We love getting together every year to take new team photos! This year we took them at Terry Hershey Park in Memorial and it was a gorgeous day! The pictures are back and we love them!! Next time you’re in the office, check out our picture wall to see all of the awesome people that make up the Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry team!!
Our team is continuing to keep healthy for you and doing whatever we can to stop the spread!
Remember to stay safe, wear a mask and wash your hands.
Together we are stronger and can fight COVID-19!!
We got lots of new stuffed animals in for the year and are so excited to present our January “Name This Stuffed Animal”.
This little teddy bear needs a name! Can you help us? We will choose our favorite name at the end of the month. If your name is chosen then you get to keep it!!
“Anitra is always willing to lend a hand and always tries to make our day flow easier.”
“Anitra is on time, productive, positive, does a lot up front and ask if we are ok in the back and helps where needed.”
“Anitra is fun to work with and a great leader!”
We sure hope that everyone is enjoying holidays with their families during this magical time of year. It is hard to believe that we made it all the way to December in this crazy 2020!
As always, we are so thankful to have you in our dental family. Thank you for a memorable year and trusting us for all your kids' dental needs. We all truly blessed to continue watching your littles grow.
This Holiday Season we were blessed to give back and picked a very deserving organization: Boys and Girls Country! Our team truly believes in the spirit of giving and helping others. We were excited to donate much needed gifts and essentials to this wonderful organization and make someone else's Christmas magical!
Merry Christmas from Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry!
Your votes have been tallied and the winning Christmas tree was…
We did a Facebook live drawing of all those who voted for the mermaid tree. Watch the video to find out who won! Congratulations!!
Dental trauma is most common in pre-school children that are learning to walk, run, jump and climb, and in school-age children playing sports, but can happen anytime. Our team wants to help your family feel prepared to handle these emergencies.
The most common types of trauma in baby teeth are bumping them in one way or another. Exams and treatment at this age can be difficult due to fear and lack of cooperation. Treatment of these injuries must consider having the least amount of risk to damage permanent teeth developing underneath those little baby teeth. Most heal spontaneously and no treatment at the time of injury may be necessary. In more severe types of these injuries, an extraction of the tooth may be necessary. If a baby tooth is knocked out of the mouth, it is best NOT to re-implant the tooth due to poor healing capability and possible injury to the developing permanent tooth underneath it. Often children have a thick and low positioned frenulum (piece of fleshy tissue) that holds the lip to the gums between the two front teeth and is very vascular. That area bleeds heavily when cut. Gums and lips around those front teeth are also easily bruised and bleed freely. Whenever those front teeth and surrounding soft tissues are injured it is best to call the dentist. Many times we can simply discuss the details on the phone and look at texted photos, which will help us make a decision on whether this is an emergency needing immediate attention (rarely) or something that can be looked at during regular business hours within a day or two. Most of the time, waiting for a little while is perfectly fine, as long as bleeding and pain are controlled. However, you do want to see your dentist soon as an x-ray must be taken to rule out fractures of the bone or roots and to have a baseline image in case of future injury in the area.
Another baby teeth dental emergency is pain connected to an abscessed (infected) tooth. This is usually preceded by large decay or previous treatment such as a large filling or a crown. An abscess usually presents as swelling, pimple on the gum, redness, and pain. This pain cannot be easily controlled and requires treatment with antibiotics and eventual extraction of the baby tooth. It is very important to call your dentist as this infection can spread and have serious consequences. Your dentist will either see your child within a short period of time or call in antibiotics and see you within few days for extraction once the infection is controlled.
The most common type of trauma in the permanent teeth is a crown fracture. This can vary from slightly chipped teeth to fractures of majority of the crown even exposing the nerve of the tooth. We recommend keeping the tooth fragment that broke off as we may be able to bond it back to the tooth. Otherwise, a tooth-colored composite restoration can be done. X-rays of the lip or cheek may also be taken to search for lost tooth fragments. If the nerve is exposed, a pulpotomy may need to be done. Pulpotomy is a procedure where the infected pulp tissue is cleaned, medicine is placed and then the fracture is repaired. Lastly, some fractures could be so severe that the tooth may need to be splinted to nearby teeth for stability and while the bone and supporting ligaments heal. Dentists are much more likely to come in after hours to treat an adult tooth emergency. Infections of permanent teeth need to be seen by a general dentist or a root canal specialist (endodontist) and will be eventually treated with a root canal. Initially we might call in an antibiotic to control the infection. Call your dentist immediately and email or text them photos of the fracture from various angles to determine urgency of the appointment.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, it’s important to put the tooth back into its socket as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence in these emergencies. The long-term survival of the tooth after 15 minutes outside of the mouth declines quickly. Second best option is to store it in the child’s saliva or in cold milk. Do NOT store the tooth in water or let it stay dry. Call our office immediately so we can splint the teeth together to stabilize the tooth in the socket. In some cases, especially if the tooth is not in a safe storage solution for more than 60 minutes, the long-term survival is poor and a root canal may have to be done. For the best chance of long-term survival, call our office as soon as possible when any dental trauma occurs.
