- Welcome
- About Us
- The First Visit
- Office Information
- Parent Information - Frequently Asked Questions
- Prevention
- No Cavity Club
- Request an Appointment
- Contact Us
No Strings Attached
Just Call (281) 238-GRIN
Click to Print Coupon
$20 off Exams/XRays/Cleaning
Call (281) 238-GRIN
to Schedule
Click to Print Coupon
Dental Procedures
Our goal is to provide your child with advanced dental care in a stress-free environment. Toward that end, we use the most current procedures, instruments, and techniques.
Please choose below to learn more about the procedures we offer.
- Crowns
- Fillings
- Fluoride Treatment
- Frenectomy
- Minor Orthodontics
- Pedo-Partials
- Root Canal Therapy
- Sealants
- Thumb-sucking Appliances
Crowns
Your dentist may recommend a crown to cover and protect a damaged tooth. A crown is an artificial tooth that fits over the existing tooth structure. We use aesthetic tooth-colored crowns that look and feel like the natural tooth.
First, the dentist will remove any decay and shape the tooth to receive a crown. The crown must be thick enough to withstand chewing, which means that the natural tooth below the crown must be reduced.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are used to replace areas of decayed tooth. We use a filling material that is light colored and mercury-free, called composite resin. The fillings are not noticeable, and protect your child's health by avoiding unnecessary exposure to mercury.
The decayed area of they tooth will be gently removed and replaced with composite resin filling material. The tooth will then be polished and checked for proper occlusion (fit between the upper and lower teeth).
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that strengthens the protective outer coating of teeth. Used regularly in small amounts, it helps to avoid tooth decay. The dentist may recommend office fluoride treatments for the health of your child's teeth.
Topical fluoride comes in gels, foams or varnishes. The fluoride is painted on the teeth which helps protect, heal and strengthen the teeth.
Frenectomies
A frenulum is a strip of connecting tissue. You can probably feel two frenulum in your own mouth- one connecting the upper gum tissue to the lip, or the flap of tissue below your tongue that connects to the base of your mouth.
If these tissues overdevelop, they can pull the gum tissue away from the teeth. An overly restrictive frenulum below the tongue can also restrict tongue movement and cause speech difficulties, such as lisping.
During a frenulectomy, the dentist makes a small incision in the frenulum to free the tissue. In some cases sutures are placed.
Minor Orthodontics
Pediatric orthodontics is used to straighten teeth, ensure the adult teeth come in straight, correct bite problems, and provide a more aesthetic smile. Orthodontic treatments can even prevent the need for removal of teeth in certain cases.
We offer an array of orthodontic appliances used to guide and straighten your child's teeth. After a thorough exam and consultation the dentist will discuss your options for orthodontic care.
Pedo-Partials
A pedo-partial is a partial denture for children. Pedo-partials are used to replace teeth lost due to decay or injury. They restore the natural appearance of your child's teeth and serve the important function of holding the space so that the adult teeth can come in properly, without crowding.
First, the dentist will take an impression of your child's bite. A lab then fashions the pedo-partial, which takes the appearance of the lost section of teeth. The completed pedo-partial is then affixed to the adjacent teeth..
Root Canal Therapy
Root canals are the thin passages that run from the soft inner tissue of the tooth (pulp) to the tip of the tooth root. These canals may become infected in a variety of ways, most commonly as a result of untreated cavities. Because the canals contain nerve fibers, infections of this sort are often painful.
Root canal procedures remove the inner tooth infection to save the tooth and alleviate the pain.
After sufficiently numbing the area, the dentist creates an opening on the surface of the tooth. He or she gently removes any decayed tissue or bacteria from the canal. The inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and supplied with a filling material, accompanied by medications to soothe the area.
A final filling, such as those used to fix cavities, is applied to the surface of the tooth. A natural-looking tooth replacement called a crown may also be used.
Sealants
Small grooves and pits in teeth are common sites for cavities. Sealants fill these grooves and pits to prevent food particles from getting stuck and causing tooth decay. If properly cared for with brushing and flossing, sealants will last for years.
The dentist first cleans and conditions the teeth and then places the sealant material in the the desired area and treats it with a special light to harden it.
Thumb Sucking Appliances
Thumb or pacifier sucking is natural and common in children. However, if these habits are prolonged past the first few years of life it may affect dental health. The front teeth may not come in properly, or may come in tilted forward because of the pressure of the thumb or pacifier against the teeth.
Your dentist can recommend different techniques for easing your child away from this habit, which may include the use of appliances that interfere with sucking.