The last time you brushed your baby’s teeth did you notice that he/she is missing a tooth? Or that they have one abnormally large baby tooth rather than two? This could be one of two rare conditions known as tooth fusion or gemination. These two conditions are different, but have some similarities and only about 2 percent of Caucasian children and 5 percent of Asian children will ever experience it. Smile Reef is here to talk about these two conditions and what can be done about them.
What is Fusion of Teeth?
When your babies teeth start to come in, it’s exciting. However, when they don’t come in as expected, it can be alarming. If you have noticed that your child has got a rather large baby tooth rather than two teeth, it could be tooth fusion happening. When two tooth buds fuse together and one large crown emerges, this is tooth fusion. If you look in an x-ray, there will likely be two pulp chambers as well as root canals. This will result in less teeth than expected when your dentist does a tooth count. However, sometimes a tooth fusion causes an extra tooth to grow which would result in a normal tooth count.
What is Tooth Gemination?
If your child has tooth gemination, there is most likely the right number of teeth in their mouth during a tooth count. On an x-ray though, you would see that a tooth bud has tried to divide into two teeth. This would result in one pulp canal, but two pulp chambers. This is most common in primary teeth as well as tooth fusion. When you see that your child has an abnormally wide tooth, you should consult with a dentist to discuss further treatment.
Treatment of Gemination & Fusion Teeth
Sometimes, these primary teeth that are abnormally large have a difficult time falling out on their own. This is why the tooth should be monitored closely by the parents as well as the child’s dentist. Sometimes, germinated teeth are more susceptible to getting cavities because the crowns are so close together. Just another reason for close monitoring. Aside from monitoring, there isn’t much that can be done to treat tooth fusion or gemination. The good thing to note, is that just because a child is experiencing this condition with their primary teeth, doesn’t mean that they will have this same problem as their adult teeth start to grow in. If there is a problem when the adult teeth start to emerge, orthodontics can usually fix the problem and help them achieve their oral health goals.
Pediatric Dentistry
If you have noticed that something doesn’t look quite right with your child’s teeth, you should never hesitate to call on the professionals at Smile Reef. With our expertise in pediatric dentistry, we are your leading choice in the industry. Call us today to schedule your child’s annual checkup.
We want what’s best for our kids. This includes making sure their teeth are taken care of and there are considerations to make when you want to find a good dentist. Your child needs to feel comfortable, otherwise they will not get their teeth checked and cleaned correctly. If they have a bad experienced early on, it will make them anxious for future visits. You don’t want your children to be afraid of the dentist because good oral care means better overall health. Can you take your child to your dentist or should they go to a pediatric dentist?
General Family Dentistry
A family or general dentist provides a wide range of services instead of specializing in one area. A pediatric dentist may have a limit to the age of their patients, while family dentists will treat any age. Family dentists will usually focus on general dental issues like tooth decay, cavities, plaque buildup and making sure gums stay healthy. If there is a more serious issue, a family dentist will send you to a specialist.
Pediatric Dentist
All dentists finish four years of dental school, plus they have a bachelor’s degree. Pediatric dentists also complete two to three years of training on top of that. This training will teach them how to deal with children’s behavior. They learn how to make children less anxious and can take care of dental issues that are unique to children. They are also trained and qualified to treat children that have special needs. Pediatric dental offices are designed for children. There will be a play area and equipment that is more kid-friendly. They also have a way of explaining procedures to children in a way they will understand. Pediatric dentists can identify issues unique to children because children are all they treat.
Advantages of Taking Children to a Family Dentist
• You and your child can see the same dentist
• They are trained to treat children, but may have less experience
• Some provide other specialties at the same office
Benefits of Taking Kids to a Pediatric Dentist
• They have the extra training
• They are more experienced with children
• Better office environment for children and usually more fun
• Tools are designed for children
• They know more about preventative care
• They are better at treating children with special needs
Pediatric VS Family Dentist
Bottom line, a family dentist can treat your child and help prevent cavities, but they can’t give the specialized care a child might need if they go to a pediatric dentist. You take your child to a pediatrician over a doctor, so your child should see a pediatric dentist instead of a family dentist. If you’re still trying to decide, visit both offices and speak with the dentists to get a feeling about where you and your child will fell most comfortable.
Pediatric Dentistry
Smile Reef offers pediatric dentistry that provides optimal care for your child’s teeth. Our dentists have the training and skills to make visiting the dentist a pleasant experience for your child. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation.
Las Vegas Children's Dentist
Most parents and guardians of little children, if not all, are greatly concerned about the growth and development of children's teeth especially in this day and age where almost any food available in groceries and restaurants are loaded with sugar and or sucrose which greatly contribute to the formation of cavities, eventually resulting to tooth decay. From the time that the first set of baby teeth comes out, pediatric dentists would already heavily advise parents to start a religious and proper care routine of their children's teeth to ensure that the proper development of these important part of a child's mouth are done with the right techniques and required consistency. Caring for baby and children's teeth takes a lot of effort since children are not expected to care for their own set due to their limitations in capacity and information. That is why until children reach the stage where they are capable to care for their own teeth comes, the weight of the call rests on the shoulders of the parents. It is for this reason that proper oral care for children begins with choosing the right dental office which houses the best pediatric dentists who will be the partner of parents in ensuring that their children's oral care are safeguarded. Las Vegas Children's Dentist is a dynamic and vibrant supporter in the campaign against early onset of tooth decay in children's teeth. Certified and competent, this Dentist for kids in Las Vegas, very carefully and thoroughly instruct and teach good oral care to parents and children. This dentist follows the best practices in worldwide standards and features state of the art dental equipment that allows not only for the best oral care of each patient but also creating an environment that is friendly and accommodating to kids and children who frequent this pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas.
