? I am told that an oral surgeon needs to do the repair, but if it’s a simple procedure, we would rather go to a doctor who is used to dealing with children. Thanks. Jen

Jen – Lip tie, or a short frenulum of the upper lip, restricts lip movement. The frenulum connects the very top of the inner, upper lip to the gums between your two front teeth. Lip tie can prevent the lip from moving much beyond the upper gum. Restricted movement can cause pain when breast feeding and affect an infant’s ability to get proper nourishment. The technically term for the condition is concomitant lip-tie.

What Are the Signs of Upper Lip Tie?

  • Inadequate latching while breast feeding – This can be accompanied by prolonged feeding because the baby is unable get enough milk
  • Inability to seal lips on a bottle – Restriction of the baby’s upper lip can prevent him or her from getting a good seal on a bottle nipple.
  • Inability to gain weight or weight loss – If your baby isn’t getting enough nourishment, he or she fail to gain weight, or lose weight.
  • Gasiness, fatigue, or fussiness from inadequate feeding
  • Inability to clean the spoon with his or her lips, if your baby is spoon feeding

If you notice any of the above signs while your baby is feeding, let your pediatrician know. He or she will examine your baby’s oral cavities and if necessary, recommend a specialist.

Complications associated with lip tie have caused many parents to seek a surgical solution. Before consulting a surgeon, many parents work with their pediatrician to get a feeding assessment. The infant’s feeding style and ability are assessed to help determine if intervention is needed. There are surgical and non-surgical treatments available.

Who Performs the Lip-Tie Surgery?

If lip tie is related to breastfeeding pain or malnourishment for the baby, surgery may be needed. The surgical procedure, or frenotomy, is performed in the doctor’s office in just a few minutes. Some pediatric dentists can perform the procedure. Either an oral surgeon or a prosthodontist frequently perform the surgery and can handle simple to complex cases. These specialists are very familiar with performing the procedure on children. To increase your comfort level, ask the specialist how many similar surgeries he or she regularly performs on children.

A clamp and scissors, or a laser, is used to release the frenulum. Only minor bleeding occurs and the recovery period is progressive.

Choosing a Specialist

Although the surgical procedure is quick, we recommend that you have a consultation with two or three experienced oral surgeons or prosthodontists. The consultations will help you choose a provider with whom your family is comfortable. Ensure you understand if and why a frenotomy is needed, the outcome you can expect, as well as the pros and cons.

After Lip-Tie Surgery

Keep your scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing. At times, a lactation consultant is recommended to ensure your baby receives optimum feeding.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca. Dr. LaVacca and his wife, Manal Ibrahim offer a range of oral care services with a team of skilled general dentists, pediatric dentists, and orthodontists.

 

Apr 02

Does a pediatric dentist need to see my 13 month old for white spots on his teeth?

By Pediatric Dentist

Does a 13 month old need to go to the dentist? I stopped breastfeeding my son in January. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. I am noticing that he has white spots on his teeth. It can’t be related to anything thing that I am feeding him because I am making sure he has a clean, sugar-free diet. Is this normal or is it a reason to take him to a pediatric dentist for a checkup? I thought I would take him at 2 yrs old, but if he needs to go now I will find a dentist. Nadia

Nadia – White spots on teeth are usually a sign of decalcification, or tooth decay. Decalcification is caused by mineral deficiency in teeth, which causes them to weaken and decay. Your son may not have cavities yet, but if his teeth are left untreated, cavities can develop. A pediatric dentist may use fluoride treatments to strengthen the tooth and prevent decay.

Decalcification is not common in small children. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene as soon as teeth erupt. You can thoroughly clean your son’s teeth with a moist, soft cloth. This cleaning process substitutes for brushing his teeth—it’s too early to do that.

It’s not too soon to see a dentist, though. The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry recommends a dental visit as soon as the first tooth erupts. Early examination can detect potential problems, ensure teeth are erupting probably, and provide an opportunity for early intervention.

