Common Pediatric Dental Procedures, Part 2 | Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist

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This post is sponsored by our friends at Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist. All opinions are those of the author.
In Part 1 of this brief series brought to you by Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist, we covered sealants, cleanings, and x-rays–a few very routine procedures that your child(ren) will experience early on in their dental health journey. In fact, those routine procedures play a significant role when it comes to preventive oral care and maintenance. Picking up where our previous post left off, in this post we’ll learn about 3 more common pediatric dental procedures: fillings, extractions, and frenectomies.
 

A little girl with a flower in her hair, showing off her smile

Fillings

Flossing and brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, along with other lifestyle choices like eating healthy snacks and avoiding sugary drinks, go a LONG way when it comes to preventing cavities. But if a cavity does happen, it’s important to get it filled. Though not considered dental emergencies, cavities–or caries–can develop quickly and cause tooth decay if left untreated. Routine visual exams and x-rays help pediatric dentists identify cavities early on; but if your child complains of any pain, it’s a good idea to get them checked out. 
 
If your child does need a filling, it doesn’t have to be painful or scary! The dentist will make sure the tooth and surrounding area are nice and numb to make sure the procedure is as pain free as possible. Then, they’ll go in and thoroughly clean and disinfect the cavity before applying the filling material. The filling will harden, and then they’re good to go!

Extractions

There are a variety of reasons why a child may need a tooth extracted, or removed. Sometimes, an extraction may be needed to remove a decayed tooth that cannot be saved by a filling or root canal, or to remove a severely damaged or broken tooth. In my son’s case, he needed an extraction to resolve some overcrowding on his lower jaw to make space for one of his adult teeth. 

Some extractions are fairly simple and can be easily done by a pediatric dentist with a local anesthetic or nitrous oxide. But if a more complex extraction is needed, conscious sedation or IV sedation may be recommended depending on what is best for your child. 

Frenectomies

A sleeping newborn infant
A nursing ulcer on the top or bottom lip may be a sign of a tongue or lip tie

Did you know that as many as 1 in 10 newborns are affected by tongue or lip ties? This happens when the frenulum–which anchors the tongue inside the mouth or the lips to the gums–is too short. Though they’re often missed at birth, common symptoms of tongue and lip ties include:

  • A shallow latch on the breast or an inability to form an adequate seal on a bottle
  • Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight
  • Clicking/gulping sounds while the baby is nursing
  • Baby gumming or chewing nipples due to inability to latch properly
  • Frequent releases from the breast or bottle
  • Nursing ulcer(s) on the lip(s)
  • Long feeding sessions (with the baby falling asleep mid-feed)
  • Colic, gas, and/or reflux

It can be stressful if your infant is experiencing any of these symptoms. But don’t worry! Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist is one of the few local pediatric dentists who specializes in laser frenectomies (tongue and lip tie revisions). The WaterLase iPlus Laser is great for infants and children because it is virtually pain-free and completed in only 2 minutes or less! You can read more about the benefits of this procedure here.

Always Here for You

Dr. Christopher Bob of Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist is the pediatric dentist you’ve been looking for! When your child needs a dental procedure, his practice–which is conveniently located in South Miami–is where you want to go. His team’s commitment to providing the exceptional care your child deserves means they will make every visit to the dentist as positive and pain-free as possible. They even make going to the dentist fun again! Call the office at 305-397-8214 or click here to schedule your child’s routine exam, cleaning, or consultation today. From one Miami mom to another, you’ll be glad you did 🙂

ICYMI, be sure to check out Part 1 of this series on sealants, cleanings, and x-rays. We also have a TON of other helpful resources on various pediatric dental topics available here!

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