Comprehensive Exams
Those beautiful smiles our kids give us – they are easy to notice. Less noticeable are problems that might be developing in their smiles. That’s why every child that comes to us starts his or her care with a dental exam.
Assessing the health and well-being of your child’s smile is important even if they don’t have an obvious problem or active decay. Why? Sometimes there are problems with teeth, gums or oral tissue that can’t be seen by the naked eye. We use the DIAGNOdent, digital and panoramic x-rays to find early cavities, look below the surface and evaluate the entire mouth.
The DIAGNOdent®
The DIAGNOdent is a special diagnostic laser that can detect decay at its earliest stages. This tool significantly aids in the doctor’s visual and x-ray evaluation of teeth.
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays allow us to get clearer images of your teeth and allow you and your child to see exactly what is going on right along with the doctor. These images can be kept in your computer files for future reference and easily compared year to year. Plus, they expose your kids to far less radiation than traditional x-rays.
Panoramic X-Rays
One of our most exciting diagnostic tools is the panoramic x-ray. The panoramic x-ray is not taken with any film and doesn’t require a device to be placed in your mouth. The machine stays outside of your child’s mouth and moves around the head. Panoramic x-rays give us a clear overview of the entire oral cavity allowing us to assess for braces, TMJ, check the position of wisdom teeth, and look for other problems such as abscesses and extra/missing teeth.
Call 516-333-3033 for more information about how our pediatric dental exams can help your kids keep smiling, or schedule a visit with us today!
Hygiene / Dental Cleanings
Great smiles are healthy and bright – and that starts with keeping teeth and gums clean and free of bacteria, plaque, tartar and other buildup.
That’s why we encourage consistent and regularly scheduled hygiene visits for every child. During these visits, we will examine and evaluate the health of your mouth, teeth and gums and check the condition of sealants or decide if they need to be applied.
Once the examination is complete, our hygienist will use the latest techniques, including the Cavitron, an ultrasonic device designed to clean and polish teeth and remove calculus, stains, and plaque. When you combine the latest technology and our gentle touch, you can be sure your child will be comfortable during every cleaning.
You will leave knowing your child’s teeth have been protected, and your child will leave with a fresh smile he or she can be proud of.
Fluoride Treatments
Tooth decay is a serious problem for kids. In fact, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that tooth decay is the most chronic disease among children aged 5 to 17. Fluoride treatments from Ehrenman and Khan Pediatric Dentistry can help. Fluoride strengthens teeth, making them far more resistant to acids and decay.
Why Fluoride is Important for Kids’ Smiles
Every day, teeth lose some of their protective minerals. When children consume acidic foods or drinks, such as sodas, sour candies, juices or even liquid medication, and fail to brush as well as they should, their tooth enamel can become damaged.
We can help reverse this damage through remineralizing fluoride treatments that strengthen teeth and repair early decay.
What Fluoride Does
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under six years of age, the fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth.
Sports Mouthguards
Your child’s smile is precious. But every year, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and under are injured while playing sports. That is why the American Dental Association recommends that all kids participating in sports wear a protective mouthguard.
Mouthguards help cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. They also may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions.
Don’t take chances with that precious smile!
- Custom designed mouthguards from Ehrenman and Khan Pediatric Dentistry
- Protect teeth from being chipped, fractured or knocked out
- Help prevent jaw fractures
- Reduce the risks of concussion
- Allow for comfortable extended wear
To protect your child’s mouth and let yourself relax knowing that your child is safer than ever, ask for a custom sports mouthguard from Ehrenman and Khan Pediatric Dentistry.
Emergency Care
A dental emergency – especially when it involves your child’s precious smile – is never welcome. When a fall, sports injury, or broken tooth happens, isn’t it nice to know that you can count on receiving the same gentle, advanced care after hours? That is what we want for our families!
While some things that feel like dental emergencies can be solved at home, when you have a real problem like a knocked out tooth or a possible broken jaw, please call us right away. Don’t wait. If it happens when we are not in the office, please call us anyway. There is always a doctor available to answer your questions, ease your fears and help you get the care you need.
Just call our regular phone number and our emergency service will contact a doctor directly.
Here are some of the most common childhood dental emergencies and how to deal with them properly:
- Broken Tooth – Place a cold compress on the face in the area of the broken tooth to minimize lip or facial swelling. Contact our office or our emergency service as soon as possible.
- Knocked Out Tooth – For permanent teeth: Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it in cold water, but DO NOT scrub or handle the root unnecessarily. Try to replace the tooth into the socket. Have your child hold the tooth in place by closing his or her mouth on a gauze pad or washcloth. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a cup of milk, or if this is not available, cool water. Call our office immediately. Time is important for saving the tooth; less than 30 minutes is the best.For primary (baby) teeth: Teeth are not re-implanted. The tooth fairy will be visiting a little early.
- Toothaches – Clean the area around the tooth. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water and use dental floss to remove any trapped food between the teeth. DO NOT place aspirin on the gums or tooth. This will cause a burn to the gum tissues. If there is swelling, apply cold to the outside of the face. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Call the office for an emergency appointment.
- Bitten Tongue or Lip or Cheek – If there is bleeding apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. Apply an ice compress to the injured area. Call our office for further instructions.
- Possible Broken Jaw – Do not move the jaw. Stabilize the jaw by tying a towel, necktie, etc. over the top of the head. Apply cold compresses. Call our office or go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
- Objects Caught between the Teeth – Try to remove the object with dental floss. You may tie one or two small knots in the floss to help remove the debris. Do not use a sharp metal object. If you cannot remove it, call our office.
- Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out – Place a gauze pad or clean washcloth over the bleeding area. Keep it in place and apply gentle pressure for 15 minutes, and repeat as necessary.
- Orthodontic Emergencies – If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with dental wax. If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheek, or tongue, DO NOT remove it. Call your orthodontist or our office immediately. Loose or broken appliances that do not bother the child usually do not require emergency attention.