If your pediatric dentist isn’t able to find out the cause of the white spots, he or she will work with your son’s pediatrician to find the cause. Find an experienced pediatric dentist and schedule an appointment for your son as soon as possible.

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

Feb 23

How do I verify pediatric dentist’s certification?

By Pediatric Dentist

My gym has a lot of activities for the community. Last night a pediatric dentist was there (I think it was really for advertisement purposes) who spoke about how to help kids take care of their oral health. I have actually been looking for a female pediatric dentist for my kids but I haven’t had a lot of success. There are a few in my area, but I just haven’t been satisfied with the consultations. For some reason, when I did a google search for the dentist that spoke at the gym, she didn’t come up in the web site results. Maybe I didn’t notice her web site, or maybe she doesn’t have a web site because I still can’t find one. I just want to be sure that she is certified. How can I find that out if she doesn’t have a website? Thank you. – Jenny

Jenny – You can start by visiting the website of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Certification can be verified on that site. If the dentist’s name isn’t listed on that website, you can ask for her contact information from your gym.

The dentist’s office will be able to tell you what kind of certification she has, and you can perform a certification search on the applicable websites.

In addition to certification, be sure to look for online reviews. Physicians’ and dentists’ social media pages often provide reviews. Also consider how long the dentist has been practicing and whether or not he or she is in an office where there are other dentists to consult with and learn from.

Schedule a consultation with the dentist, and bring your children with you to the appointment. This will give you a chance to get a feel for the office environment and how your children respond to the staff and dentist.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jan 25

My son’s gums bleed when he brushes his teeth

By Gum Disease, Oral Health, Pediatric Dentist

I finally got our 4 yr old into brushing his teeth twice a day. He actually started liking it. I was surprised. 2 weeks ago he was brushing and I was helping and his gums started bleeding. I had him rinse his mouth and everything was okay. I figured maybe he was brushing too hard, so I told him to do it softly. That seemed to work until last week. He was brushing his teeth on 2 different occasions and the gums started bleeding again. I am trying to be calm about this because he is just comfortable with brushing his teeth and I don’t want him to freak out or think that brushing teeth means bleeding gums. I know that he isn’t brushing too hard any more. Does he have gum disease at 4? Thanks. Tuscany

Tuscany – There are several possible causes of your son’s bleeding gums. For an accurate diagnosis, though, schedule an appointment with your son’s pediatric dentist.

One possible cause is dry mouth. Does your son breathe with his mouth open? Does he drink plenty of water daily? Or is he taking medication that has dry mouth as a side effect? Any of these factors can cause the gums to become tight, dry, and more likely to bleed.

Vigorous brushing is another cause of bleeding gums, but you have mentioned that your son isn’t brushing his teeth tooth hard. Continue to monitor him to ensure that he isn’t brushing aggressively. A soft-bristled toothbrush should be used.

There are certain medical conditions, including some auto-immune conditions that can cause gums to bleed easily. Bleeding gums may be related to the beginning stages of periodontal (gum disease).

Again, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with your son’s pediatric dentist for accurate diagnosis and treatment. If you have already seen a pediatric dentist about the issue, consider getting a second opinion and speaking with your medical doctor about it.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 28

Why does my 5 yrs old’s breath smell so bad?

By Oral Health, Pediatric Dentist

My 5 yr old daughter has horrible breath. It even takes my breath away sometimes when I smell it. It’s not an oral hygiene thing. At least I don’t think it is. I floss and brush her teeth morning and night. I also make a little baking soda mouthwash for her to gargle with every day but it doesn’t help. When I take her to the dentist, even she talks about brushing out the ‘bad breath monsters’. Really I have done all that I know to do. I asked the pediatric dentist and she keeps saying that I should brush and floss my daughter’s teeth. I do that already. This is really bothering me and I know that eventually my daughter will start being teased because the smell of her breath is really horrible. I am wondering what else I can do or what can be causing the problem. thank you – Oksana

Oksana – You can start by having a conversation with your daughter’s dentist. Let the dentist know your daily routine for your daughter’s oral hygiene. Then ask the dentist for an exam to help determine what’s causing the bad breath. Also ask if the dentist has any ideas for what is causing the problem. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, you may need to choose a new dentist.

