Patient and Parent Education

Most frequently asked questions and answers
  1. Start early. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that every child establish a dental home and visit a dentist by his or her first birthday. The earlier the visit, the better the chance of preventing dental health problems.
  2. Select an appointment time when your child is well-rested.
  3. Children often perceive a parent’s anxiety which makes them more fearful. They tolerate procedures best when their parents understand what to expect and prepare them for the experience. If you have any questions about the appointment, please ask. As you become more confident, so will your child.
  4. Explain before the visit that the dentist is a friend and will help your child keep his or her teeth healthy. Add that the visit will be fun.
  5. Be careful about using scary words. Words such as “hurt” or “scared” should be avoided.
  6. Read your child a story about a character that had a good dental visit.
  7. Make a list of your questions about your child’s oral health care in advance. This could include such topics as home care, injury prevention, diet and snacking, fluoride and tooth development.
  8. Give your child some control over the dental visit. Such choices as “Will you hold your bear or should I?” or “Which color toothbrush do you like?” will make the visit more enjoyable.
  9. Give center stage to the pediatric dentist. If the pediatric dentist does most of the talking, the pediatric dentist and your child will build a better relationship. The parent and pediatric dentist can talk after the examination.

A swelling in the gums is often caused by an infection from a nearby tooth. This infection is called an abscess. An abscessed tooth can be painful, or it may not hurt at all. In either scenario, it is important to contact a dentist right away. If left untreated, a dental abscess may damage the developing permanent teeth and in some cases, can cause a life-threatening infection of the face, neck, and brain. If your child has a fever, redness, a swollen face or neck or is complaining of severe pain, they require emergency care. An abscess that is draining (looks like a pimple on the gum above the tooth) and has no other symptoms can wait until normal office hours for treatment. Sometimes an ulcer on the gum (apthous ulcer) may be mistaken for an abscess. These ulcers are typically painful to the touch or with exposure to some foods. The best way to alleviate pain and hasten healing is with a dab of vitamin E. Poke a hole in the end of a vitamin E capsule and squeeze the liquid onto the ulcer. Dr. Kaur also recommends warm salt water rinses which can be done several times a day. Mix 8 ounces of water with 1/4 tsp. of salt and rinse the mouth with this solution. If there is any doubt as to the need for urgent treatment, please call the office.

Ulcers are typically very painful. They are usually flat, round or oval in shape with a white or yellow center and a red border. They form inside your mouth—on or under your tongue, inside your cheeks or lips, at the base of your gums, or on your soft palate. A dab of Vitamin E may alleviate the pain and hasten healing. Pierce the end of a vitamin E capsule and squeeze the liquid onto the ulcer. Dr. Kaur also recommends warm salt water rinses which can be done several times a day. Mix 8 ounces of water with 1/4 tsp. of salt and rinse the mouth with this solution.
Unfortunately, pediatric dental emergencies happen, but learning a few basic guidelines can prepare you for any injury or accident and help you make your child more comfortable until you obtain help. The first and most important thing to remember during a child’s dental emergency is to remain calm. The following information may provide some guidelines regarding the urgency of care and some intervention that you may provide for your child. If any doubt, please call the office and Dr. Kaur will guide you. Dr. Kaur is available for emergencies outside of office hours through her answering service. In case of an emergency, call the office and you will be given instructions.

Sealants are protective coatings made of composite resin used to protect the pitted and grooved surfaces of the back teeth. They are usually applied to the permanent molars and sometimes to the bicuspids. Even with thorough brushing it is sometimes impossible to clean microscopic sized pits and fissures. Bacteria build up in these crevices can put your child at risk of tooth decay. Sealants cover these areas and seal out plaque thus reducing the risk of decay. Research shows that sealants last many years when properly maintained. We monitor our sealants at each recall visit and repair them as necessary. The sealant procedure is quite simple. There is no removal of tooth structure and therefore no local aesthetic is necessary. The tooth is cleaned and dried. The sealant material is flowed into the grooves then hardened with a special light. Your child will have no restrictions after the appointment. Many insurance plans cover sealants, however, some have age restrictions. Our staff can assist you in determining your benefits regarding sealants.

