At North Texas Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, pediatric dentistry is about more than bright, healthy smiles. We want to make sure your child’s visit is rewarding and fun, so there’s no fear of “next time”. Dr. Warcup and his entire pediatric dental team take time to earn the trust of both you and your child, to make sure each trip to the dentist is a pleasant, calm experience.
We encourage you and your child to ask questions and are always happy to address any concerns you have as a parent. We offer empathetic oral health education and use simple explanations to answer your child’s questions and reassure them. If your child is anxious, ask us about our sedation dentistry options that could make their appointment more relaxing.
Your Child's First Visit
Dr. Warcup understands that you want the best for your child. At North Texas Smiles, we focus on providing the highest quality pediatric dental care possible. It’s completely normal for a child to be unsure or nervous about their first dental visit, but at North Texas Smiles, they don’t have to be! Our practice is designed to make your child comfortable and excited to visit the dentist.
Pediatric Dental Checkups
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) advises that children be seen for a checkup every 6 months. These visits allow Dr. Warcup to closely monitor new changes in your child’s mouth and ensure that you, as a parent, have the information you need to promote continued oral health in your child. Dr. Warcup may suggest additional checkups if your child is more susceptible to cavities, or if your child is showing signs of orthodontic problems.
Mercury-Free Dentistry
Mercury can be found in common dental materials, such as amalgam. Mercury can be harmful to your child's overall health and it is released in small amounts into your child's body through amalgam dental fillings. That's why Dr. Warcup only uses mercury-free dental materials. These mercury-free composite dental restorations are more comfortable for pediatric patients and help support their overall health and wellness.
Fluoride Treatment
Dental fluoride treatments are safe and effective in decreasing the amount of cavities in children. Dr. Warcup often recommends fluoride treatments along with dental sealants to protect your child’s teeth. Fluoride acts as a shield for the tooth’s outer enamel and can actually reverse early dental decay in some children.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a specific type of colorless fluoride liquid designed to help fight against plaque bacteria. The fluoride promotes remineralization, inhibits demineralization, and protects your child's teeth against bacteria. It can help slow the development of tooth decay and cavities, as well as decrease tooth sensitivity. Dr. Warcup often recommends SDF for patients who are at a high risk of developing multiple cavities.
Tooth Colored Dental Fillings
Treatment for cavities in children depends on how severe the decay is as well as each child’s age and risk of future cavities. At North Texas Smiles we typically treat cavities with discreet, mercury-free, tooth-colored dental fillings.
Dental Bonding
Tooth colored materials (similar to white fillings) can be used to cover minor discrepancies in your child's smile such as chips or gaps in their teeth. In many cases, numbing or adjusting the tooth isn’t even necessary.
Protective Dental Sealants
Protective dental sealants are thin coats of plastic painted onto your child’s back teeth to protect their deep grooves and depressions from accumulating bacteria and food particles. Studies show that 88% of cavities in American school-aged children are caused by food and bacteria being caught in rear molars.
At North Texas Smiles, we typically apply a protective sealant to your child’s back teeth, premolars and molars. The sealant will last for several years, but we will continue to check it during your child’s regular dental appointments.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped coverings cemented to a badly damaged tooth to restore the shape and functionality of the tooth. Dr. Warcup might recommend a mercury-free, white zirconia pediatric dental crown for your child’s tooth if it has a large cavity, was broken or chipped due to trauma, or if the tooth hasn’t developed correctly.
Gentle Tooth Extractions
Unfortunately, sometimes a child’s tooth may be too badly decayed to save. In this case, Dr. Warcup will perform an extraction. An extraction may also be recommended if the tooth is severely fractured or is crowding other healthy teeth.
Laughing Gas
If your child is anxious, has special needs, or just needs extra help staying calm and comfortable, Dr. Warcup may recommend laughing gas. Laughing gas is a completely safe way to help children receive the dental care they need without anxiety or fear.
Once the dental treatment is over, the gas will be completely out of their system after just a few minutes. Laughing gas is widely considered to be low risk. At North Texas Smiles, our goal is to always care for your child’s dental health in the safest way possible.
Space Maintainer
Your child might need a space maintainer if they lose a tooth early or have a baby tooth extracted. If your child needs a space maintainer, Dr. Warcup will custom make it to fit your child’s mouth. It will keep the space where the baby tooth was lost open in order to allow the permanent tooth to come into place.
Baby teeth are vital to the healthy development of adult teeth and facial structure. If a space maintainer is not used, your child’s other teeth can shift into the open space and more invasive orthodontic treatment might be needed.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted – but some do. In many situations, it’s best to pull the wisdom teeth before they jeopardize your child's smile as a whole. If a wisdom tooth’s growth can cause damage to neighboring teeth, or cannot fully erupt, we may consider extraction. At the earliest, wisdom teeth are removed in the mid-teen years, but 3rd molars do not finish developing until closer to about 30 years of age.
Questions About Pediatric Dentistry Services?
Is your child due for a preventive checkup? Give North Texas Smiles a call to schedule their appointment with Dr. Warcup today!
