Pediatric Dental Examination

The first thing that our dentist Dr. Bridges will do is examine your child’s teeth. He will be looking at your child’s teeth and gums to ensure that they are in good health. In addition, he will check to make sure that your kid’s teeth are developing properly and that there are no early indicators of major dental or orthodontic issues.

Part of the dental examination process may include taking x-rays. These scans help us look for any tooth decay between teeth and make sure that the tooth roots are healthy.

Back-to-School Teeth Cleaning

A teeth cleaning is a must for any child who’s going back to school. Even if your kid is good about brushing, a teeth cleaning is still essential. Brushing your teeth can only do so much to keep your teeth, gums, and tongue clean; a cleaning will help your child’s teeth become as clean as possible.

Teeth cleanings remove the bacteria that lead to cavities, periodontal disease, and other teeth and gum issues. Plaque makes teeth look yellow and dull. Removing this plaque and tartar will ensure that your kid starts out the school year with the brightest and shiniest smile. In addition, a dental cleaning will help prevent your kid from missing school days due to dental issues.

Consider Dental Sealants

Let’s face it – kids aren’t always the best at taking care of their teeth. If you want to help keep your child’s teeth cavity-free, consider having a dental sealant applied. Dental sealants fill in the grooves of the back teeth to help keep acids from weakening tooth enamel. Bacteria eats through this weakened enamel, which is what causes cavities to form.

Tooth sealants have been proven to prevent over 80% of cavities for up to two years. Having a tooth sealant applied can help make sure your kid’s teeth stay healthy throughout the year.

Mouthguards for School Sports

If your kid will be playing sports in the coming school year, you may want to get your child a mouthguard. Mouthguards help prevent teeth from getting damaged or knocked loose during a sports game. It’s important that you get the mouthguard from our dental office – instead of purchasing a one-size-fits-all boil and bite guard – so that we can make sure it fits your child’s mouth securely. And if your kid already has a mouthguard, our dentist Dr. Bridges can check it for wear and tear and make sure it still fits well.

Contact Our Pediatric Dentistry Specialist in Duncan, OK

If you’re looking to get your child’s smile ready for the new school year, contact Chisholm Trail Smile Center. Our general dentist in Duncan provides a wide range of dental services, including pediatric dentistry.

Dr. Bridges is devoted to making sure that a visit to the dentist is as stress-free as possible for your children, and he’ll keep your kid’s teeth and gums in good health all year round. Our dental office serves the area in and around the 73533 zip code. Call our office today to schedule a back-to-school dental appointment for your child.

The post Back to School Smiles appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Are you looking for a new children’s dentist in Duncan, OK? Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center to see what makes us a great choice for family dentistry! Dr. Matthew Bridges loves helping our youngest patients get started on a lifetime of good oral health! Call our office at (580) 255-4880 to make an appointment for your newest family member!

Why Early Dental Visits are a Good Idea

Current American Dental Association (ADA) recommendations suggest you should bring your children in for a first dental visit by their first birthday. Early dental visits are a happy opportunity for children to learn that the dentist’s office is a place where good things happen. We always lavish our youngest patients with calm, friendly attention and give them the time they need to get comfortable with the idea of the dentist. This helps prevent any fear or uncertainty from coloring a first visit.

Early visits are also a great opportunity for parents to connect with an oral health care provider to learn about oral hygiene for children, recommended practices, and how to control children’s diets for optimal oral health. Did you know, for example, that under current recommendations children under two years should not be given fruit juice? This is a recent change to the dietary advice parents have been given in the past, and regular contact with an oral care provider every six months gives you the chance to get the most up-to-date information on health research and recommendations.

Don’t Wait for a Toothache!

The longer you wait to bring your child to children’s dentist, the more difficult a time he or she may have. Preschool-aged children should start getting gentle teeth cleanings to prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar. Skipping early dental cleanings can easily result in the development of tooth decay. Why is this? Children are often too young to clean their teeth properly, for one. Children also have thinner tooth enamel, which means cavities can develop faster than they do for adults.

