What Is Enamel Hypoplasia? 

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Put simply, a diagnosis of enamel hypoplasia means you don’t have enough or quality enamel protecting your teeth. This condition occurs during tooth formation. Several factors might cause it, such as:

  • Genetics—Enamel hypoplasia often runs in families and can be a complication of another developmental disorder, like amelogenesis imperfecta.
  • Environmental—Many outside factors can disrupt enamel development, including poor nutrition, illness, or trauma.

Enamel hypoplasia might also be a complication of prenatal issues like a mother smoking or taking drugs during her pregnancy.

How Is Enamel Hypoplasia Diagnosed?

Often, there are physical signs of the condition that the dentist will see during a check-up, including:

  • Pitting or lines on the tooth enamel
  • Uneven texture
  • Discoloration

Your child also may have more cavities than normal or develop dark spots on their teeth.

What Is the Treatment for Enamel Hypoplasia?

The dental treatment for enamel hypoplasia involves a combination of treating the symptoms and trying to prevent damage to the teeth. Because teeth are susceptible to cavities, fractures, and disease, treatment may include:

  • Fillings—To fill holes that develop in enamel
  • Dental crowns—To cover and protect weak teeth
  • Veneers—To even out the texture and color of the teeth
  • Enamel microabrasion—Removes stains and improves the appearance of teeth
  • Teeth whitening—To help reduce the appearance of enamel problems

Regular check-ups are also a critical part of the care plan.

If you notice thinning or spots on your child’s teeth, call to schedule an appointment at Pediatrics on Park today. Our dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can evaluate your child’s teeth and treat them for enamel hypoplasia.

 Making the First Dental Visit Fun! Tips for Parents

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Going to the dentist can be exciting or scary for kids, depending in part on how parents prepare them for the visit. Making that first visit a positive one can put them on the right track for years of fun trips to the pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ.

Get Started Early at Home

It helps if your child gets used to the feeling of getting their mouth cleaned. It is also beneficial for their oral health if you clean the baby’s mouth even before they have teeth.

As a newborn, wipe the baby’s mouth out with a soft, clean cloth after every feeding. That establishes a routine and removes sugary milk from the gums. Your child can adjust to the sensation of dental care before it becomes intimidating and causes anxiety.

Teach Your Child About the Dentist in a Fun Way

Keep plenty of resources around to educate your child about the dentist and good oral hygiene. Use picture books and fun videos about visiting the dentist and maintaining good dental health.

Show your child what a dental exam feels like and talk to them in an age-appropriate way to help them understand what the dentist does. Look in their mouths and touch their gums so it feels normal to them.

As they get older, make a game of it. They can play dentist and practice counting your teeth, for example.

Set An Example

If you are terrified of going to the dentist, they will be too. So keep a positive attitude about dental exams and procedures around your child. Avoid negative or scared language that they may pick up on.

Stick With a Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric dentistry is about building relationships with children to make the experience less intimidating. Our pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, offers educational resources in the office to make every visit both informative and enjoyable. Give us a call today to set up your child’s first dental appointment!

Demystifying Fillings: What Are Your Options?

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Dental fillings are typically the best option for repairing cavities in teeth. They can be confusing, though. Fillings fall under the category of general dentistry in South Plainfield, NJ, but pediatric, cosmetic, and emergency dentists also use them. What options do you have when it comes to fillings?

What Is a Dental Filling?

As the name suggests, a dental or tooth filling is a small amount of material that fills a hole in the enamel of a tooth. Bacteria in the mouth produce acid that eats away at the tooth enamel until a hole forms.

That is the primary purpose of a filling, but they can be effective in other ways, such as:

  • To restore the function of a tooth
  • Make a tooth look better
  • Prevent a tooth from being sensitive to cold or heat

The type of dental filling used in that cavity depends on several factors.

Materials Used for Fillings

Our dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, will go over the various options for fillings. There are pros and cons to every type. Some common materials for fillings include:

  • Composite resin—Synthetic plastic resin is often reinforced with other materials to make it stronger, such as powdered glass. It has the benefit of being the same shade as tooth enamel. That makes composite resin one of the most common fillings used by dentists.
  • Amalgam—This was once the go-to filling material and is still popular in some areas. They are a silver color, though, so they are easy to see. Amalgam fillings tend to last a long time.
  • Gold—Gold fillings are expensive, which makes them a luxury item. They do last a very long time.
  • Ceramic or Porcelain—Ceramic fillings are also more expensive than composite or amalgam. And they require two office visits to complete.

