1. Reduces appointment anxiety

Does your child cry, scream, or hide when it’s time to visit the dentist? While this behavior may be inconvenient as you’re trying to load him or her into the car, this is a healthy, age-appropriate emotional response to how the child is feeling about their upcoming appointment. They’re expressing the fact that they’re beginning to develop anxiety around dental visits. While some children may be fine receiving traditional dental care at Dentistry for Children, sedation is just one more way we can put your child at ease so that visits are less of an ordeal before, during, and after.

2. Reduces lifelong dentist anxiety

You’ve seen the dentist cliches on TV, and we have too. Many healthy children have never needed a medical procedure during their lifetime so far, so the dentist is their first experience with what can be unpleasant regardless of how gentle Dr. Sina and her team are. While it’s the goal of all staff to make dental visits positive, this can create lifelong fear, anxiety, and even phobia-level avoidance that could hinder that child from proper dental care now and once they reach adulthood. Sedation dentistry can help your child build positive memories around the dentist that make going to the dentist easier as they get older.

3.  A pain-free experience

For a young child who has received few shots that they can remember, traditional local anesthetic needles can be scary and excruciating and, on top of that, local anesthetic doesn’t remove all of the the discomfort of having the jaw held open or the pain of dental procedures. Sedation dentistry ensures a calm, pain-free experience for your child whether they’re having a cleaning of a filling.

4. Faster and better treatment

Let’s face it: children squirm. They try so hard to do what the adults tell them, but it’s not easy to stay still while a stranger works in the mouth. Despite the skill of your pediatric dentist, this may impact the amount of time it takes to complete cleanings and it may impact the quality of that cleaning. Sedation dentistry is just one more tool that an experienced dentist like Dr. Sina can use to help your child get the most out of a visit to the dentist.

How does sedation work?

During the visit, one of Dr. Sina’s team members places an oxygen mask over your child’s face so that your child can breathe in odorless, colorless nitrous oxide, which causes a deep feeling of mental calmness and little to no physical sensation, but not to the point of falling asleep. Dr. Sina keeps the gas on and closely monitors the level of sedation to maintain this relaxed state. Once she completes the procedure, she turns the gas off, and within minutes, your child returns to a normal awakened state with some residual drowsiness that may last for a short time. Your child shouldn’t go back to school after a visit, however, and Dr. Sina recommends that you schedule the appointment in such a way that your child can take a nap afterward.

Help your child develop positive feelings around proper dental care, and stop the fights about going to the dentist with sedation dentistry. Contact Dentistry for Children to schedule an appointment.

When we hear the word “emergency,” we tend to think of really serious traumatic events, like an accident that involves having a tooth knocked out, but the fact is, dental emergencies can include lots of issues. Toothaches, swollen gums, chipped teeth, objects lodged between the teeth — pretty much any unusual condition that’s causing pain or dysfunction or just needs to be “fixed” promptly. At Dentistry for Children, we provide state-of-the-art treatment options for all sorts of dental emergencies. Here’s what to do if your child has an emergent care need.

Knocked-out tooth

Have your child rinse their mouth very gently, then see if you can place the tooth back in the socket. Give your child a clean cloth to gently bite down on to hold the tooth in place. If you can’t place the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a container of milk and bring it with you to the office. If our office is closed, head to the nearest emergency department.

Chipped or fractured tooth

Have your child gently rinse their mouth, then see if you can find the broken part of the tooth. If you can, wrap it in a clean cloth or paper towel so you can bring it with you to the office. Our team is skilled in restorations that can help your child’s tooth look like “new” while also preventing further damage like decay or infection.

Bitten or lacerated lip or tongue

If your child bites or cuts their lip, place a cold compress on the injury to help reduce pain and swelling. Have your child keep the head elevated as well. Depending on the severity of the injury, your child may need stitches. Call the office for further instructions.