A discolored primary incisor can be evaluated whenever the child can be scheduled for an appointment, unless the discoloration is accompanied with pain, fever or swelling. A discolored permanent incisor will be referred to a root canal specialist, an Endodontist.
The urgency of treatment of fractured teeth is deemed to be either subacute or delayed. Subacute injuries should be seen within approximately 24 hours and delayed injuries can safely be seen in over 24 hours. Dr. Kaur should be consulted to make the determination regarding the urgency of treatment. A fracture that is limited to the bottom half of the crown does not require immediate treatment. If the fracture is so deep that blood is apparent on the surface of the fractured area, after ruling out bleeding from the gum surrounding the tooth as the source of this blood, treatment should be performed within 24 hours. Call the office for guidance.
If a primary incisor is pushed out of it’s normal position, the first thing to check is whether or not your child can fully close his or her mouth. If the displaced tooth is interfering with the bite, it may need to be re-positioned or extracted. If a permanent tooth is displaced, this may require an emergency visit for repositioning and possible splinting. In either case, Dr. Kaur should be notified.
The maxillary frenum is a thick band of tissue that attaches the upper lip to the gum above the upper front teeth. A frenulum laceration is when that thick band of tissue is cut. A laceration or cut may result in profuse bleeding. Give your child a Popsicle. The pressure of the lips around the Popsicle will help to stop the bleeding by placing pressure on the cut and the coldness of the Popsicle will also help to stop the bleeding. This does not require emergency intervention as long as the bleeding is easily controlled. Your child may be seen for an examination during normal office hours.
An avulsed baby tooth should not be replaced and normally requires no emergency intervention. Attempt to locate the tooth. If unable to locate the tooth, it may have been pushed up into the bone below the gum line. If your child is coughing, a chest radiograph should be obtained in order to rule out aspiration. If aspiration of a baby tooth has been ruled out, immediate care is not necessary. Please call the office to schedule an appointment for an examination. An avulsed permanent tooth requires immediate intervention. Every effort must be made to “save” the tooth by maintaining the vitality of the cells that cover the root. Hold the tooth by the crown and do not touch the root. If there is soil or debris on the tooth’s root, it should be cleaned off prior to replanting the tooth. Rinse the tooth gently with water, milk or Hanks Balanced Salt Solution which can be found on Amazon. If possible, gently replace the tooth in the socket. Swelling and a blood clot in the socket may impede replacing the tooth later. Make sure that the tooth is facing in the right direction. Replacing the tooth in the socket significantly improves the prognosis for the tooth. If you are unable to replace the tooth in the socket, place it in cold white milk or Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (the ideal transport medium) for transport to the dentist. Notify Dr. Kaur as soon as possible. Urgent treatment is necessary. A wire splint will be placed to stabilize the tooth as soon as your child is seen. How the tooth is stored for transport, if not replaced in the socket, and the tooth’s root development will determine the treatment plan and prognosis.
A pulpotomy involves the removal of irritated, inflamed pulp tissue from within the crown portion of a tooth. The healthy root canals are left intact. When decay in your child’s tooth penetrates through the enamel into the dentin it spreads more quickly and approaches the pulp. At this point, when the decay is close to or has barely penetrated the pulp, the nerve is still alive, but is compromised. Left untreated, the decay will spread throughout the entire pulp causing pain and abscess formation. Before the decay has spread through the entire pulp the tooth can be saved by performing a pulpotomy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child‘s first visit to the dentist occur by 12 months of age. The goal of this visit is to educate parents regarding oral health preventive measures. During this visit we will evaluate your child and any possible risk factors then make recommendations regarding oral hygiene, diet, fluoride, finger and pacifier habits. Preventive care is a sound health and economic decision. Research has shown that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who don’t.
Primary teeth are important for proper chewing, maintaining space for eruption of permanent teeth, guiding the eruption of permanent teeth and a pleasing smile. Teeth that are lost too early due to decay can lead to shifting of teeth and loss of space for permanent teeth. It is very important to maintain the health of baby teeth. Decay in baby teeth can lead to pain, abscesses and facial cellulitis, which is a spread of infection into facial structures. Patients with facial cellulitis can become seriously ill and sometimes require hospitalization. Your child’s general health can be adversely affected by untreated cavities. Remember, some of the baby teeth are not replaced until age 13 or 14 so they need to last for many years.
Small cavities in primary teeth can be repaired with fillings, because after we remove the decay enough tooth structure remains to support the filling. However, when a primary tooth has extensive decay there may not be enough tooth structure left to place a filling. A crown is then used to cover and strengthen the damaged tooth. Crowns for primary teeth are prefabricated of stainless steel and are adapted to fit your child’s tooth and cemented in place in one appointment.
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are a vital and necessary part of a thorough dental exam. X-rays are necessary to detect small cavities located between the teeth which are not detectable during a visual exam. When we visually detect a cavity that began between the teeth it is already quite large and is visible only because the tooth has been so weakened by the decay that the tooth has begun to chip away. Cavities are much easier to treat when they are detected early. Larger cavities often require more extensive treatment including pulpotomies (nerve treatments) and stainless steel crowns. X-rays are also important to evaluate the developing permanent teeth and to evaluate the effects of an injury. We are careful to minimize the exposure of our patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray is extremely small. A lead apron and thyroid collar are used to shield your child in order to keep exposure to an absolute minimum. We follow the guidelines for x-rays which are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.
Dr. Kaur prefers to see young children in the morning. It has been proven that a well- rested child is more responsive and will cooperate better to provide for an easier and happier experience for all.
Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. In the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a child’s medical needs, pediatric dentists are trained and therefore uniquely qualified to provide for a child’s dental needs. Pediatric dentists have an additional 2-3 years of specialized training beyond dental school which prepares them to address the specific and changing needs of children of all ages including infants through adolescents. Our education includes child psychology, behavior management, growth and development and all aspects of children’s oral health including preventive and restorative dentistry. As experts in dental development, we routinely monitor for the changes in your child’s mouth then provide guidance as indicated. It is common that parents choose a pediatric dentist for their child’s dental needs, just as they prefer a pediatrician for their child’s medical needs.
Children who have large cavities can experience pain in their baby teeth just like adults. Decay is a bacterial infection that can spread into the surrounding bone and soft tissue if left untreated. Children can become severely ill if the infection spreads into the area of the eye or under the jaw. A serious infection of this type may result in the need to hospitalize a child for the administration of IV antibiotics
  1. Early loss of baby teeth can lead to shifting which may result in a permanent tooth being unable to erupt in the proper position. Baby teeth help to guide the proper eruption of the permanent teeth.
  2. Baby teeth help to maintain good nutrition with proper chewing.
  3. Decayed baby teeth should be treated to avoid abscess formation and the spread of infection.
  4. Untreated infection can damage the developing permanent teeth.
  5. Removal of decay helps to lower the number of bacteria and avoid decay of the adjacent teeth by direct spread.
Fluoride is an important mineral for all children. Bacteria in the mouth combine with sugars and produce acid that can harm tooth enamel and damage teeth. Fluoride protects teeth from acid damage and helps reverse early signs of decay. Make sure your children are drinking plenty of water and brushing with toothpaste that has fluoride in it.