Learn more about dental fillings in South Plainfield, NJ, by calling our office at Pediatrics on Park and scheduling an appointment.

The Importance of Early Orthodontic Evaluation

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Slight alignment problems in children sometimes become more serious issues later in life. An early evaluation by a specialist in orthodontics in South Plainfield, NJ, is a proactive step in helping your child maintain good dental health and a beautiful smile for a lifetime. 

Identifying Potential Issues Early 

Ideally, your child will have their first orthodontic evaluation around age seven. This allows our orthodontist to see issues that might not be obvious to parents, even though there may still be a number of baby teeth in place. 

During the early stages, the orthodontist will look for:

  • Misaligned bites
  • Chronic mouth breathing
  • Delayed or premature loss of baby teeth
  • Poor oral habits that can affect alignment, like thumb-sucking
  • Facial asymmetry, which can be a window into jaw health
  • Crowding or crooked teeth
  • Problems eating or chewing food

Seeing the signs of orthodontic issues early will mean shorter treatment times and more efficient care plans. 

Benefits of Early Intervention

Why is early orthodontic evaluation and care so critical? The primary benefit is catching minor orthodontic problems before they become complex and difficult to correct. Early intervention helps the adult teeth come in properly, saving you and your child the stress and expense of braces later in life. 

Also, early orthodontic treatment promotes healthy jaw development. This is critical for children with alignment issues such as overbites or crossbites. Guiding jaw development early may eliminate the need for surgery later. 

Seeing your orthodontist in South Plainfield, NJ, early can eliminate the need for tooth extractions later to align the teeth properly. That means better oral health and appearance for the rest of your child’s life. 

It also means long-term cost savings for families. Investing early in a child’s orthodontic health prevents the need for costly procedures as the child ages. 

Are you ready to have an orthodontist in South Plainfield, NJ, evaluate your child’s teeth? Call us today to make an appointment. 

Baby Teeth: More Than Just Placeholders

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“Aren’t they just going to fall out anyway?” This is a common question asked by parents who bring their children for pediatric dental care in South Plainfield, NJ. It is true that baby teeth will eventually fall out of your child’s mouth, but they play a more important role in their dental health than you may realize.

Why Baby Teeth Matter

Baby or primary teeth are critical to your child’s development.

Eating

Primary teeth are no different than permanent “adult” teeth in this sense. They are what allow your child to chew their food and swallow it safely. Baby teeth lost before their time to decay can lead to nutritional deficiencies that may affect your child throughout their life.

Speech

Babies need every tool working at peak as they learn to form words properly. That means the accurate positioning of baby teeth. This will enable your child to pronounce words correctly and confidently.

Self-Esteem

It may seem a little early to worry about a child’s sense of self, but kids are aware of their appearance and compare themselves to other children even at a young age. Crooked teeth or bad breath from poor oral hygiene can erode self-confidence.

Adult Teeth Alignment

The truth is, baby teeth are indeed placeholders for adult teeth. Ideally, each primary tooth will stay in place until a permanent one dislodges it. That ensures that adult teeth come in as they should. Losing a baby tooth to cavities or trauma can lead to the shifting of the permanent teeth.

Caring for Baby Teeth

Start your baby on a path for good oral health early in life, even before that first tooth pops out. Wipe your child’s gums with a soft, damp cloth after each feeding. Once that tooth appears, brush it with a soft toothbrush and a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste. And, see your pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, before their first birthday.

Pediatric Cosmetic Dentistry

When Should I Bring My Child for Their First Dental Appointment?

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Most babies get their first teeth around six months old! When these first teeth appear, it’s important to take care of those teeth from the very first. Your child’s pediatric dentist in Plainfield, NJ can help.

Bringing your child to the pediatric dentist from an early age can help your child develop healthy teeth and gums. If you’re wondering when to bring your child for their first dental appointment, the professionals at Pediatrics on Park can help. Here’s what you need to know.

When To Bring Your Child – According to the Experts

Many dental professionals recommend that babies be brought to the dentist within six months of their first tooth erupting from the gums, or when they turn one year old. (Whichever comes first!)