If you skip professional teeth cleaning appointments and wait for your child to complain of a toothache before you think to bring him or her to the dentist, you are not starting out on the best foot. Children should get acquainted with the dentist’s office when they are not experiencing pain or have a sense that something has “gone wrong.” If you wait until your child develops a cavity, you may be setting him or her up for a lifetime of dental anxiety.

How to Care for Your Baby’s Teeth

If your infant has teeth, you should be spending some time every day keeping them clean. While there are tooth brushes and gum massagers made specifically for infants, you don’t have to buy special tools to keep baby’s first teeth clean. A small piece of sterile gauze makes an excellent tooth cleaning implement, as does a damp baby washcloth. Rub the teeth gently every day to remove plaque. Children can develop plaque on their teeth even if they aren’t yet eating solid foods, so oral hygiene should be a priority from the very first tooth.

If you do choose to use a toothbrush, be sure to choose a baby-sized brush with very soft bristles. You don’t have to use toothpaste in the first years, but if you do—use only an age-appropriate product. Infants should not be using fluoride-containing toothpastes until they are old enough to understand how to spit out the toothpaste instead of swallowing.

Toddler Teeth and Beyond

As infants get older and try to become more independent, let them try to brush their own teeth—but don’t hand over the reins just yet! Parents should still make sure children get a thorough tooth-brushing more times than not, and this often means doing it yourself. As your child tries to become more independent in his/her brushing, practice co-brushing to model good brushing technique. Children love to brush their teeth with Mom or Dad, and often learn best by imitation. Also, bring your child to a children’s dentist every six months for a routine check-up and teeth cleaning.

Do not start using a fluoride-containing toothpaste until you are certain your child is spitting most of it out. Fluoride is the best way to protect and strengthen teeth, but it can be toxic in high doses. Even in non-toxic doses, ingesting fluoride at a young age can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which creates permanent stains on their developing adult teeth.

Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center to Learn More!

If you are a new parent, or are looking for a children’s dentist in Duncan, OK, visit our office to learn more. There are a million things we would love to tell you about, to help you protect your children’s smiles and get them started on a lifetime of good oral health. Call our office at (580) 255-4880 to make an appointment for your little one!

The post Bringing Babies to the Dentist – Why It’s Important to Start Early! appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

When it comes to keeping kids’ teeth healthy, knowledge is power! To learn more, visit Duncan and Velma dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges. Contact Chisholm Trail Smile Center for an appointment.

Q: How is children’s dentistry different from adult dentistry?

In a lot of ways, preventive dentistry is the same for both adults and children. Getting a dental cleaning every six months can help prevent the accumulation of tartar and the start of cavities. Preventive treatments, such as fluoride and sealants, work equally well at protecting both baby and adult teeth. When it comes to tooth decay, however, things change. Baby teeth have thinner enamel and are smaller than adult teeth. This means that decay can worsen and spread comparatively faster than in adult teeth. Baby teeth require different materials to restore them, as well.

Adult teeth are pretty straightforward. We want them to last your whole life, so when they are damaged we repair them. They also tend to stay in the same positions over time. Children’s teeth are a more of a mixed bag. Depending on how old your child is, damaged teeth may need to be repaired, replaced or left alone. A chipped tooth may not need any restoration if it is still functioning properly and not irritating the soft tissues of the mouth. Children’s mouths and bones are always growing and changing, as well, so treating their teeth is also a matter of predicting the future and understanding what nature may correct on its own.

Q: My son’s baby tooth got knocked out—do we need to replace it?

Children lose their baby teeth in a predictable order and on a predictable schedule. If I child loses a tooth before it became loose on its own, you should always make an appointment with your dentist. Baby teeth are important. If you’ve ever been tempted to think “they’re all going to fall out anyway…they don’t need attention,” think again! Not only do children need all their baby teeth for proper chewing function, they also need them as placeholders for the adult teeth growing in their jaw. If a tooth is required for proper speech, losing it early may cause communication problems for your child. It may be that the tooth does not need to be replaced with a bridge or other prosthetic, but only your dentist should make that determination.

