Pediatric Dentistry in Erie, PA

At our office, we are dedicated to the oral health of your child. Our team offers various pediatric dentistry services to help with dental anxieties and phobias.

We understand that children become anxious, or even sometimes fearful, of their dentist. For this reason, we bring in our most qualified specialist, "Dogtor" Gizmo, our dental therapy dog who will sit with your child throughout the whole treatment. Another service that can aid in alleviating dental anxieties and phobias is sleep dentistry. Dr. Kevin Mahoney is a board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologist and has been providing the benefits of sleep dentistry to his patients for over 18 years.

Another aspect of pediatric dentistry also ties into orthodontics. Braces are a big dental milestone for children and it is recommended that parents schedule an orthopedic appointment for their child by the age of seven.

Young children, pre-teens, and teenagers all have unique needs which differentiates pediatric dentistry vs general dentistry. It is important to understand that in order to help them avoid future dental problems and guide them through healthy dental growth and development. We are here to help move your children in the right direction.

Pediatric Dentistry Erie, PA Dr. Kevin Mahoney

 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dentistry

What is pediatric dentistry?

When you take your children to see a pediatric dentist, you are getting a dentist who has two additional years of specialty training and is dedicated to the oral hygiene of your children, from infancy to their teenage years. This ensures that we can guide them through the growth and development of their unique dental needs.

How often should a child see a dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should receive a dental check-up at least twice a year. The ideal frequency of dental visits depends on the amount of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns, or poor oral hygiene. It is important that your child gets professional teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments to help prevent future cavities.

How do I prevent cavities?

Preventing cavities is very important in maintaining good oral hygiene for you and your children. For infants, it's good to use a wet washcloth or a piece of gauze to wipe away the plaque from their teeth and gums. Be sure to avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water.

With older children, make sure they are brushing at least two times a day. It is also a good idea to limit the number of snacks with sugar in them. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends six-month visits to the pediatric dentist, beginning with your child's first birthday.

How do I get my kids to brush their teeth?

In order to get your kids to brush their teeth willingly, make it fun! Adding something as simple as music to your teeth-brushing routine can help get kids excited to brush their teeth. Play their favorite song and have them brush for at least two minutes of the song. While that is just one way, there are plenty of options to get kids excited about brushing their teeth.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is an element that has been proven to be beneficial to the health of your teeth. It has been documented to not only be safe but highly effective at preventing cavities. The greatest risk when using fluoride is with children that tend to swallow their toothpaste. This could lead to an excessive amount of consumption of fluoride, which could lead to fluorosis. You can take these steps to decrease the risk of using fluoride:

  1. Use a small amount of toothpaste when brushing your children's teeth.
  2. Use baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrushes of very young children.
  3. Account for all sources of fluoride in your food and liquid
  4. Before giving your child fluoride supplements, test your water for the amount of fluoride.

Find out more about what's in your toothpaste.

My child has a cavity in a baby tooth. Why should I have it fixed if it will fall out eventually?

Baby (Deciduous) teeth are very important. Each tooth has a function. Should a tooth become diseased (like a cavity) and left untreated, the results could be painful, causing eating to become a difficult task and in the case of school-aged children, causing poor performance in school.

My child hates going to the dentist. Is sleep dentistry a safe option for kids?

Due to the extensive training pediatric dentists and anesthesiologists go through, there is nobody more qualified to care for children receiving dental sedation than them. Sedating someone for long, complex procedures or even just for dental anxieties is very common in young patients.

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