Foreign object caught in teeth

First, see if you can gently dislodge the object using dental floss, or if there’s no floss available, using a toothpick. Don’t ever use any type of sharp implement to try to remove the object, and don’t use anything made of plastic that could wind up breaking off or injuring the gum or tooth and causing more problems. If you can’t dislodge the object, call the office. We have special instruments that can remove foreign objects without harming your child’s gums or their other teeth.

No matter what type of dental emergency your child is dealing with, the first step toward making sure they get the right care is to call our office right away. If it’s after hours, you can call our emergency number for further instructions.

How to prevent dental emergencies

Let’s face it: A lot of accidents are difficult to prevent. But there are some things you can do to reduce the impact of an accident, at least as far your child’s teeth are concerned. First, if your child plays any type of sport, look into getting a mouth guard. Today, mouth guards are smaller, more lightweight, and just more comfortable than mouth guards from when you were a kid, and they provide a lot of critically important protection. 

Second, be sure your child’s oral hygiene habits are optimized. That means regular brushing and flossing using proper techniques, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, and seeing the dentist for routine checkups and cleanings. Why is this all important? Because healthy teeth are strong teeth, and that means they’re less likely to be damaged by relatively minor bumps and bangs.

If your child plays a sport or if it’s been a while since their last checkup at Dentistry for Children, don’t put off their next visit. Book an appointment online today.

Absolutely, they can! At Dentistry for Children in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Maryam Sina and her team are experts at caring for kids with a teeth-grinding issue. Here are a few tips on how to handle the situation.

Why do kids need a mouthguard?

Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. This is a common condition that can develop at any age, but it can be more serious in kids because the grinding can wear down their teeth before they are fully formed.

It can be hard for kids to know they’re actually grinding their teeth, so here are a few signs to look for:

• Complaining of headaches or jaw pain
• Chipped or fractured teeth
• Sores on their cheek, lips, or tongue from biting too hard
• Wear and tear on their gums

If you notice any of these things, it’s time to make an appointment to see Dr. Sina. The best solution for teeth grinding is a custom mouthguard that fits over your child’s upper teeth. It’s made of a plastic or rubber-type material that protects their teeth from damage when the grinding occurs by absorbing the pressure from their clenching jaws, allowing them to relax.

You can buy an off-the-shelf mouthguard at the store, but a customized guard will offer better protection and be more comfortable. Once used, the mouthguard should clear up your child’s teeth grinding symptoms, helping them become more well-rested without the constant grinding disturbing their sleep.

How to take care of a mouthguard

Taking care of a mouthguard is simple—simply have your child brush it every morning after they wear it when they are brushing their teeth. They can use normal toothpaste and a toothbrush, just like they would their teeth. Once a week or so, they should soak the mouthguard in a special cleaner to keep stains and other contaminants from building up.

Your child should be able to talk and communicate just fine while wearing the guard, but keep in mind that a custom guard that has been fitted precisely to your child’s teeth will enable them to talk much better (and with more comfort) than a generic model.

Get your child fitted for a mouthguard today

Mouthguards are a great way to alleviate the pain and stress than can come with teeth grinding. While kids will have to get used to wearing them at night as they sleep, they are a fairly easy solution to implement.

To find out more and set up your complimentary consultation at either the Henderson or Las Vegas locations of Dentistry for Children, call or book an appointment online today!

That’s because your Invisalign clear aligners are working hard to gradually shift their teeth and make their mouth healthier and happier. Return the favor by teaching your child to keep their Invisalign trays clean and safe.

Dr. Maryam Sina at Dentistry for Children can help you learn how. She creates a pleasant, stress-free environment for all of her young patients and strives to make going to the dentist a pleasant experience for parents and children of all ages. 

If your child wears Invisalign aligners, Dr. Sina and her team have a few tips that will help keep the trays performing at peak efficiency.

Rinse them

Every time you remove your Invisalign tray, make a habit of giving it a quick rinse under lukewarm water to keep bacteria at bay. 

