At Warren & Hagerman Family Dentistry, our team treats every member of the family! Our pediatric dentistry team combines a gentle, compassionate approach with an advanced knowledge of dentistry for kids to create the perfect environment for our youngest patients to receive the care they need.
Our pediatric team in Litchfield Park, AZ, encourages you and your child to ask questions, and we're always here to address any concerns you have as a parent. We provide empathetic oral health education and use simple explanations to help each child understand the best ways to care for their smiles. We want to make sure your child has a lifetime of healthy smiles, so be sure to schedule their first dental appointment with us before their first birthday!
Your Child's First Dental Visit
As parents themselves, Dr. Warren and Dr. Hagerman understand that you want the best dental care possible for your child.
It’s completely normal for a child to feel unsure or nervous about their first dental visit, but at our comfortable office, they don’t have to be! Our family-friendly dental practice is designed to keep your child relaxed and excited to visit the dentist.
Pediatric Dental Checkups
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) advises that children be seen for a checkup every 6 months. These visits allow your child's dentist to closely monitor their smile and ensure that you, as a parent, have the information you need to promote their long-lasting oral health.
Dr. Warren or Dr. Hagerman may suggest more frequent checkups if your child is more susceptible to cavities or if they are showing signs of early orthodontic concerns.
Teeth-Strengthening Mineral Application
Dental teeth-strengthening mineral application treatments are safe and effective in decreasing the number of cavities in children. Our pediatric dental team often recommends this simple treatment along with dental sealants to help protect your child’s teeth. This teeth-strengthening mineral acts as a shield for the outer enamel of your child's teeth and can actually reverse early dental decay in some children.
Protective Pediatric Dental Sealants
Protective pediatric dental sealants are thin coatings painted onto your child’s back teeth to help keep food and bacteria out of the tiny grooves where cavities often start. Studies show that 88% of cavities in American school-aged children are caused by food and bacteria being caught in rear molars. At Warren & Hagerman Family Dentistry, we'll typically apply a protective sealant to your child’s back teeth, premolars, and molars. These sealants are designed to offer smile protection that lasts several years!
Tooth Colored Dental Fillings
Treatment for cavities in children depends on how severe the decay is, as well as each child’s age and risk of future cavities. At our Litchfield Park dentist office, we typically treat small cavities with discreet, tooth-colored fillings.
Pulpotomy (Baby Root Canal)
Baby teeth are not as strong as adult teeth. If your child’s baby tooth suffers a large cavity, the bacteria can damage the pulp inside the tooth, causing pain and inflammation. If the soft tissue inside the pulp chamber becomes infected or inflamed, your child's dentist might recommend a pulpotomy. To save the tooth, our pediatric dental team will place a medicated filling into the pulp chamber to keep the remaining pulp inside the tooth alive and healthy.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped coverings cemented to restore the shape and functionality of a tooth affected by damage or severe decay. Dr. Warren and Dr. Hagerman may recommend a pediatric dental crown to protect your child’s tooth if it has a large cavity, is broken or chipped due to trauma, or if the tooth hasn’t developed correctly.
Tooth Extractions
If a tooth is too decayed to save, Dr. Warren or Dr. Hagerman may recommend a gentle tooth extraction. An extraction may also be recommended if your child's tooth is severely fractured or is crowding other healthy teeth.
Tongue Tie Release Surgery (Frenectomy)
Your child’s tongue is an important part of their oral structure. It affects the position of the teeth, periodontal tissue, swallowing, speech development, and nutrition. A “tongue tie” is a condition where the tissue on the underside of the tongue that connects to the floor of the mouth is too short, limiting the tongue’s range of motion.
In infants, a tongue tie can cause problems with breastfeeding, and in young children, it can cause problems with speech. Treatment for this condition is simple, can be completed in our office, and early intervention is key to a complete recovery.
Questions About Our Pediatric Dentistry Services?
Is your child due for a preventive checkup? You can trust our compassionate team to deliver the gentle care they deserve. Give Warren & Hagerman Family Dentistry a call to schedule your child's next dental appointment today!
We provide comprehensive family dentistry services to keep your family's smiles healthy, confident, and bright.