For the majority of our patients, treatment can be completed using reassuring words of encouragement and positive reinforcement. In rare instances, soothing words may not be enough. Sedation may be necessary in order to safely complete a child’s dental treatment. After careful consideration, the use of sedation may be necessary.

Digital radiography is becoming a popular method for dental x-rays across the country. With digital x-rays, we insert a sensor, similar to the bitewings used in traditional x-rays, into your child’s mouth to capture the digital images of the teeth. There are several benefits to using digital radiography over traditional x-rays.

  • The main benefit of using digital x-rays over traditional ones is less radiation. Although traditional bitewing x-rays are extremely safe, the digital option has the lowest radiation.
  • With standard x-rays, your dentist develops the film and analyzes it on a light box. With digital x-rays, we can take the image, bring it up on a computer monitor and manipulate it. For example, we can enlarge the x-ray for a closer look or change the brightness and contrast, which allows us to identify cavities that may not have been seen on a traditional x-ray.
  • If your child needs to see a specialist or if you move to another town, and need to see a new dentist, transferring dental records can be simplified. To transfer traditional x-rays, copies must be made and mailed to the new provider. With digital x-rays, the digital files can be sent by email, allowing your new provider to review the information immediately.
  • With digital radiography, your child’s x-rays are available almost instantly.
  • Since there are no chemicals involved in developing these radiographs, digital x-rays are an environmentally friendly green product.