But be careful. Hot water can soften the plastic and make the aligner pliable, which means they won’t be rigid enough to do their job, and if you put them back in your mouth while they’re moldable, they will conform to your teeth, rather than your teeth conforming to them.

Beware of super cold water as well, as it can make the plastic brittle and susceptible to breaks and cracks.

Brush them

Just like teeth, Invisalign trays need a good cleaning a couple times a day. When you brush your teeth in the morning and evening, do the same for your trays. Use a soft brush and circular motions, and be sure to get the inside surfaces, too.

Inspect them

Take a close look at your Invisalign trays daily to see if you notice any plaque building up, just like on your teeth. Plaque makes your trays look a little milky or cloudy rather than clear. 

If this happens, you may need to soak them in the Invisalign cleaning solution or a special retainer cleaning solution. But never soak them in mouthwash, which contains dye that will stain your Invisalign trays.

While you’re inspecting your trays, check for any cracks or chips in the plastic that might compromise their performance. 

Remove them

Make sure you remove your Invisalign trays every time you eat. Chewing while wearing your retainer can damage them.

Also, take them out every time you drink anything but water. Any other beverage could stain them. 

Handle them

Use your fingers to gently remove your aligner when it’s time to take it out. Tools or utensils can crack or break the plastic. Likewise, when you put it into your mouth, press it gently into place and resist the urge to bite down on it.

Protect them

Your Invisalign trays come with a hard case to store them during the short periods of time they’re not in your mouth. It’s important to use that case every time you take your tray out, even for a few minutes. It’s easy to drop, lose, or damage your Invisalign trays if you set them down on a counter or drop them in a backpack or purse. 

If you’re curious whether Invisalign clear aligners might be a good fit for your child, or you have any questions about how to care for their Invisalign trays or their teeth as they go through the straightening process, call us or send us a message here on our website at Dentistry for Children in either Las Vegas or Henderson. 

We would love to meet you and your child and help you with all of your dental needs.

So why add a dental checkup to this already hectic time? Because getting dental care out of the way before school starts has benefits. When school gets busy, and it will, you can rest easy knowing your child’s oral health is in a good place.

Is it time for your child’s biannual dental checkup? If so, come see us at Dentistry for Children, with locations in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Maryam Sina, DDS, and the rest of our team are dedicated to providing quality care that meets the individualized needs of every child. Dr. Sina has more than 25 years of experience working with children and is board-certified in pediatric dentistry.

Why back to school?

There are a couple of reasons you may want to schedule a dental checkup for the late summer, from convenience to health.

Better now than later

According to the American Dental Association, children miss over 51 million hours of school every year for dental care. 

By visiting the dentist before school starts, you accomplish two things. If your child gets a good dental report, you don’t have to bring them back for six months. And if we notice an issue, like cavities, you have time to get the problem fixed before the heart of the school year.

Reinforcing good habits

Good habits are the bedrock of a healthy mouth. The start of school is a great time to get the whole family into an oral health routine. 

Not all children master brushing on the first try — you may need to help the youngest (6 and under), even if they think they deserve an A-plus. Flossing should start as soon as your child has two teeth that touch; most kids can do this themselves by second or third grade.

Sync up with other appointments

Many schools require a physical before your child can return to class. If you’re already making a trip to the pediatrician, why not add the dentist to the list?

Pediatric dentistry

At Dentistry for Children, we offer a wide range of dental services to make sure your child’s oral health is top-notch, including:

• Teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments
• Comprehensive dental exams
• Fillings, crowns, and root canals
• Tooth extractions
• Invisalign® clear aligners and other orthodontic treatments
• Emergency dental care, including traumatic injury treatment
• Sedation dentistry
• Laser dentistry

Our pediatric dentists are specially trained to work with children; we’re focused on warm, welcoming, and compassionate care.

Don’t wait until school is in full swing to get your child’s dental checkup completed. Give us a call at our Las Vegas or Henderson office today.