Q: Why are my kids getting cavities? They brush and floss their teeth every day!

Brushing the teeth twice a day (and flossing once a day) is the cornerstone of good home-based oral hygiene, but it may not be enough for all kids. Many parents don’t realize the role that diet plays in preventing tooth decay. We all know that candy and sodas contribute to cavities, but any sugary or starchy foods can be just as harmful if allowed to sit on the teeth for hours at a time. Sports drinks, fruit juice, potato chips, corn chips, chewy fruit snacks, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches: these can all be as harmful to the teeth as candy when their residue is not removed from the teeth promptly.

This does not mean your children need to brush their teeth every time they eat, however. Drinking water, chewing sugarless gum, or eating crunchy fruits and vegetables can all “clean” the teeth and prevent mouth bacteria from feasting on food particles and plaque. Many parents can successfully prevent cavities with a few tweaks to their kids’ diet and eating habits.

It’s important to note that medical conditions can also contribute to oral health problems, including decay. Always discuss any medical concerns with Dr. Bridges and your hygienist, so we can help you pre-empt any ill effects to the teeth and gums.

Q: Should I buy my child an electric toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes are not necessary for effective tooth-brushing. However, studies have shown that patients tend to brush longer when using an electric toothbrush, so that could be a good thing. If your child doesn’t brush for a full two minutes each time, a toothbrush with an automatic timing mechanism might help him/her brush more thoroughly.

Good tooth brushing is more about technique. You can do an excellent job or a poor job, depending on how you use your cleaning tools. To learn more about the right way to brush your teeth (with any kind of toothbrush), talk to your dentist or hygienist at Chisholm Trail Smile Center. Regardless of which type of brush you choose, be sure to change it out every two or three months so the bristles remain effective cleaning tools.

Duncan and Velma dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges is ready to help your children get the best oral health possible. To learn more about children’s dentistry, call our office to make an appointment at Chisholm Trail Smile Center.

The post Parents’ Top Questions About Children’s Dentistry appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Need a children’s dentist? Visit our Duncan, OK dental practice to see what makes our office a great place for kids and families.

Children’s Teeth Have Special Needs

It’s true that children have special oral health needs, but every licensed dentist is well versed in the care of children’s teeth, from toddlers to teens. For example, did you know that baby teeth have much thinner enamel than adult teeth? This means that even tiny cavities can worsen or spread faster than they do in adults. During adolescence, changing hormones and diets may have a negative effect on the health of children’s adult teeth. That’s why it’s important to bring children in for check-ups every six months. During these visits, we will clean their teeth of the calculus (tartar) that leads to cavities and apply preventive treatments, such as fluoride and dental sealants. With regular dental care, we can identify problems early and make sure your child does not suffer preventable dental catastrophes.

In the earliest years of childhood, it’s important to establish good habits. Parents should monitor their children’s oral hygiene, occasionally brushing the teeth for them, while still inspiring a sense of responsibility over one’s oral health. When young children take ownership of their dental hygiene, they have a much greater chance of preventing tooth decay with their daily brushing and flossing regimen. We can help by making sure your child understands the basics of caring for his or her teeth and answering any questions you may have.

As kids get older, and adult teeth start coming in, we can begin to identify whether they may need orthodontic intervention and continue monitoring the teeth for signs of decay as their diet and hygiene habits become more independent.

When to Bring Your Child to the Dentist

Most children should have their first routine dental visit by their third birthday. During this visit we will examine the development of the teeth, check for problems, and deliver a gentle dental cleaning. These first visits do not take very long, but they can help your child establish that the dentist’s office is a place where good things happen.

We find that early visits are the best way to prevent children from experiencing anxiety about going to the dentist. Even if you are certain your child’s teeth are perfectly healthy, starting regular visits early in life is the best way to make sure he or she never feels fearful or anxious about dental care. If a child’s first dental visit only happens because he or she has a toothache, that experience may be accompanied by feelings of fear or shame. This can color a child’s feelings toward dental visits for the rest of his or her life.

