Seeing your child’s smile grow is one of the best parts of being a parent, but for that to happen, you need to make sure your little one is developing the best dental habits early on. In addition to teaching them to brush and floss at home, you should bring them to Healthy Smiles Dental Care of Lansing for at least two exams and dental cleanings every year. You can count on us to always treat your child with the kindness and patience they deserve. Call us today to schedule your little one’s first visit for children's dentistry in Lansing, MI.
Many children are frightened or bothered by the sights and sounds of a dental office. Our goal during their first visit will be to help them feel as comfortable as possible so that they aren’t afraid of returning for necessary treatments. After carefully examining their mouth and teeth for potential problems, we will very gently clean their teeth and get rid of any plaque or tartar that we find. If we have concerns about the way your child’s mouth is developing, we’ll let you know immediately.
Decay can happen anywhere in the mouth, but the molars are particularly vulnerable because their location near the back of the mouth makes them hard to brush. They also have multiple grooves where bacteria can become trapped. Children especially have trouble keeping these teeth clean, which is why dental sealants are highly recommended for children between the ages of 5 to 14. These plastic coatings are a simple and cost-effective way to lower the risk of cavities. The process is very straightforward; we simply apply the sealant in liquid form to the teeth in question and allow it to dry in place over the tooth. While they don’t completely eliminate the risk of cavities, they can make managing your child’s oral health far easier while your little one is still learning the best oral hygiene techniques.
Before your child heads out onto the field to play the game they love, make sure their teeth are well-protected! Athletes lose about 5 million teeth every year, and many of these injuries could have been avoided had they been wearing a mouthguard. You can probably find an athletic mouthguard in various stores, but if you want the best results, you’ll want one of our customized oral appliances that have been specifically fitted to your child’s mouth
Do you have an infant who has trouble breastfeeding or a child who has trouble swallowing? It could be the result of lip-tie or tongue-tie – two conditions caused by an overdeveloped band of tissue preventing your little one from moving their lip or tongue as freely as they should. A frenectomy can free your child’s mouth and ensure that their oral development continues normally. The entire procedure lasts only about 10 to 15 minutes, and every step will be taken to keep your child comfortable.
If the pulp inside your child’s tooth becomes damaged or infected, your little one could experience a significant amount of pain and might face additional health problems in the future. But with pulp therapy, we can treat the pulp in order to save the rest of the tooth so that your child continues to grow up with their natural smile fully intact! A pulpotomy involves the removal of part of the pulp while a pulpectomy requires us to take out all of the soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels inside the tooth.