At Alameda Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we prioritize prevention and education to help patients avoid costly and invasive treatments, maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums, and achieve better overall health.
Preventative dental care is a proactive approach to maintaining optimal oral health by preventing dental issues before they occur. This includes regular dental check-ups, professional cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants to protect teeth from decay.
Our dedicated team provides personalized guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques, dietary recommendations to support oral health, and early detection of problems such as cavities, gum disease, or oral abnormalities.
Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID) is a modern dental approach focused on preserving as much of the natural tooth structure as possible while addressing oral health issues. This approach emphasizes prevention, early detection, and minimally invasive treatments to restore and protect teeth with aesthetic and functional benefits. Our goal is to maintain the longevity of the natural teeth while minimizing discomfort and recovery time for patients.
Techniques such as air abrasion, laser dentistry , and re-mineralizing agents are often used to treat cavities or other dental issues, with precision and minimal disruption to the surrounding teeth and gums.
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing and restoring teeth to maintain their oral health, function, and appearance. It addresses issues like cavities, fractures, and developmental dental anomalies in primary and permanent teeth. Common treatments include fillings, crowns, and nerve therapy for severely decayed or damaged teeth.
We use the highest quality materials, such as tooth-colored composites, stainless steel crowns, or tooth-colored ceramic crowns, which are often used to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal.
Common Procedures
Digital X-Rays:
Preventative care often includes x-rays to monitor the health of the teeth and underlying structures. We use low-radiation 3D digital x-rays as a tool for better diagnostics, along with intra-oral photos and digital scans.
Dental Sealants:
A dental sealant is a thin, protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars (back teeth) to help prevent cavities. These areas are particularly prone to decay because they have grooves and pits where food particles and plaque can accumulate, making them difficult to clean with regular brushing. The sealant acts as a barrier, smoothing out these surfaces and preventing bacteria and food debris from settling in.
Our team members are experts at placing sealants and they make the process quick, painless, and non-invasive. With proper care, sealants can provide long-lasting protection, contributing to healthier teeth over time.
Silver Diamine Fluoride:
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a liquid treatment used to stop progression of tooth decay and protect teeth from further damage. Combining silver’s antimicrobial properties with fluoride’s enamel-strengthening effects, SDF is ideal for patients who cannot undergo invasive procedures, such as young children or individuals with special needs.
Applied directly to decayed areas, SDF halts cavities and prevents progression. Quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective, SDF offers an efficient solution for managing cavities and promoting oral health. Surfaces where cavities are located will be stained black, while healthy tooth enamel will not be stained. Repeated applications may be recommended, and some cases require future definitive dental treatment such as fillings at a later time.
Space Maintainers:
Space maintenance is a dental procedure used to preserve the space left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, to ensure proper alignment and spacing for the permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost too early due to decay, injury, or other factors, neighboring teeth can shift into the empty space, potentially leading to crowding or misalignment of the incoming permanent teeth.
These appliances are typically made from stainless steel material. At our office, our skilled dentists custom-make space maintainers for the child at chairside. By maintaining proper spacing, this treatment helps support healthy oral development and reduces the likelihood of needing more extensive orthodontic treatments in the future. Regular dental check-ups are essential to monitor the maintainer and ensure it is functioning properly.
Contact us to learn how our approach provides a strong foundation of oral health for a lifetime!