We keep hearing the phrase “BPA Free”. We see it on products we buy from the store, we hear about it on the evening news and we read headlines across our social networking sites, but what exactly does BPA free mean to you in regard to your child’s dental health?

What Is BPA?

BPA (Bisphenol A) is a resin used in a number of plastics and metals. There is some evidence, though nothing has been proven, that BPA may have harmful effects on child development.

BPA In Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants (commonly used in pediatric dentistry when a child turns 6) don’t contain BPA.  However, there are compounds within the sealants that turn into BPA when there is contact with saliva.

BPA in Composite Fillings?

A BPA-free composite filling is used when it is necessary to repair a tooth that has been affected by decay or has been broken or fractured.  It can also be used to close space between teeth.

Should BPA Concern You?

BPA does form in the mouth after some dental sealants or fillings are applied. It is NOT clear if this actually poses a health risk. A quick wipe or rinse after dental work washes away whatever risk there may be.  Scrubbing and rinsing sealants can remove 95% of the BPA compound.

According to the American Dental Association: The BPA present in the saliva after a few hours is 200 times lower than the level EPA (Environmental Protection Association) considers safe.

BPA does not show up in the blood stream following dental procedures.

Dental Sealants At Pediatric Dentistry Of Glens Falls

We want to provide the best for our children. At Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls we strive to provide the finest possible care for your children and give you, as a parent, peace of mind.  We don’t want our parents to worry about BPA or BPA elements in any of our sealants for fillings.

We use Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant, a resin-based sealant that contains no BPA and no BPA derivatives.

The Benefits to BPA Free

We don’t know enough about BPA and its effects on our overall health, but why take the risk if we don’t need to?  We aim to provide peace of mind of for you and the best quality care for your children.

Please feel welcome to contact us with any questions.

There are a hundred different kinds of fluoride and numerous ways to apply it. Fluoride can be found in drinking water, mouthwash and toothpaste.  These are all tools which can be utilized to help fight against tooth decay.

Fluoride in your water is about one part per million and toothpaste is about 1,000 parts per million, because of the higher concentration in the toothpaste we don’t recommend it for children under two because of their tendency to swallow it.  We always ask older children to make sure they are rinsing and spitting after they brush.

Remember When?

Now, the fluoride applied at the dentist office is a very high concentration (about 22,600 parts per million).  Once upon a time there were foam systems. The foam tray was put in your mouth and you had to sit with it for five minutes while a straw suctioned out your saliva, remember that?  We have said good-bye to the trays and welcome a fluoride varnish.

What is Fluoride Varnish?

Fluoride application has become easier and more comfortable with fluoride varnish.  It is comparative to a thick liquid that gets painted on your child’s teeth.  The concentrated dose of fluoride is right on the teeth and it lasts for a few hours. We have to admit that it even tastes pretty good.

What Does Fluoride Varnish Do?

The varnish helps prevent tooth decay. It re-mineralizes the tooth’s surface and can even help with hypersensitivity.

Does Fluoride Varnish Come Off?

It usually lasts until the child brushes their teeth and the clear/whitish color prevents anyone from noticing there has been a fluoride painting party.  Once it gets wet it hardens and the child barely notices his or her teeth have gone through a very cool strengthening process.

When Should My Child Get Fluoride Varnish?

Treatments can be offered starting at the one year of age.

Advantages For Fluoride Varnish

• Tastes good
• Easy and quick to apply
• Dries rapidly
• Suitable for patients with a gag reflex
• Very little equipment is needed
• Adheres well
• No risk to dental fluorosis in children

We strive to provide the best care and information for you and your child. Should you have any questions regarding the fluoride varnish, please feel welcome to contact us.

The last thing on your mind when you arrive at your child’s sporting event is whether or not their teeth are in danger. You choose a place to sit, cheer for the team and make sure your child didn’t forget their water bottle.  However, lurking in the shadows of every athletic endeavor is the opportunity for injury and your child’s mouth is no exception.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation: It’s estimated that more than 3 million teeth will be knocked out in youth sporting events in the United States this year.

PREVENTION:

The best protection is prevention.  A mouth guard should be a top priority for your child’s mouth. It may be something they don’t take to right away, but if you are consistent and firm about them wearing it to play sports, eventually it will become a routine.

A mouth guard is made of soft plastic and can fit the contour of your child’s mouth. They also can protect the lips, cheeks and gums as well as teeth.  At Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls we can custom fit a guard to fit your child’s mouth for his or her utmost protection.

Facemasks, helmets and face protectors can also greatly reduce the opportunity for a hit to the face to resulting in tooth loss. Unfortunately, injuries still happen.

