Bringing your Kids to your Houston Dentist Early in Life Builds a Healthy Lifestyle

            Bringing your kids to the dentist may seem like a futile task. Going to the doctor in general can be scary event for adults and children alike, but thanks to the constant advancement in the world of medicine, a trip to the dentist is painless and helps you feel better and keep your mouth healthy. Starting a relationship between your child and the family dentist early on is key to the success of regular visits.

            Start Them Early

            Your child should come to the dentist for the first time as soon as their first tooth comes in or by the time they are 12 months old, whichever comes first. By bringing them in this early, they will become accustomed to the dentist and be far less likely to resist going. It’s also very helpful for the child as early tooth development will give the dentist a good idea of how the child’s teeth will develop over time and whether there is a need for corrective procedures.

            Building Healthy Habits

            On the first visit, we familiarize your child with our dental family, making them feel included and part of the family. After that, we perform simple checkups to ensure the teeth are coming in well and there are no problems developing. We also teach the child (if they’re old enough) and the parents or guardian how best to care for the child’s teeth. Demonstrating proper brushing techniques, advising how often to perform checkups, and explaining what foods to avoid will help build healthy habits for your child.

            Building these habits early on in life make them far more likely to take hold and last throughout the patient’s life. We want to make sure your child’s teeth are healthy and well cared for. But since we only see them a couple times per year, most of their care comes at home with good hygiene.

            Premier Kids Dentist in Houston

            At Naba Dental, we bring years of experience taking care of patients of all ages. We can take care of dental problems like infections or knocked out teeth, as well as simple cleanings, x-rays, crowns, caps, and dentures. We specialize in taking care of children; our staff is expertly trained and certified to perform pediatric medicine. If you’re looking for a dentist that can take care of the whole family, look no further than Naba Dental.

Bridge the Gap of a Lost Tooth with a Bridge Treatment

            When we’re young, losing a tooth can be an exciting time. It might be surprising the first time it happens, but a lot of times our parent would tell us to put it under our pillow and we’d find money in the tooth’s place. As a kid, this can be very exciting. After the permanent tooth replaces the baby tooth, we do our best to keep the permanent teeth in place by taking good care of them. Sometimes, a permanent tooth may fall out due to an accident or poor care, but a bridge treatment can make it like the tooth was never lost.

            Types of Bridge Treatments

            There are three types of bridge treatments to replace lost teeth. The most common treatment is the traditional bridge treatment which sets a false tooth in between two capped teeth. The teeth adjacent to the gap are filed down to accommodate caps which support a metal or ceramic bridge, the middle of which supports the pontic, or false tooth.

            Cantilever bridges are are necessary if there is only one tooth adjacent to the lost one. They are uncommon and are also not recommended for use at the end of a teeth array, as the pressure from chewing toward the back of your mouth is very strong and can more easily break the bridges.

            For people who do not wish to file down adjacent teeth to support a bridge, resin bonded bridges (or Maryland bridges) can be used instead. The false tooth itself contains the metal or porcelain framework and the tooth is bonded to adjacent teeth using a resin to secure it in place.

            Getting a Bridge Treatment

            There are two parts to getting a bridge: preparation and installation. On the first visit for a bridge treatment, your mouth will be prepared for the framework. The teeth adjacent to a gap will be filed down so that a crown can be placed over them. A casting of your mouth will be used to help the lab created a bridge that will snuggly and securely fit your teeth once they have been prepared.

            The bridge construction can take a few weeks to properly build, so you’ll be given a temporary bridge in the meantime. On your second visit, the temporary bridge will be removed and the permanent bridge will be installed. Most of the time, patients will be all set after this second visit, but sometimes it is necessary to come back again to adjust the fit and make sure it is secure.