Children's Dentist in Cumming

Your Cumming Pediatric Dentist

Dr. John is a highly regarded Cumming Pediatric Dentist, dedicated to providing exceptional dental care for children in a warm and friendly environment. With his gentle demeanor and extensive knowledge in pediatric dentistry, Dr. John makes sure that each child feels comfortable and at ease during their dental visits. His commitment to oral health is evident in his comprehensive approach, which includes educating both children and parents about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene practices.

Why Should Your Child See a Pediatric Dentist?

Very few people are lucky enough to have teeth that grow in perfectly straight. For most kids, it is completely normal for teeth to grow in crooked or impacted by other teeth. While this may not sound like a huge deal, these issues can actually become painful later on, especially when their wisdom teeth grow in.

The First Visit

Taking your child to their first dental visit is a much more hassle-free process than you might expect. Pediatric dental care is a commitment that will result in your child having a healthy smile.

With the first visit, the doctor will simply look at your child’s teeth to get important information about the shape and growth of their mouth. They might collect a simple dental impression or take x-rays, as well. In only a few minutes, the first step of orthodontic care is complete.

Fixing Bite Problems

The orthodontist doesn’t only straighten teeth, but also corrects bite alignment problems. When the top and bottom teeth aren’t aligned, it can result in difficulty chewing or even a variety of gum diseases. Some common bite problems include:

• Crossbite: the top and bottom teeth are significantly askew from left to right.
• Overjet: Sometimes called overbite by people, incisors (a child’s upper front teeth) stick out much further than their bottom teeth. This can cause teeth to impact gum tissue more frequently.
• Crowding: the shape of your teeth is commonly referred to as the dental arch. If too many teeth are growing next to each other, an orthodontist can use spacers to create more space in the jaw.
• Underbite: bottom teeth stick out further than the incisors.
• Open bite: the front teeth do not touch on the top and bottom when you close your jaw. This can make biting/chewing difficult and even make certain pronunciations difficult.

Getting Braces

Braces are arguably the most important part of orthodontic care. While they may result in some temporary discomfort, many children actually look forward to getting braces as a sign of growing up.

Braces are cemented to the teeth with specialized adhesives that are designed to stay in place for years, if necessary. Each tooth is outfitted with a bracket and a final archwire links them all together. Small bands help secure the wire to each tooth and are available in a variety of colors so that kids can mix and match.

Depending on the severity of a child’s orthodontic needs, they might be outfitted with different braces accessories:

• Headgear: only to be worn at night, this device attaches to back teeth and fixes spacing issues. It slowly pulls the back teeth, allowing more room for front teeth to grow into place.
• Power chains: additional rubber bands might be used to attach the top and bottom braces. This is designed to slowly pull the jaw into alignment, correcting overbites or underbites.

Orthodontic care varies significantly from one child to the next, but the average duration of braces is about 2 years. After that, your child might be outfitted with a permanent retainer on the back of their top or bottom teeth, which will provide a straight smile for a lifetime.

While All Stars Pediatric Dentistry does not offer orthodontic treatment, we can refer you to a reputable orthodontist.

Cumming Children's Dentist

Visiting the dentist is a huge step for your child and their journey to a beautiful set of teeth. When you are looking for your child’s dental care, make sure you pick a reputable Cumming pediatric dentist.