Common procedures preformed at San Tan Pediatric Dental include the following:
Sealants
Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. The sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often.
White fillings
White fillings are an alternative to silver (amalgam) fillings. White fillings are made of a strong composite resin that is matched to the surrounding tooth color.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral used in dental products to allow teeth to be more resistant to decay.
Cleaning
Your regular scheduled check-up is often referred to as a "cleaning." The technical term is oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of oral disease.
Extractions
Extraction is the complete removal of a primary or a permanent tooth. An extraction can be surgical or non-surgical. This depends on the difficulty of the extraction and whether or not the tooth is impacted or erupted.
An Extraction may be done at our office or you may be referred to an Oral Surgeon.
Space maintainers
When a primary (baby) tooth is lost prematurely the teeth can drift into the new space crowding out the permanent tooth that is supposed to erupt into that space in the future. A space maintainer prevents baby teeth from shifting into the space where the tooth was lost.
Digital X rays (or radiographs) consist of a filmless imaging system. Digital x rays allow immediate observation of radiographic images and gives the doctor the ability to enhance images. Digital X rays reduce radiation exposure by up to 70 to 80 percent, and sometimes even more.
Pulpotomy (baby root canal)
When the nerve of a primary tooth becomes infected or abscessed, a pulpotomy or pulpectomy is necessary to save the tooth. During a pulpotomy the infected part of the nerve is removed and a sedative medication is placed inside the tooth to prevent sensitivity and to promote healing. A pulpectomy requires the total removal of the nerve.
Mouth guards
A specially fabricated mouth guard can be made for your child's teeth. This guard fits over the upper or lower teeth to prevent broken or chipped teeth due to tooth-to-tooth contact.
Frenectomy
The muscles of the cheeks and lips are attached to the gums and tissue of the mouth by a piece of soft tissue called a frenum. Sometimes a frenum can be attached too high on the gums causing either recession or spaces between teeth. In addition, there is another frenum under the tongue. If this frenum is attached too close to the end of the tongue it can adversely affect swallowing and speech. Sometimes this is referred to as being "tongue-tied".
A Frenectomy is a simple procedure where either part or all of the frenum is removed in order to return a healthy balance to the mouth.