To begin early oral care for babies, a competent and friendly Las Vegas dentist from a reputable pediatric dentist office will advise that even before the eruption of the teeth, a child's mouth and gums should be wiped after meals with a clean, soft damp cloth to make sure that excess food would not linger in the mouth. These excess foods when left in a moist area like the mouth would form bacteria which would eventually get lodged in the baby's first set of teeth triggering the beginning of tooth decay. A meticulous and caring kids dentist in Las Vegas would also advise that to prevent the onset of pre-mature cavities, it is best to give babies plain water when sipping at bedtime to prevent baby formula - which sometimes contain sugar - from settling in the mouth which also invites cavity formation. Once the first set of baby teeth comes out, the practice of brushing should also commence, normally beginning with soft bristled baby toothbrush combined with a non-fluoride toothpaste or even just plain warm water to gently clean every part of the emerging teeth. A licensed Las Vegas children's dentist is a strong support in making sure that these early oral care regimens are done by the parents regularly to avoid unnecessary formation of tooth decay that could prove to be costly to take away using dental procedures. Children's dentist in Las Vegas recommends that children's toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months taking special note of the appearance of the head bristles to make sure that they still serve their purpose of thoroughly cleaning the teeth. There are several pediatric dentist in Las Vegas so one must be very careful to choose the best, and the best pediatric dental clinic must not only be concerned about treatment but more so on prevention methods. So far Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is a cut above all other pediatric clinics because of its practices on preventative measures that do away with costly teeth drilling and fillings.
Children develop their baby teeth as preparatory ground for the eruption of the final adult teeth which they would use for the rest of their lives. Many parents feel that since baby teeth would still be replaced, they could be more relaxed in spearheading for their children's oral care. But this is very far from the truth since the condition and health of the baby teeth would also greatly determine the condition and health of the permanent teeth. Parents are advised that the first visit of their children to the dentist should happen when babies are 12 months old and prior coaching such as open your mouth or saying 'ahhh' must be done to avoid too much time on the dental chair which might be very scary for some kids. Dental patients could rest assured that reputable pediatric dentist in Las Vegas would be more concerned with prevention but would also be very competent when treatment is necessary. A parent could expect that a children's dentist in Las Vegas is well trained in handling children especially the first timers who might have reservations in seeing a dentist for the first time let alone open their mouth for a stranger. But the first visits to the dentist are crucial because those are the times when good oral plan is discussed aside from giving out the message to the children that dentists are friends not enemies to increase their trust and confidence with them. A well trained dentist for kids in Las Vegas would also discuss the availability of important pediatric care such as the application of fluoride and sealants that help protect baby teeth from plaque and cavities. The substance fluoride help make the teeth stronger by protecting them from the initiation of dental caries and tooth decay while at the same time re-mineralizing areas of the teeth that get weakened by acid coming from leftover food or juices which the children consume.
Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is known as one of the best pediatric dentistry all over the United States which practices not only the best dental techniques using state of the art equipment, a Las Vegas dentist also has the best techniques and rapport with children patients giving them a wonderful experience inside the clinic that helps ensure repeat comebacks for consistent and thorough oral care. Las Vegas pediatric patients could expect that as they step inside a Las Vegas pediatric dentist office they would experience the best pre and post care evaluations not to mention above standard procedures including the application of necessary treatments that are non-threatening, very friendly and truly professional. Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is unchallenged when it comes to everything that makes oral care for children fantastic and something to look forward to and having children as clients that speaks highly of the credibility and expertise that a kids dentist in Las Vegas has to showcase and bring to the table. So next time you are in great need of an expert in oral care for you and especially for your young children - including those cute toddlers- consider pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas and you might not go anywhere else after trying its services. With the rising cost of dental care each year, wouldn't you want every dime you spent on it to be truly worth it? And wouldn't you want to see those beautiful and sparkly teeth on your children as they flash you their beautiful smiles? All of these and more could be yours by just visiting a reputable Las Vegas pediatric dental clinic. Check your directory for assistance or better yet take the word of our loyal customers who have given their generous testimonials of how happy and satisfied they are with our services. We assure you that you will have the best oral care on our hands and we will ensure that your children's teeth are not only taken cared of, they will also pass on the legacy of consistent and excellent oral care with their children and their children's children.
The Las Vegas Dentist Office
One of the best kid friendly dental offices you will find in the state of Nevada is the Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist Office. It's got the best ways and practices of making sure pediatric patients are well taken cared of and assured of warm, non-threatening dental procedures that help them ease up and become comfortable in this environment. Many parents regard a beautiful pediatric dental experience as part of the success why children stick to proper oral acre and why they regards a dental visit as an exciting adventure rather than a traumatic one. The Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is one of the top pediatric dental practices not only in the whole State but could also be compared, if not above, other dental pediatric practices in the United States. Parents coming from other nearby States bring their children to experience pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas because of its very popular kid-friendly atmosphere that children would sometimes forget they are inside a dental office. Parents love that their children are having a great time while having their excellent oral check up or procedures and children enjoy because it's like going to the zoo or the park where the environment is fun and lively and not scary at all. From themed rooms with matching themed cups and bibs, the pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas is a must see and must experience for all children. The pediatric dentists are well trained and well equipped to handle pediatric patients but the thing that endears all of them to their kid patients is the way they make cleaning teeth an exciting and fun thing to do rather than a boring chore that must be done regularly. And if dental procedures are needed such as drillings and putting of sealants, the expertise of a Las Vegas Dentist would surpass everyone's expectations including adults and parents who often have had traumatic experiences inside a dental office. So come now and visit us and see and feel the difference or better yet let your children tell you the difference with their exciting dental experience Truly it is like not going to the dentists at all!
