February is National Children's Dental Health Month!

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The 2022 theme is “Sealants Make Sense.”

"Sealants on permanent molars reduce the risk of caries by 80%,” Dr. Irene Hilton of the American Dental Association said. "If your dentist recommends dental sealants, it is part of a comprehensive caries management approach. I am excited that this year" National Children’s Dental Health Month theme is about dental sealants, so more families are aware of this cavity-preventing treatment."

What are 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 teeth with deep 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. 

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 us about sealants! Our doctors 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.

Sealants are non-invasive, easy to place, cost-effective and a critical player in the fight against dental caries!

Check out these fun activity sheets for Children’s Dental Health Month from The American Dental Association:

Reverse Numbness with OraVerse!

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For comfort during dental treatment, the dentist may use a special numbing medication called Lidocaine or Septocaine. These meds make a chosen area of the mouth temporarily numb and pain-free. This is called local anesthesia. However, these medications can linger for hours after the treatment is completed and the child may still feel numb for the remainder of the day. This extended feeling of numbness can result in drooling, difficulty in speaking, or even chewing/sucking on lips, cheeks or tongue since children cannot feel it and/or may not be used to that new feeling! This self-inflicted injury can cause very painful, traumatic ulcers or swelling (see the example picture below). These take days to heal and can be very debilitating for eating, speaking and normal function for up to a week.

Fortunately, a drug called OraVerse (Phentolamine Mesylate), formulated by Dr. Stuart Levy, was created to lessen the extended periods of numbing. It works to reverse the effects of local dental anesthesia by causing dilation of local blood vessels and allowing for the anesthetic to clear out of the system easily and faster. After the dental procedure is finished, it is injected into the same area as the numbing medication. Then, patients can expect the numbness to wear off much faster, but the exact amount of time is different for each person. It’s important to remind children not to bite or suck, and still to soft foods until full feeling comes back.

Here at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, our doctors feel that Oraverse allows for patients to get back to their regular plans for the remainder of the day like school, sports and other activities! There’s no need to cancel the rest of your day just because of a dental appointment. Ask us about Oraverse at YOUR next visit!

*According to Novalar, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures OraVerse, it can be used by adults and children who are six years old and above. The minimum weight requirement of those who can use it is 33 pounds. But safety of the drug has been proven on children as young as three years of age.

November Employee of the Month!

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Our amazing hygienist and office manager Stefanie was voted Employee of the Month by our team!!

The team said she is “always available, always helpful and always on top of things”

“She is great with helping in front and back and a wonderful teacher too!”

She “jumped in to refresh her skills and flex her hygiene muscles”

Congratulations Stefanie!

We love it!! The entire team at Smiles for Kids appreciates you!!

New dental technology: Icon resin infiltration

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Resin infiltration (or “Icon”) is awesome new technology used in dentistry to treat early enamel cavities or white spots on teeth. “It’s the solution to treating cavities while preserving healthy tooth structure!” White spots can occur from enamel defects during development or from plaque collection around orthodontic brackets. These spots are more prone to collecting plaque and progression into cavities due to their porous nature. Thanks to Icon these spots can be treated early and we can mask the discoloration to match the enamel color of the rest of the tooth. And want to know the best part about it? There’s no needles, drilling or filling! It’s noninvasive and virtually painless.

The treatment is simple but very technique-sensitive in order to accomplish the best result!

1) You “etch” the tooth with a 15% hydrochloric acid gel which removes a thin layer of the weak enamel.

2) Next you “dry “the surface with a high concentrated alcohol.

3) Finally, a liquid resin is applied to the spot and the tooth essentially “soaks” it in, and it is set with a curing light.

*Steps 1 and 2 may be repeated many times until the desired esthetic outcome is achieved.

The treated enamel is now stronger and more resistant to an acid attack, and has an excellent esthetic result all thanks to the Icon resin infiltration!

Check out this beautiful before and after by our very own, Dr. Kasia Lindhorst. The gums will heal naturally over the next couple days!

Does your child have white spots that could potentially benefit from this awesome new dental technology? Do you want to know more about Icon resin infiltration? Give us a call at 713-461-1509 and we would be happy to set up a consult with our doctors!

October Employee of the Month!

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Wow! October was a FUN month!! We voted our new Employee of the Month! Drum roll please……

Congratulations to Beverly!

She is one of our awesome dental assistants. Our team said about her:

“Beverly is always happy and helpful!”

“She has a positive can-do attitude!”

“She does a great job assisting the doctor in treatment, and has been working hard on our school delivery bags!”

We’re so lucky to have you on our Smiles for Kids team!