Dental Filling
When we do not brush or floss our teeth often enough, or if we eat too many sugary foods, bacteria can make a home on our teeth and eat away the protective outer layer. When this happens, we can get a cavity. At Mighty Smiles we treat minor cavities and other tooth damage with a dental filling. This treatment is one of the most common restorations that our team performs, and it can bring back a tooth’s original health and shape.
A dental filling is most often used to fix teeth that have small amounts of damage or decay, such as a cavity. Dental fillings can also be used to fix teeth that have small chips or fractures. Each dental filling is used to restore a tooth’s health, as well as its original shape. No matter their age, patients can receive a dental filling in one quick visit to our practice. Dental fillings are a great choice for both children and teenagers who have experienced tooth damage. We encourage you to call or visit us today to learn more! We look forward to helping your family keep beautiful, mighty smiles!
Sealants
Our team provides dental sealants to help protect your child’s teeth against cavities. This translucent coating helps block food and plaque from the surfaces of their teeth to keep their mouths healthy.
Digital X-Rays
Dental technology continues to improve in both function and safety, and in our mission to provide your child with excellent dental care, we use digital X-rays as an advanced diagnostic tool. Digital X-rays take images of your child’s teeth with a digital sensor, and there is no film at all like what is used in traditional X-rays. Without the use of film, there are no chemicals involved in developing the images, and there is significantly less radiation exposure for your child. Digital X-rays produce high-quality images that can be viewed right away by our dentists and you; this allows us to provide your family with efficient care and diagnoses.
We can use digital radiography to identify several types of dental problems, including:
- Decay in between teeth
- Developmental abnormalities
- Improper tooth root positioning
- Breakage in existing dental fillings
Our dentist can use digital dental X-rays to plan treatments that will work best for your child.
Fluoride Treatments
When your child visits Mighty Smiles Dentistry for his or her checkup, our team will check their cavity rate and may provide a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your child’s teeth against cavities.
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, often found in water and food. While your family may be receiving fluoride through drinking water, and should be using a fluoride toothpaste, our team may recommend treating your kids’ teeth with topical fluoride to provide additional protection.
Fluoride works to protect teeth by helping strengthen tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth. Enamel can be particularly vulnerable to decay in children, so fluoride treatment is an excellent preventive measure. The process for applying fluoride at our office is quick and fun. We have a variety of tasty flavors your kids can choose from, and it all takes place during their normal cleaning.
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is one of the most common forms of sedation dentistry. At Mighty Smiles Dentistry, we offer laughing gas as a way for our young patients to feel more comfortable and relaxed during their visit. Nitrous oxide is a safe form of sedation, and it wears off quickly after treatment. Visiting the dentist can make many people feel nervous, especially children and teenagers, or those who require a more complex treatment. For our anxious or nervous patients, our dentists can talk about whether nitrous oxide can create a more positive and relaxing experience. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a safe and effective way to help the child feel calm during the procedure. Once the procedure is completed, the effects will wear off in just a few minutes.
Laughing gas is a great option for many patients, including those who:
- Experience a fear of the dentist
- Are nervous about their treatment
- Cannot sit still during their treatment
- Have had negative dental experiences in the past
- Do not like the sounds or sights in a dental office
For children or teenagers who are looking for a more comfortable and relaxing dental experience, our caring dentists and team can help determine if nitrous oxide is the right treatment. Contact us today to learn more. We always strive to make your visits a positive experience!
General Anesthesia
While our team at Mighty Smiles seeks to give each patient the dental care they need in our comfortable and familiar office, there may be some cases when our team will recommend sedation dentistry. This type of dentistry is often best for those who have pre-existing conditions or require complex care.
Our dentists may recommend sedation dentistry when a patient’s oral health needs require the use of general anesthesia to receive treatment without complication. We work closely with outpatient staff and specialists to ensure patients are fully comfortable and every precaution is taken.
There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:
- All needed treatments can be provided in just one visit
- A controlled setting in which to provide safe and effective treatments
- A completely comfortable treatment, as the patient is asleep throughout the entire procedure
Children who have extreme difficulty receiving care in the dental office and individuals with special needs are excellent candidates for sedation dentistry. Recommendations for treatments and sedation dentistry are based on our findings during exams and on our patient’s experiences and behavior while in our office. Sedation dentistry is recommended only when necessary, and parents will be provided with all possible options first.
If you have any questions or concerns about hospital dentistry, please contact our office. We want each of our patients and their parents to be fully informed and prepared before proceeding with any treatment.
Space Maintainers
Our team offers space maintainers when your child’s teeth fall out too early. This appliance helps keep the space open for the permanent teeth and prevent the other teeth from shifting out of place.
Porcelain and Stainless Steel Crowns
Our team can restore the appearance, strength, and function of your child’s teeth with a dental crown. Mighty Smiles Dentistry offers crowns made of stainless steel (used for back teeth) and porcelain (used for front teeth) to meet your child’s oral health needs. We welcome you to call us to make your child’s appointment with one of our dentists, and to learn more about stainless steel and porcelain dental crowns.
By providing your child with a dental crown, we can keep their baby teeth in their mouth until they can fall out naturally, aiding in the growth and eruption of the permanent teeth. We may recommend a crown if your child has experienced extensive decay or has received a pulpotomy (baby root canal).
Some of the benefits of dental crowns include:
- Durability
- Full coverage protection for the tooth
- Very little sensitivity following treatment
- Unlikely to require a retreatment
- More successful than fillings, especially in children younger than 4
- Work well with space maintainers – in fact, crowns are often used as an attachment to space maintainers
To learn more about stainless steel and porcelain dental crowns and to schedule your child’s consultation with our dentists, contact our office today.
Special Needs Patients
Dr. Campbell and Dr. Truong not only tailor their practice to treating children, they also provide care for special needs patients. We understand the unique considerations required for the dental care of these children, whether it’s for developmental, emotional or medical conditions. Our doctors take the time to listen and get to know each patient. Every child will have their comprehensive care tailored to their individual needs.
Specialists in these fields are designated “registrable” (in the United States, “board eligible”) and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, pediatric dentist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local accreditation requirements (U.S., “Board Certified”).