During this first dental appointment, your child’s dentist will look in your baby’s mouth, help your baby feel comfortable in the dentist’s office, and answer your questions about caring for your baby’s dental health. The dentist will also show you how to brush your baby’s teeth and gums.

What If Your Child’s Teeth Have Not Erupted By Age 1?

If your baby’s teeth have not erupted by the time they’re one year old, bring them to the dentist’s office anyway. This gives the dentist a chance to find out if anything is going wrong with your baby’s teeth.

Ready to Make The Appointment? Give Us a Call

The professionals at Pediatric on Park are here to help. Contact us to schedule your child’s next pediatric dental exam in Plainfield, NJ. We’re excited to meet you and your baby!

Does Your Child Need a Palatal Crib Appliance?

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There are so many dental needs a child could encounter before they even exit their toddler years. So, what should you do? It’s best to ask your pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, what you should watch out for. But until then, let’s talk about palatal crib appliances and why your child might need one.

Does Your Child Need a Palatal Crib Appliance?

A palatal crib is an early childhood intervention appliance. It’s primarily used to stop thumb-sucking and tongue thrust. It’s non-invasive and extremely effective.

The Dangers of Thumb Sucking

There are so many issues that could result from your child sucking their thumb as they begin to age.

For example:

  • Speech disorders
  • Malocclusion
  • Tooth decay and oral infections
  • Overbite and open bite
  • Misaligned and crooked teeth
  • Sleep apnea (if their jaws aren’t fixed before they become an adult)
  • Tongue thrust
  • Mouth sensitivity
  • Eventual social ramifications

How a Palatal Crib Immediately Stops Thumb Sucking

Now that you know the dangers of childhood thumb-sucking in South Plainfield, NJ, let’s take a look at how a palatal crib (sometimes called a palatal thumb crib) can help.

A palatal crib is a small metal appliance. It’s worn inside a child’s mouth. It attaches to the upper part of their mouth behind their teeth. The palatal crib wires are formed in a semi-circular pattern. It is designed to keep a child’s thumb and tongue from touching the gums behind their front teeth.

So basically, it’s a physical barrier that prevents the sensation a child receives from sucking their thumb or thrusting their tongue. And believe it or not, it’s comfortable, effective, and well-tolerated by children.

Looking for an Exceptional Pediatric Dentist in South Plainfield, NJ?

If your child has thumb-sucking issues, please Contact Pediatrics on Park today. We will help you correct those issues. Dealing with your child’s thumb-sucking problems now will save you loads of money later.

Tips for Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Visit

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Visiting a pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can be scary for a child, especially if they’ve never been before. Here are a few tips that will help you ease your child into that all-important first dental visit. How you prepare your child for that first visit will lay the foundation for every future dental visit going forward. All it takes is a little forethought and mental preparation.

Take Your Child to One of Your Dental Visits

Take your child to one of your dental visits so they can see that you’re not afraid. It will also show them exactly what will happen during their visit. And that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Read Your Child Stories about What Happens at the Dentist

Kids love stories! Reading them a story will help relax them and make it easier for them to understand the dental process.

Take Them to the Dental Office Before Their First Exam

Taking your child to the dentist’s office before their first exam will show them there’s nothing to be afraid of. So, their first visit won’t be a memory of an uncomfortable situation.

Tell Them About the Prizes They Will Get after Their Exam

Telling your child about what prizes they will get after their dental exam gives them something to look forward to (and a reason to want to go).

Never Schedule an Exam Near Their Nap Time

It’s best not to schedule a dental exam near your child’s nap time. Doing so will ensure a cranky, uncooperative child.

Bring Your Child’s Comfort Item to the Exam

The best way to make your child feel comfortable at their first dental exam is to bring their comfort item (blanket, favorite toy, etc.) to the exam.

Role Play the Exam with Your Child

Role-playing will show your child exactly what their first dental exam will be like. You can start by being the dentist and examining your child’s mouth. Then, let them be the dentist and examine your mouth. This works like a charm!

Choose a Pediatric Dentist

It’s extremely important to choose a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have special training, techniques, and experience dealing with children.

Looking for a Pediatric Dentist in South Plainfield, NJ?

Finding just the right pediatric dentist for your child is so important, especially when taking them to the dentist for the first time. If you are looking for a kind, patient, compassionate dentist who knows how to deal with children, please Contact Pediatrics on Park today.