Greer Pediatric Dental Care

While maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits and attending regular dental checkups are the best way to keep a beautiful smile, some teenagers may want to achieve that extra white gleam through teeth whitening. We provide tooth bleaching which can safely lighten the color of your teen or young adult’s teeth. The results can last for up to five years. If you would like to use over-the-counter whitening products, please consult with Dr. Mary first. Bleaching does not effectively whiten everyone’s teeth and may not work for teeth with intrinsic staining. Extrinsic stains such as coffee, tea, food coloring or darkened soda drinks can easily be bleached and whitened. For a faster, safer and more effective result, we can provide cosmetic teeth whitening with custom trays. With this process, a chemical reaction occurs within the tooth to produce fast and stable results. Talk with the Dr. Mary if your teenager is interested in this process.

The adolescent years are a complex time of growth and development for an individual. It is a time of distinctive oral health care needs, notably due to the increased availability of sweetened food and beverages, a low priority of oral hygiene, social factors, and independence to seek care or avoid it. High Cavity Rate: To prevent and combat cavities, it is important to attend regular dental visits, in addition to at-home brushing, flossing, fluoride use, and dietary management. Trauma: Mouth guards and other protective equipment can significantly reduce your child’s risk of dental and facial injuries, especially in sports. Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while your child is wearing it, making it easy for them to talk and breathe. Orthodontic Considerations: If you child is receiving orthodontic treatments, it is important for them to properly clean their mouth every time they eat.

It is normal and common for infants and young children to develop nonnutritive sucking behaviors. It may help them feel secure and happy. It is recommended that the habit cease by age three for optimal dental and skeletal development. When weaning children of this habit, it is important to consider their development, comprehension, and ability to cooperate. The modalities for treating this habit include behavior modification, patient/parent counseling, and appliance therapy. It is important to note that appliance use is only recommended when the child wants to stop the habit and would benefit from a reminder.

Bruxism is the habitual, nonfunctional and forceful contact between the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Many times parents notice this habit due to the noise created by the child grinding their teeth or parents may note the wearing down of the teeth (teeth getting shorter). The underlying cause of bruxism can be from emotional stress (due to change in environment, divorce, changes at school, etc), neurological disabilities, or misaligned teeth. Most often this habit is self-limiting and doesn’t require any additional treatment. If excessive wear presents itself, bruxism management can be achieved through patient/parent education, occlusal splints (mouthguards), and psychological technique or medications.

Dental x-rays are used for more than just detecting cavities. This tool is necessary to evaluate the erupting teeth, assess injuries, diagnose bone disease, or aid in planning orthodontic treatments. A radiograph can aid in diagnosing and treating a number of health conditions a clinical exam cannot detect. When dental issues are found and treated early, it results in more affordable care for you and comfortable treatments for your child. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographs and examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. On average, most pediatric dentists request radiographs approximately once a year. Approximately every three years, it is a good idea to obtain a complete set of radiographs, either a panoramic and bitewings or periapical films and bitewings. As a pediatric dental office, we work to minimize the amount of radiation your child is exposed to.

Trauma: Due to their developing motor coordination, the greatest chance for trauma to primary teeth occurs between age 2 and 3. It is important to be proactive about injury prevention by childproofing your home, electrical cord safety, wearing helmets and pads when necessary, and always using car seats in the back of automobiles. Injuries to permanent teeth occur due to traffic accidents, falls, violence, or sports injuries. It is important for athletes to wear mouthguards to reduce orofacial injuries. Bumped tooth: If a tooth is slightly loose but no fracture or other trauma is evident, call our office immediately for consultation. Fractured tooth care: Gently clean area with warm water. Place a cold compress in the area of the injury to decrease swelling. Come immediately to office; please call 864-879-7977 while you are on your way so we might prepare a room for your child. Knocked-out tooth/Avulsion: Gently rinse dirt/debris from tooth. Do not scrub tooth or remove any tissue.

Cavity prevention starts at home. Brushing and flossing, as well as a well-balanced, low-sugar diet, play an important role in preventing cavities and good oral hygiene. For further protection from decay, it is important to bring your child in for regular dental cleanings, fluoride applications, and sealant placements.

Not only do baby teeth help your child speak appropriately and allow for proper nutrition, they are essential in the eruption of the adult teeth. The primary teeth also contribute to the development of the growing jaw and face.

Even before your child is born, the primary teeth are forming under the gums. Baby or primary teeth normally start to erupt between 4 – 6 months of age, with the lower, center, front teeth (central incisors) coming in first. Your child’s permanent teeth start to develop under the gums around age 3 and erupt around age 6. You child will eventually have up to 32 permanent teeth.

It is our goal to make every visit as comfortable as possible, but sometimes there is no way of preventing some discomfort. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Mary is highly trained in Behavior Management in young children. This is always the first tool used to treat every patient, but when a child needs more intervention, we do employ nitrous oxide, topical anesthetics, local anesthetics, and in-office oral sedation. In some cases, it is necessary for a child to be treated under general anesthesia for their own safety. We will always discuss the available options for your child with you. Two-way communication is important to us, and we want to establish the approach to comfort management during your child’s dental treatments.

The best way to prepare your child for the dentist is to talk with them. We recommend staying away from “scary” words such as pain, needle, hurt, etc. For additional preparation, there are many fun and informative books available for young children. Playing dentist at home can also be a fun way of preparing your child for their appointment and getting them excited for their visit.

It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry that a child first sees a dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their 1st tooth or by one year of age, whichever comes first. The first visit is important because it helps us identify any problems early, such a dental abnormalities or early childhood caries. The earlier these issues are found, the easier they are to treat.

Pediatric dentists specialize in treating the unique needs of infants, children, and adolescents, as well as those with special health and emotional needs. In order to become a pediatric dentist, a dentist must complete two to three years of specialty training in addition to dental school. To become a Board Certified Pediatric dentist, the doctor must pass a voluntary 2-part exam specially administered by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. This test certifies the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver pediatric dental care at the highest level.

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