Also, ask your family doctor or pediatrician about the problem. At times, there are medical factors that can cause bad breath in children. We are by no means diagnosing your daughter’s case, but listed below are some causes of bad breath in children.

  • A medical condition – Allergies, sinus issues, tonsillitis, or other medical conditions can cause bad breath.
  • Dry mouth – Certain medications can cause dry mouth, and so can a lack of saliva production. Ensure your child drinks plenty of water to keep his or her mouth moist.
  • Oral infection – Cavities or a mouth sore can cause bad odor.
  • Food – Certain foods have odors that linger, including garlic and onions.
  • Bacteria on the tongue – It’s important to gently brush the tongue, too. A buildup of bacteria on the tongue will cause a foul odor. A tongue scraper can be carefully used.
  • Breathing through the mouth – This will quickly dry out the mouth and cause odor. If your child breathes through his or her mouth due to sinus or allergy issues, addressing the issue can make breathing with the mouth closed much easier. Give your child plenty of water to drink.

The above causes are possibilities. An examination from your child’s pediatric dentist and medical doctor will help identify the cause, as well as the best treatment.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 28

Is it okay to switch our son to a hard-bristle toothbrush?

By Pediatric Dentist

I’m asking because he doesn’t want to brush his teeth. We have 4 kids and it’s hard to monitor everyone’s brushing habits for 2 solid minutes. Our 6 yr old can handle a toothbrush well but he hates brushing his teeth. Well, I think the real problem is that he would much rather be doing something else so he brushes quickly and I am not sure that he is really getting his teeth clean. I know that soft toothbrushes are recommended for kids but I am wondering if it’s okay to switch him to a hard tooth brush for a good scrubbing job for the short time that he is willing to brush his teeth. Is it okay to make the switch? Thanks. Lavon

Lavon – The best toothbrushes for children have soft bristles, with rounded ends and fit well into their hands. Soft bristles won’t harm the gums. It is also important to help your son floss between his teeth daily. Only flossing can remove plaque-causing debris that gets trapped between the teeth and gums.

No doubt you are a busy mom. Although it’s difficult to supervise your child for two-minutes of tooth brushing, try to think of ways to get it done. Is there a task you have to perform for other children that can be done in the bathroom while your son brushes his teeth? Will setting a timer help? Or perhaps rewarding your son, creating a game, playing music, or finding another way to make brushing his teeth fun and rewarding will help. Is there another adult or teenager at home that can assist you with ensuring that your son thoroughly brushes his teeth?

Remember that a hard-bristle toothbrush can cause more harm than good on growing teeth, and really would require additional supervision to ensure it’s being done gently. We recommend that you stick with the soft toothbrush for your son, regularly speak with him about the importance of brushing his teeth well, and discuss the problems with his teeth that can result if he doesn’t. Try showing him some yucky pictures of teeth that were not properly flossed and brushed. Select pictures that are not overly gross for his age. You can also ask your son’s pediatric dentist for suggestions, or ask other parents what works for them.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Oct 19

