Caring For Our Patients Today & Every Day

Pediatric dentistry is a specialty that focuses on the specific needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health and emotional needs. Specializing in pediatric dentistry requires a dentist to complete an additional two to three years of specialty training beyond dental school. Dr. Bevin Malley is a board-certified pediatric dentist, or diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, meaning she passed a voluntary two-part examination administered by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. The examination certifies that the dentist possesses the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver the highest level of pediatric dental care.

When should I schedule my child’s first dental appointment?

Talk to them about their dental appointment, but avoid words that may sound frightening to them, such as needle, pain, hurt, etc. A variety of books are available on the subject that make learning fun and informative for young children. Playing “dentist” at home also can be an entertaining way of preparing children for their dental check-up. It is important that if you are a parent who has a dental fear to not project this anxiety onto your child. Our goal is to create positive dental experiences and a lifetime of healthy smiles.

It is our goal to make every visit to our office pleasant for your children, but occasionally, some discomfort cannot be avoided. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Malley is highly trained in behavior management of young children. This is our primary tool used when treating patients. When more intervention is needed, we consult with parents on the use of topical anesthetics, local anesthetics, nitrous oxide and in-office oral sedation. There are isolated cases that require treatment under general anesthesia for the child’s own safety. You should always feel welcome to discuss the available options for your child with Dr. Malley and her team.

The primary teeth begin to form beneath the gums before birth. Primary teeth typically erupt at 4–6 months of age, with the lower front teeth coming in first. Permanent teeth generally form in the third trimester and first year of life, with first erupting permanent teeth at about age 6. They generally are lost in the order in which they came in, beginning with the lower front teeth. Eventually your child will have up to 32 permanent teeth.

They enable children to speak appropriately and allow for proper nutrition. They also help in the eruption of the permanent teeth and play a role in jaw and facial development as your child grows. Many people are unaware that 12 of the 20 baby teeth normally are not lost until the ages of 10 to 12. It is important to prevent decay and treat it when it does happen as these teeth help to lay the foundation of our permanent teeth.

Proper oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, begin at home, as does a nutritionally balanced diet. A diet that is low in sugar will aid in cavity prevention. Routine professional dental cleanings that reach those difficult-to-reach areas, topical fluoride applications and dental sealants provide additional protection from tooth decay.

X-rays help detect cavities, but they also enable Dr. Malley to evaluate the erupting teeth, diagnose bone disease, assess the outcome of an injury, or to assist in orthodontic treatment planning. X-rays provide information for proper and timely diagnosis and treatment of health conditions that cannot be detected by a clinical examination alone. Discovering and treating dental problems early means we can provide more comfortable and more affordable dental care for your child and you. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children who are at high risk of tooth decay have X-rays and examinations every six months. On average, most pediatric dentists request X-rays annually. It is advisable to have a panoramic film every three to five years. As an office that specializes in pediatrics, we are careful to minimize our patients’ radiation exposure by using digital X-ray film, proper shielding with lead aprons and body shields and through advanced technology in equipment to filter the exposure.

Teeth grinding is known as bruxism. Parents often discover that their children grind their teeth because they hear the noise it creates, or because they notice that their children’s teeth are getting worn. Bruxism can be caused by several factors and is very common among young children. This habit often does not require any treatment because it is self-limiting and usually ceases before adolescence. If excessive wear occurs, bruxism management via mouth guards, psychological techniques or medications may be needed.

Non-nutritive sucking behaviors are normal and common in infants and young children. It often gives children a secure, pleasurable feeling and provides a sense of security. However, dental and skeletal development may be compromised if the habit continues beyond age three. Treating prolonged habits must take into consideration the child’s development, comprehension and ability to cooperate. Treatment options include patient/parent counseling, behavior modification, and the use of appliances that take away the pleasurable feeling that a pacifier or thumb-sucking provides. Using an appliance to manage the habit is necessary only when the child wants to stop the habit and would benefit from a reminder.

Adolescence is a complex time of growth and development. The combination of increased availability of sweetened foods and beverages, added independence, a low priority for oral hygiene and other social factors, adolescence also is considered a time of distinctive oral health care needs. High Cavity Rate: To fight cavities, it is important to brush, floss, use fluoride, eat a healthy diet and maintain routine dental exams and professional cleanings to remove plaque and calculus. Trauma: Trauma to permanent teeth commonly is the result of falls, traffic accidents, violence or sports injuries. The likelihood for dental and facial injuries to occur can be reduced by using protective equipment such as mouth guards and face guards. Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissue in and around the mouth. A custom-fitted mouth guard will stay in place while your child wears it and protect him/her from injury. Orthodontic Considerations: Good oral hygiene is paramount when children are going through orthodontic treatment and have appliances, brackets, and bands fitted to their teeth. It is more difficult to clean teeth with braces, as food gets trapped easily. If food is left lodged on the bracket and wires, it can cause etching of the enamel surface of your tooth. Additionally, symptoms of gum disease may begin to show in your mouth in the form of swollen, bleeding gums. The pressure from the disease will slow down the tooth movement and prolong orthodontic care. Tobacco Use: Tobacco use in any form can jeopardize your child’s health and cause incurable damage. If your teen or young adult is a tobacco user, you should watch for the following early signs of oral cancer: A sore that doesn’t appear to heal White or red leathery patches on the lips and on or beneath the tongue Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue, or a change in the way the teeth fit together. The early signs of oral cancer often are ignored because they typically are painless. If it goes undetected in the early stages, oral cancer can require extensive, sometimes disfiguring, surgery. Even worse, it can kill. Help your child avoid all forms of tobacco. By doing so, they will avoid bringing cancer-causing chemicals in direct contact with their tongue, gums and cheeks. Oral Piercings: Pierced tongues, lips or cheeks are a bad idea. There are numerous risks involved with oral piercings. They can cause chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscesses, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), periodontal disease and scar tissue. Your mouth is filled with millions of bacteria, and infection is a frequent complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway. Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.

The increased concerns related to personal appearance prompt many teenagers to ask about teeth whitening to promote a healthy-looking smile. Excellent oral hygiene and routine dental checkups are the best way to create and maintain a beautiful smile, but some teenagers also want to try whitening their teeth for that extra white gleam. Tooth bleaching can safely lighten the color of your teenager’s or young adult’s teeth and can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products tend to be safe and effective, but consult with Dr. Malley before using them to be sure. Bleaching does not effectively whiten everyone’s teeth and may not work for teeth with intrinsic staining. Stains from coffee, tea, food coloring or darkened soda drinks can easily be bleached and whitened. For a quicker, safer and more effective result, we can provide cosmetic teeth whitening with custom trays. This process produces quick results. Ask Dr. Malley for more information if your teenager is interested in this process.