dental treatments
Our Dental Treatments
Prevention
Dental Visits
How often should your child come see us? Children’s needs differ, and Dr. Dunne, with your help, can come up with the best schedule of visits that suits your child’s needs. The frequency of dental visits will partly depend on your child’s eating habits; how clean the teeth are kept; past treatment needs; whether your child is taking a fluoride supplement; and other factors that can affect your child’s susceptibility to dental diseases.
Professional dental services, such as regular cleanings, fluoride treatments and the application of sealants that prevent tooth decay, can save money and reduce the need for further dental treatment.
Set a good example for your child by brushing your own teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly. Make brushing time family time!
Fluoride
- Six months to one year make sure baby is on fluoride drops, if we haven’t seen you as a patient these can be obtained through your pediatrican.
- Young children, one to 12 years brush teeth twice daily with a tiny amount of toothpaste (the size of a match head). Toothpaste should never be swallowed.
- Between six and eight years we recommend moving from the fluoride supplement to a fluoride rinse. You will know when your child is ready when they can effectively rinse and spit.
- Fluoride supplements are given according to your child’s weight as well as age and tooth development, check with Dr. Dunne to make sure your child is on the right dosage of fluoride.
We offer fluoride foam treatment as well as fluoride varnish. Dental treatments with fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and even help your teeth rebuild areas of decay in both children and adults. Fluoride also reduces the amount of plaque bacteria in your mouth, which also lessens the chance of tooth decay. In children, fluoride works by hardening the enamel portion of teeth, reducing the risk of decay. For most children, fluoride can be applied beginning at age three as part of a regular dental checkup
We are excited to offer a new product that has become available in our office for at home fluoride treatment. It is called MI Paste. MI Paste fights demineralization while improving saliva flow, boosting fluoride uptake and soothing sensitive surfaces. The first professional product to contain RECALDENT ™ (CPP-ACP), a special milk-derived protein, MI Paste:
- Restores minerals that strengthen tooth enamel.
- Reduces sensitivity from post-whitening procedures.
- Reduces high oral acid levels from excessive soft drinks.
- Relieves dry mouth caused by certain medications.
- Buffers plaque and bacteria acid.
Ask about MI Paste at your next check up!
Mouthguards
Dental Sealants
Sealing a tooth is fast and there is virtually no discomfort. Dr. Dunne conditions the chewing surfaces to help the sealant adhere to the tooth and then applies the sealant to the tooth enamel.
As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before reapplication is needed. Both primary and permanent teeth can benefit from sealants. Talk with Dr. Dunne if sealants will help your child.
Early Dental Care
Preventing Decay of Primary Teeth
Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday, and discourage frequent or prolonged use of a training cup. If you give your child a pacifier, use a clean one. Never dip a pacifier in sugar or honey before giving it to a baby.
Encourage healthy eating habits. This would include a diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits and whole grains. Cheese is a great choice! Snacks should be nutritious. Limit sweets to mealtimes. If you want to give your child a treat, we really recommend chocolate! Because chocolate has a higher fat content it tends to slip off the teeth instead of sitting in the grooves like some sticky, hard or chewy candies can. It is truly all about frequency of exposure to sugars that can perpetuate the decay process. It is always good to have a balance.
Cavities-How do they form?
Fillings and Crowns
Fillings
Resin-based composite is a tooth colored filling used most commonly for anterior (or front) teeth. Composite fillings can also be used on back teeth and, for cosmetic reasons, are the more popular choice. Dental amalgam has been used for restoring teeth since the 1880’s. Amalgam’s properties, such as ease of use for the dentist, durability, and relatively low cost as compared to resin-based composites have contributed to its popularity. Most insurance companies will pay up to the amalgam rate for restorative work as they consider the composite fillings to be cosmetic. Dr. Dunne offers both resin-based composite and amalgam restorations in his practice and has suggestions of when each should be used.
Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity and cost of dental restorations. These factors include: the patient’s oral and general health, the components used in the filling material; where and how the filling is placed; the chewing load that the tooth will have to bear; and the length and number of visits needed to complete the restorations. Click here to learn more.
Stainless Steel Crown Restorations
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide
Oral Conscious Sedation
There are two sedatives that we utilize in our office to help render dental care. Neither is a narcotic and the results vary depending on the sedative we use. The decision to utilize conscious sedation will be discussed in-office at your child’s initial appointment.
Hospital Dentistry
Some children are simply not able to complete their care under normal conditions in the office and due to the extent of decay, length of treatment, age of patient, and patient safety due to cooperation we find that rendering their treatment under general anesthesia is the very best choice and allows for quality restorations. Each parent has the opportunity to discuss general anesthesia with Dr. Dunne, if need be, as well as with the anesthesia group where your child may receive treatment.