Caring for your child’s teeth before the first dental visit should include:

• During Infancy – clean the gums with soft gauze or a moist washcloth every day.
• When Teeth Come In – brush baby teeth with a small, soft brush and a small dab of non-fluoride baby toothpaste, if preferred.
• Ages 1-3 – teach your child to brush the teeth using a children’s non-fluoride toothpaste. Brush his/her teeth yourself, while also providing the opportunity for independent brushing.

When your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste reliably, rather than swallow it, you can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste. Children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day. Flossing should start once your child’s teeth begin to fit together closely. This may happen as early as two years, or as late as age six.

How We Make Every Child Comfortable

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, we treat every preventive visit as an opportunity to help your child establish good habits that will last a lifetime. Dr. Bridges and our dental staff maintain a calm, friendly environment where children can ask questions and be themselves. We never ask a child to open up and say “ah” until we are sure he or she is comfortable and ready. Parents are encouraged to stay in the room and be part of the process, to make it easier to reinforce good habits at home.

Do you need a Duncan, OK children’s dentist? Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center and we’ll make sure every member of your family gets the friendly and efficient care they deserve. Call us at (580) 255-4880 or contact us online for an appointment

The post Parents: You Don’t Need a Pediatric Dentist for Excellent Pediatric Dental Care appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Sensitivity to cold beverages, toothache, difficulty chewing … these are all common side effects of a cavity. Did you know that over 90 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with at least one cavity by the time they reach the age of 35? That’s a pretty staggering statistic. Cavities are quite common and the chances of you getting one at some point in your lifetime are very high. That makes visiting the dentist every six months all the more important.

While cavities can be detrimental for adults, they can be even more so for children. If a cavity is left unaddressed it can cause the infection to spread to nearby teeth, and even result in tooth loss. Going without a tooth can cause space issues, TMJ disorder, and jaw pain. Repairing cavities as soon as they occur is vital to an individual’s long-term oral health. Depending on the size of cavities, teeth can be repaired with dental fillings or dental crowns.

Dr. Matthew Bridges at Chisholm Trail Smile Center offers both dental fillings and dental crowns at our Duncan, OK dental office. But prefers to use stainless steel crowns for kids rather than large fillings. Continue reading to learn more. To book your child’s consultation, contact our practice online or give us a call at (580) 255-4880.

Why Preventative Care for Children is Important

Compared to adult teeth, children’s teeth have softer enamel and are much more susceptible to tooth decay. As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, it’s important to discuss with the dentist ways to protect your child’s developing teeth. Some of the first steps should include:

• Monitor sugar intake
• Implement a good oral hygiene regimen (brushing twice a day and flossing daily)
• Visit the dentist every six months
• Strengthen teeth with professional fluoride treatment
• Protect back molars with dental sealants

Losing a baby tooth before it’s time can wreck havoc on your child’s dentition and oral health. Primary teeth serve as anchors to permanent teeth, helping to guide them into proper position. If a tooth is lost too soon, it can cause nearby teeth to shift out of place and require the need for adolescent orthodontic treatment.

Why Stainless Steel Crowns May Be Better

When cavities strike, the restoration used to repair the tooth needs to last until permanent teeth come in. In cases of large cavities in children, Dr. Bridges prefers to use stainless steel crowns compared to large fillings due to their durability and lasting abilities. Dental fillings don’t always provide a secure bond, which can result in retreatment or bacteria reentering the space between the filling and tooth. Some of the advantages of stainless steel dental crowns include:

• Affordable and lasting treatment
• Full coverage and better protection
• Minimal to no dental sensitivity
• Reduced risk of retreatment
• More successful than amalgam or composite fillings in young children

Does You Child Have a Cavity?

If you’re concerned your child may have a cavity, meeting with an experienced dentist can protect and preserve their growing teeth. Dr. Bridges offers a variety of treatments for patients of all ages and is passionate about providing the utmost dental care so patients can maintain healthy teeth and gums. To book your appointment, please contact our Duncan, OK dental office online or give us a call at (580) 255-4880.

The post Stainless Steel Dental Crowns vs. Dental Fillings for Kids appeared first on Chisholm Trail.