Check out our “Name This Stuffed Animal” contest for December.
This cute little smiling dinosaur needs a name! Can you help us? We will choose our favorite name at the end of the month. If your name is chosen then you get to keep it!!
“Beverly has been a great addition to our team, fits right in, always helps and has a great positive attitude!”
“Beverly is always willing to help, super reliable, she is great.”
“Beverly is always happy to lend a hand!”
“She is a hard worker and helps out a lot in the back :)”
We’re so thankful for our patients and families here at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry!! We love coming to work every day because YOU make it fun!! We hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.
As soon as the first tooth erupts, cavities instantly become children’s dental archenemy making regular brushing extremely necessary. At Smiles for Kids, we place a great emphasis on prevention. That includes diet and oral hygiene instruction with patients and caregivers, fluoride application and specifically, sealants. Sealants are a protective coating for the grooves of teeth where toothbrush bristles and floss can’t reach, most specifically the back teeth such as premolars and molars.
Think of sealants as the Captain America shields against tooth decay. They are recommended for baby and adult teeth with deep pits and grooves that are susceptible to bacteria, plaque retention and acid attack, as well as for patients with a history of cavities or at higher risk for future cavities.
According to scientific studies, children aged 5-10 years with sealants applied, sealants reduced cavities between 11% and 51% compared to those with no sealant, at 24 months. Another study also found dental sealants to reduce more tooth decay in the grooves of children’s molars than fluoride varnish application.
Aside from being effective, dental sealants are safe and affordable too! Insurance companies understand their impressive protection and cover them in large percentage. The cost of 4 sealants is close to the cost of one filling.
Talk to your pediatric dentist about sealants! They will examine your child’s teeth and report to you if dental sealants are appropriate for your child’s age and condition. Note that not all children need these. To give you an idea, kids six years of age are the best candidates for sealants because it is the age when the first permanent molars appear and are most vulnerable. Keep in mind that even with dental sealants applied, children still need to get regular dental checkups, cleanings, x-rays and fluoride treatments. Sealants may be applied by the dentist, the dental hygienist or dental assistant that is properly trained and certified in placing sealants.
The key to proper sealant placement and retention is good isolation and technique. We like to use Isolite dental isolation systems when placing sealants because they have a built-in bite block, control the patient’s cheeks and tongue while protecting the airway, come in many sizes and has a light for better illumination of the mouth. The edges of the Isolite can be trimmed for patient comfort if necessary. You can find out more about this on our clinical updates page!
Sealants are non-invasive, easy to place, cost-effective and a critical player in the fight against dental caries!
“Roger is a reliable, hardworking team player! He keeps the energy in the office light and makes it fun.”
“Roger is learning everything and communicates well with staff when needed !:)”
“Roger has grown more confident in his role and has no problem stepping up to help if asked.”
Check out our “Name This Stuffed Animal” contest for October/November.
It’s a cute little puppy and he needs a name! Can you help us? We will choose our favorite name at the end of the month. If your name is chosen then you get to keep it!!
Congrats to our sweet patient for winning our August/September’s “Name the Stuffed Animal” contest!! She named him Digger the Doggy!
Can you guess how much the pumpkin weighs?!
Fill out a slip at the front desk with your name and guess for a chance to win a special prize!! The closest guess to the actual weight of the pumpkin wins!
We are having our Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back program starting NOW! Have your kids bring their left over Halloween candy to our office and trade it in for $1.00 per pound (up to $5.00). We will donate the candy along with toothbrushes to our troops overseas through Operation Gratitude!
“Brittany is always on top of her game & supportive of the team when needed. She is sweet & great with patients!”
“Brittany really takes the lead when we’re shorthanded and knows how to get things done. She is a great assistant and team member!
“She is very helpful and no matter what I ask, she helps me especially me starting in a new place!”
“Brittany helps in all areas in the back. She does great jumping in OP when needed!”
Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50 percent of children by middle childhood and nearly 70 percent by late adolescence. Luckily, early childhood caries can be easily prevented by instilling a proper oral hygiene routine at an early age. By emphasizing good oral health habits as early as infancy, parents can help lay the foundation for a lifelong, effective oral health routine.
We want to thank our awesome dental hygienists: Stefanie, Jamie and Allison! They spend quality time with each and every patient during their dental cleanings, educating them on how they can improve their oral hygiene habits at home. They review brushing and flossing techniques, and other tips and tricks! We are so thankful for hygienists that truly care about our patients and enjoy taking the extra time they need.
Welcome to Smiles For Kids Pediatric Dentistry, a place where dental health is an adventure!
Our goal is to make every child's dental experience fun, rewarding, and positive. Our team wants to make sure that each and every child leaves our office feeling like they have learned more about their teeth and oral hygiene while spending a wonderful time with us.
8800 Katy Freeway Suite 220 • Houston, TX 77024 • 713-461-1509 • E-Mail: DrKasia@Smiles-For-Kids.com
Photos provided by Little Branch Photography
