Teeth are examined in depth, leading to a complete evaluation of the child’s oral health. Evaluation includes presence of cavities, occlusions, malformations, bite alignment, and general oral health.

Dental X-rays have come a long way. Today’s dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and more informative than the X-rays of years past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth that can be viewed instantly by you and your dentist. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages.

No matter how often you brush and floss, plaque and tartar deposits can still build up on your teeth. A professional teeth cleaning is the single most effective way to remove these deposits and prevent them from causing more serious problems in the future. While a traditional teeth cleaning involves manually scraping away these deposits with special dental tools, advances in dental technologies now give you more options for teeth cleanings.

A laser teeth cleaning, also known as an ultrasonic cleaning, is a popular alternative to traditional teeth cleanings. With a laser teeth cleaning, an ultrasonic scaler (rather than a manual probe) is used to remove deposits, kill harmful microbes and eliminate bacteria around the teeth and gums through high-frequency sound waves. Many patients find laser teeth cleanings more comfortable than traditional teeth cleanings because they are quicker, quieter and pain-free.

A deep cleaning may be recommended if excessive plaque and tartar deposits have developed below the gum line. Deep cleanings, also known as scaling and root planing, involve a two-part process: first, the stubborn deposits are removed, and then the root surfaces are smoothened. A deep cleaning helps prevent periodontal disease and restores gum tissues to a healthy state.

Teeth’s chewing surface is the most preponderant to get cavities. Sealants are applied on those surfaces to avoid cavities.

Our office offers both Amalgam (silver) and Composite (tooth-colored or white) fillings. Composite fillings are used to repair areas where cosmetic appearance is important. This material is used to repair both tooth decay and fractured teeth. It’s called tooth-colored filling because the filling material matches the color of natural teeth very closely. Amalgam (silver) fillings are used primarily on molars and baby teeth that will eventually fall out. The doctor may recommend the use of one type of material over the other depending on the tooth in question. Please note that your insurance provider may have restrictions on what type of material is used on back teeth (molars).

If a tooth has too much decay to be treated with a traditional filling the doctor may recommend a stainless steel crown. A stainless steel crown is used to preserve the remaining healthy part of the tooth after decay has been removed until it is ready to exfoliate (fall out) on its own.

When tooth decay has spread to the nerve of the tooth, also known as the pulp, a pulpotomy or nerve treatment may be necessary. Once the nerve has been treated the doctor will restore the tooth either with a filling or a stainless steel crown. This procedure is much less invasive than a traditional root canal and is only performed on baby teeth in attempt to preserve the tooth until it is ready to exfoliate (fall out) on its own.

In some cases it is necessary to remove a tooth if it is beyond repair. If a baby tooth has been extracted, in many cases, space maintainers are required to keep proper separation between teeth in order to allow the growth and right positioning of permanent teeth. This is a non invasive appliance that will be removed by the doctor once the permanent tooth is ready to erupt.

For most children, a caring dental environment is sufficient to make them feel comfortable. Sometimes, however, a child may need more support to feel relaxed. Nitrous Oxide is a sedative used to calm a child and make them feel more at ease. If we feel that this is necessary for your child Dr. Evangelisti will take the time to go over the details of using Nitrous Oxide with you one on one.

Sedation is a technique to guide a child’s behavior during dental treatment. Medications are used to help increase cooperation and to reduce anxiety or discomfort associated with dental procedures. Sedative medications cause most children to become relaxed and drowsy. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation is not intended to make a patient unconscious or unresponsive.