TOOTH RE-IMPLANTATION:

In truth, only about 10% of teeth that are knocked out can successfully be re-implanted. Teeth begin to die within 15 minutes of being knocked out, however the American Dental Association has approved the Save-A-Tooth kit, which increases the percentage of tooth being saved after it is knocked out.

SAVE-A-TOOTH:

If a tooth is knocked out, call the dentist immediately. Most coaches should have a Save-A-Tooth in their first aid kit, however it would benefit any parent to have one for the ‘just in case” moments where a child is hit in the mouth and loses a tooth.

A Save-A-Tooth kit can be stored up to two years without refrigeration.  It comes with a metabolite HBSS solution that provides nutrients a tooth needs and can remain viable for up to 24 hours. The kit comes with a cradle, which cushions the tooth from any more bruising during transport.

FACTS:

• The price of replacement tooth can be upwards of $3,000
• Teeth may need to be replaced every ten years
• Children under 18 cannot use permanent replacement teeth
• Children with missing teeth sometimes suffer psychological stress about their appearance

There is never any guarantee against injury when a child plays sports, but using a measure of prevention can decreases the chances dramatically. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.

Your usually happy, good-natured baby has gotten a dose of cranky lately and you have no idea why. The answer could be found in the stage of your baby’s tooth development.

If your baby is between 4 and 7 months of age, chances are you have crossed the teething threshold.  Some babies can develop teeth as early as three months, so beware! The first teeth to appear are usually the bottom two middle teeth, followed by the top two middle teeth. The last teeth to appear usually are the second molars found in the very back of the mouth.

Teething Symptoms:

There is some disagreement in pediatric dentistry about whether or not teething actually causes symptoms such as diarrhea or fevers, or whether it’s just a coincidence that it appears at the time of teething. Regardless of whatever symptoms appear or don’t appear, many parents find their babies suffer discomfort.

Teething Symptoms May Include:

• Problems sleeping
• Biting behavior changes
• Irritability
• Refusing to eat
• Gum swelling and sensitivity
• Drooling
• Bringing hands to the mouth
• Rubbing the cheek or ear region

Other Symptoms Related to Teething:

You may notice your baby has loose stools or a runny fever during this teething time as well. Many experts believe teething is to blame, but for different reasons. For example…excessive saliva being digested to loosen stools, or infection because the stress caused by teething allows your child to be more vulnerable.

You should contact your doctor if your baby reaches a temperature of 101 degrees F or higher.

Easing Discomfort of Teething:

To help with the discomfort, try…

• A cool washcloth to chew on
• A firm rubber teething ring
• An unsweetened teething cracker
• Topical pain relief gel
• Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger

You may want to ask your pediatric dentist or doctor about a small dose of children’s pain reliever to help reduce the severity of some symptoms.  Petroleum jelly on the face may help prevent or reduce rash symptoms caused by drooling.

How Long Does Teething Last?

The general eruption of teeth occurs:

• Central incisors: 6-12 months of age
• Lateral incisors: 9-16 months of age
• Canine teeth: 16-23 months of age
• First molars: 13-19 months of age
• Second molars: 22-24 months of age

Please feel welcome to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance during the teething process.

Preventing cavities in your child is one of the best precautions any parent can take in procuring a healthy future in your child’s dental well-being.  The problems and expenses that arise due to tooth decay can plague a child for a lifetime.  One of the easiest solutions in cavity prevention is the use of sealants.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends placing sealants on the first permanent molars for children as young as six years old and again on the second permanent molars, which come in around the age of 12.

Tooth decay is common on the back molars because their surface tends to be composed of pits that make it easier for food to get stuck in despite good brush and flossing efforts.   The sealants prevent food from getting down into those tricky crevices.

What are sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin resin material that are applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth.

What You Need To Know About Sealants

• Sealants last many years protecting your child through the most cavity prone time of their life.
• Although sealants typically last, they may need to be replaced over time. Your dentist should be reviewing them during routine visits.
• A toothbrush cannot necessarily reach the food particles deep in some of your child’s tooth crevices. After a good cleaning, sealants prevent particles from reaching those precarious spots.
• The application is easy, comfortable and takes just one visit.
• Your child can eat right after the appointment.
• The cost is low, especially compared to what it costs to deal with cavities later on. Most insurance companies do cover the cost of sealants.
• The six-year and 12-year molars tend to be most at risk for decay, but any tooth that has grooves or pits is at risk.
• Fluoride is still needed in your dental hygiene treatments; whether it be in toothpaste, mouth rinse or community water.
• Flossing and brushing is still very important. Sealants are just an assistant in the step-by-step actions you and your child need to take in their dental health-care. Brushing, flossing and nutrition as well as regular checkups are still necessary for good dental hygiene.
• Make sure your dentist is using sealants that are BPA and Bis-GMA free.