Pediatric dentist was unkind because of autistic daughter’s service dog

By Pediatric Dentist

Last year our 8 year-old autistic daughter got a service dog. This was one of the best decisions we’ve made for her. She has been so much calmer since we got the dog (Pepper). Now Pepper goes with us almost everywhere. Situations where our daughter would normally withdraw or have a tantrum have been much calmer. We’ve had great success with her doctor’s appointments, which were previously out of control, but we are anticipating that we will have a problem with the pediatric dentist. At the first dental appointment with Pepper we got some weird looks, but it’s obvious that Pepper is a service dog so I just thought it might take a little time for a few people in the office to get used to it. My daughter had one of the best dental appointments ever with Pepper there. Last month when we went to a dental appointment, the dentist made a remark about leaving Pepper in the car the next time. I kindly mentioned that Pepper is a service dog that has made my daughter’s life much easier. The dentist mumbled something that I chose not to listen to. Now I am nervous. I’ve been going over this in my mind but I am not sure what to do about it. Forcing the issue doesn’t seem like a good idea. Should I just ignore it?  Thanks in advance. – Siobhan

Siobhan – Neither forcing nor ignoring the issue will ensure a good outcome for your daughter. We suggest that you schedule an appointment with your daughter’s pediatric dentist to discuss your daughter’s needs. During the discussion express your concerns, and ask questions to find out exactly how the dentist feels about Pepper’s presence in the office. If you think that it’s worth it to continue with the dentist, you may want to give it another try.

Consider a pediatric dentist consultation

On the other hand, if the dentist resists the idea of Pepper’s accompanying your daughter, you may want to explore your options. You can get recommendations from friends for compassionate dentists, or search online for pediatric dentists who accept autistic patients. Call the offices, and ask how service animals are handled when they accompany a patient. You will be able to tell if the office has at least thought about the situation and how it will be received. Consider scheduling a consultation with a few pediatric dentists.

Interestingly, a May 2015 online article was published by the American Dental Association about a pediatric dentist who uses hypoallergenic therapy dogs in his office to help children have positive dental experiences. The interview of the dentist shows how he thoughtfully made this arrangement for children, while maintaining good order in the office. It’s an encouraging article that can give you confidence that you will be able to find an empathetic dentist to meet your and your daughter’s needs.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Aug 27

Getting kids back on track for a new school year? Don’t forget about their teeth.

By Pediatric Dentist

Getting kids back on track for school? Don’t forget about their teeth.

Backpacks, notebooks, writing instruments, clothing, you name it. There is a long list of things that are needed to help children get back in the swing of things and in the learning mode for school. As you prepare for, or help them adjust to, a new school year, don’t forget about their teeth. What do we mean?

During summer, when kids are on vacation, visiting relatives, home with a sitter, or off to summer camp, their good oral hygiene habits may slip a bit. Now is the time to get them back on track.

Children need to floss between their teeth daily and brush their teeth twice daily. Sounds like a bit much? Did you know that failure to floss regularly can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria between the teeth that, if left untreated, can cause gum disease?

Also, be sure to schedule regular dental cleaning and exams for your children. If your child’s pediatric dentist recommends sealants for deep groves or pits in the teeth, take the recommendation seriously. Most cavities in children’s teeth are found in places that could have been protected by sealants. The process is easy and painless. In minutes, the sealant is painted on the applicable teeth, dried, and your child will be good to go.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s oral health, instead of doing an Internet search on an unreliable website, look for official pediatric dentistry websites. And don’t hesitate to contact your dentist’s office.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists, the office of Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jul 18

Pediatric dentist wants sealants on my daughter’s primary teeth

By General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentist

I took my daughter to a new pediatric dentist, and she is recommending sealants on all of the molar teeth. May daughter is 6 years old, so these are primary teeth. Is this really necessary? Thanks.Aubrey

 

Aubrey – A pediatric dentist’s recommendation for dental sealants is to protect the teeth—even if they are your daughter’s primary teeth. Primary teeth reserve the position for permanent teeth and help guide them to the proper position.

An examination likely reveals that your daughter’s molar teeth are susceptible to cavities, if the hasn’t already had a history of cavities. Sealants are a proactive step to prevent cavities. The sealant will be painted onto the molar teeth. It will harden and bond to the teeth to protect them from acids and bacteria that promote decay.

Sealants are also beneficial for adults who have deep pits and crevices in their molar teeth, and help guard against decay.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

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