Pediatric Dentist in Stamford CT
Pediatric Dentistry
Providing Stamford with Quality Care
Learn About Our Pediatric Dentistry Services
Pediatric dentistry is a specialty field of dentistry that caters to oral health needs of children from infancy to adolescence. Pediatric dentists receive two years of residency training in addition to four years of dental school and are responsible for performing preventative and restorative dental procedures.
At The Stein Dental Group, we prioritize your child’s oral health needs just as much as your own. Our goal is to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for your child. We understand the anticipation of a doctor’s appointment can be overwhelming, especially for children. We are committed to working with you and providing your child with an experience that will give them peace of mind.
From the moment your child walks in our door, we want to make sure he or she is having fun! Our waiting room is filled with a variety of arcade games that your child can play before being taken back to one of our treatment rooms. Once in the treatment room, our TVs are equipped with all your child’s favorite shows to keep him or her entertained throughout the dental cleaning. We even have prize boxes placed nearby, filled with goodies that he or she can take on the way out the door.
Premier pediatric dentistry services
we're more than just general dentists
Why Is It Important For My Child To See A Pediatric Dentist?
Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent diseases in children. However, this disease can be prevented, which is why our office in Stamford, CT recommends scheduling regular checkups every six months. Part of a child’s susceptibility to tooth decay is due to the structural differences between primary and permanent teeth. Children are initially born with 20 primary teeth that begin erupting as early as six months of age. Around the age of 6, primary teeth begin to fall out to make way for 32 permanent teeth. All teeth have an outer protective layer called enamel, but primary teeth have thinner and lower levels of enamel compared to their successors. The enamel is also softer. Between the structural differences and children’s decreased awareness about oral hygiene, acids produced from the digestion of sugars allow plaque bacteria to more readily infiltrate different regions of the teeth, increasing the overall risk of tooth decay.
One of the most important things we hope for as parents is to pass the importance of making health conscious decisions. We at The Stein Dental Group recognize this and are here to facilitate learning processes that will help your children maintain good oral standing. We believe this can be achieved through education. That’s why we start off examination and cleanings by building your child’s understanding of self-care habits such as brushing and flossing. Below, we’ve included steps that you can use with your child to build his or her confidence with brushing and flossing at home
How To Correctly Brush Your Teeth
- Step 1: Start at the top right end of your mouth and orient your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the base of the tooth, where the tooth and gum line meet
- Step 2: Begin brushing in small circles gently down the front of the tooth, as well as the biting surface of the tooth
- Step 3: Progress along each tooth, one by one, until your reach the top left side of the mouth
- Step 4: When you finish brushing the front and biting edges, move onto the inside edges of the top row, working your way back from left to right. Continue to maintain a 45 degree angle while brushing in small, circular motions
- Step 5: Once you finish brushing the top row, proceed to the bottom row of teeth and repeat Steps 1-4
- Step 6: Brush along the top surface of the tongue to remove any plaque or bacteria that are present
- Step 7: Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash for up to 1 minute
- The entire process should take between 3-5 minutes when performed thoroughly and effectively.
How To Properly Floss Your Teeth
- Step 1: Obtain a piece a floss, roughly 18” in length, and wrap the ends around each pointer finger
- Step 2: With your thumbs, pinch off 1-2” sections of floss to be used between each tooth
- Step 3: Glide the floss along the inside ridges of each tooth, while maintaining tension on the floss
- Step 4: As you approach the gum lining, make a gentle C-curve around the base of each tooth to get in between the base of the tooth and the gum line
- Step 5: Repeat this motion 2-3 times before transitioning to a new tooth and new 1” segment of floss
- We recommend using monofilament floss, a more durable alternative to nylon or multifilament floss, which can tear or shred. If your child is having difficulties maneuvering conventional dental floss, feel free to consult us about alternative options.
gentle dentistry Pediatric Dentistry Services We Offer
When the biting surface of your child’s teeth are experiencing signs of decalcification or enamel wear, a sealant may be recommended. A sealant is a clear resin covering placed over the grooves of the biting surface where food particles and plaque bacteria can collect and linger. Prior to the sealant being placed, the biting surface of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried. The sealant will then be chemically bonded to biting surface of the tooth using an adhesive gel or a special light source. Once placed, sealants can last for years. Additionally, because sealants are clear, we can continue to monitor the tooth for any future signs of wear.
Sometimes during examination, we may discover a section of the tooth that has been infiltrated by bacteria. A filling is an easy solution to address this problem. When applying a filling, the soft portions of the tooth that have been eroded by the bacteria will be excavated, and in its place, a composite resin material can be used to fill in the hole that was left behind. Unlike old fashioned silver-mercury fillings, resin fillings can be bonded to your teeth for a strong, natural-looking result. Additionally, under many circumstances, these fillings can be placed without use of local anesthetics.
Primary teeth come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are lost at different times throughout childhood to make way for permanent teeth. The results of this process impact functional tasks such as speaking and chewing, in addition to facial development. During your child’s examination, we will coordinate with you to keep you informed of any changes that may be developing, such as an overbite, underbite, open bite, overcrowding or undercrowding. If your child would benefit from orthodontic interventions, our Stamford, CT office offers free consultations and can help you determine when treatment would be most ideal.
Mouthguards are made from flexible plastic to help absorb the impact of forces sustained to the mouth during physical play. Unlike store brand mouth guards with universal sizing, we can create custom mouthguards that will fit your child’s mouth precisely. This is performed by taking an impression to make a mold of your child’s teeth. Using vacuum sealed or thermo-pressurized technology, materials can that be stretched over the mold, and the mouthguard can be trimmed accordingly with the dimensions of your child’s teeth. Before your child leaves the office, we will ensure that the mold is secure and provides optimal comfort and breathability. If any issues are spotted, we will make alterations to ensure the fit is right.
We understand the distress that can accompany a fall or trauma. Rest assured, we are here to help. There are a variety of different types of dental emergencies from toothaches, avulsions (the tooth is knocked out completely), intrusions (the tooth is pushed into the jawbone), extrusions (the tooth is dislodged from the socket), crown fractures (a crack in the exterior of the tooth), root fractures (the nerve to the tooth is injured) to lacerations. If your child has experienced an injury to the mouth, give our Stamford, CT office a call, and we can help guide you on the appropriate course of action. Our doctors are on standby 24/7 to assist you. Below we have included some steps to help the event that a tooth has knocked out but remains intact:
- Without touching the root of the tooth, carefully rinse off noticeable debris
- Have your child place the tooth in the pouch of his or her cheek
- If you have a younger child, submerge the tooth in a pool of saliva or milk to ensure the tooth remains in a moist environment
- Immediately proceed to our office or the hospital if necessary