 What Is Involved In The Application of the Sealants?

• The teeth are cleaned thoroughly.
• Each tooth is then dried.
• A conditioner is put on the teeth to help roughen them up, which allows for better bonding between the teeth and the sealant.
• The teeth are then cleaned and dried again.
• The sealant is painted
• Once the sealant is placed it is cured or dried with a dental curing light. (Some materials are self-curing)

If you have any questions about sealants or any steps in improving your child’s dental well being, please feel welcome to contact us.

By definition a pulpotomy is the surgical removal of an inflamed pulp chamber due to the invasion of some ugly bacteria. It’s a complicated word for a very common procedure in pediatric dentistry. The success rate is high and it is also something which can be done in conjunction with other procedures if needed.

As a parent or caregiver it is important to know that inflammations in the pulp chamber do occur in young children affecting their baby teeth. Your child may appear grumpy or if they are old enough, complain their tooth hurts. It is necessary to address this inflammation to prevent infection and to save the tooth itself.

How Does A Pulp Tissue Develop Inflammation?

When a cavity gets extremely deep, it can get too close to the pulp of the tooth or even into the pulp.  The tissue then gets irritated and swollen, resulting in a feeling similar to that of a toothache. If this inflammation goes on without any treatment, an abscess can form.

A Pulpotomy In Baby Molars

In baby molars the purpose of a pulpotomy is to try to save and restore the tooth. The decay is removed in the top part of the pulp chamber.  The root canals are not removed.  Pulpotomies may buy some time, but they cannot save an already abscessed tooth. However, it can save a badly decayed baby tooth.

The Pulpotomy Procedure

The procedure includes removing the nerve in the crown (the part of the tooth nearest the gum line) and a filling material is placed in the nerve chamber.  This helps keep the nerve tissue intact.  Following the nerve treatment, the tooth needs to be restored. Most often a crown is used for final restoration

Benefits Of A Pulpotomy

• It may prevent unnecessary loss of teeth due to a possible infection.
• It may give a developing permanent tooth a chance to fully develop

The success of the procedure depends on the extent of the decay.  Sometimes the inflammations occur due to the natural bacteria in the mouth.  Staying in tuned with your child’s dental habits and health can help you in identifying a problem early.

As with any questions or concerns, please contact us or set up an appointment with one of our pediatric dentists.

Children have the best questions. Sometimes the questions are so good they leave the rest of us stumped for answers.  Do we really know where cavities come from and what causes them?

It is common knowledge that cavities are one of the more common conditions plaguing our children’s dental health, but do we really understand what causes cavities and how to identify them?

What Exactly Are Cavities?

Cavities are small holes on the surface of the teeth and they grow progressively deeper into the inner parts of the tooth, which leads to tooth pain. However, getting your child to a pediatric dentist on a regular basis may help detect early signs of cavities or prevent them all together.  Cavities can be located in non-visible areas and a dental health professional will be able to check those hard-to-find spots before problems arise.

What Causes Cavities?

Three ingredients are necessary for the decay process; (1) a tooth, (2) bacteria, and (3) carbohydrates (sugars and starches).

The bacteria in our mouth uses the sugar we eat and produces acids.  These acids attack and eat away at the enamel of our teeth and begin the decaying process. The longer the sugar stays in the mouth the longer the attack on the teeth. For example a hard candy stays in the mouth longer than ice cream, the hard candy can produce more decay. Similarly, constant snacking is also bad. Kids who sit and snack all day are more prone to cavities.

What Are the Signs for Cavities?

Early signs can be the appearance of a chalky white spot on the surface of the tooth, which may indicate the first attack on tooth enamel.  If the enamel continues to decay it can turn brown and turn into a cavitation or cavity.  The process can be reversed before the actual cavity forms, but it is irreversible once a cavity has been formed.

Once the enamel and dentin is destroyed the cavity becomes more evident.  Sensitivity to the area begins and pain may increase with exposure to heat or cold or even sweet foods.  Sometimes even bad breath indicates tooth decay.

Prevention is Important

Some children are more susceptible to cavities than others.  Regular dental check-ups with a pediatric dentist can assist and prevent these cavities from forming and give parents a plan of action in taking care of their child’s dental health.

As always, diet plays a regular part in proper dental hygiene.  Come see us and let us be partner in your child’s dental hygiene journey.