Dentistry For Kids, Ltd. Experience the fun! - Dr. Cissy Furusho - A Chicago, IL Pediatric Dentist

Prevention is always better than treatment. By actively preventing disease and decay through regular home care, professional dental cleanings and regular exams, you will maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.

In addition, effective prevention can help you avoid costly treatments in the future to remove decay, restore teeth and treat gum disease. Regular prevention is truly your best investment.

Please click on a treatment option above or continue reading this page for more information.

Dental examinations help to diagnose disease before it becomes hazardous to your health. In addition, regular examinations can save you money by alleviating problems while they are small and before they become expensive to repair, or in some cases, impossible to repair. Your dental examinations generally include the following:

• Oral cancer screening.
• Evaluation of growth and development.
• Orthodontic needs assessment.
• Gum disease evaluation.
• Visual examination of tooth decay.
• Examination of diagnostic x-rays to see cysts, tumors, invisible decay and other problems that can't be seen by the naked eye.
• Evaluation of status of current restorations (fillings and others).

We cannot express enough how important it is to see your dentist regularly.

Remember, preventing disease is always better than treating disease.

Professional cleanings (dental prophylaxis) form the foundation for preventing gum disease and tooth decay. In a professional cleaning, your child's dental team will:

• Remove plaque from the teeth -- plaque is a sticky substance that forms in the mouth from food, saliva and bacteria. Plaque sticks to teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease.
• Remove calculus (tarter) above the gum line -- calculus is plaque that has hardened on the tooth surface and is difficult to remove. (Calculus below the gum line indicates gum disease and requires a different procedure to remove it.)
• Polish and remove stains from teeth.

The importance of dental x-rays (radiographs) can sometimes be misunderstood. Parents, at times, will say "I don't want x-rays unless you see something is wrong." X-rays enable the dentist to visualize something that can't be seen with the naked eye. Obviously x-rays should only be taken when necessary and all proper safety precautions should be used. Among these precautions are up-to-date filtered x-ray machines, fast x-ray film and lead shielding. Our office only uses Digital X-rays which use ten times less radiation than traditional film.

What is the rationale for routine dental x-rays? Growing children should have their first complete x-rays at approximately 5-6 years of age, corresponding to the time when the baby teeth in front begin to fall out and the new teeth begin to erupt in their places. A complete set of x-rays consists of a Panoramic picture showing the whole expanse of the mouth and Bite-Wing x-rays which focus in-between the teeth. We not only check for cavities but for other conditions such as missing or extra teeth, malformed teeth, crowding and abnormalities of the bone.

The second milestone for complete x-rays occurs at approximately 10-11 years of age when the last few baby teeth are falling out and the permanent teeth, in the back, are coming in. This may also correlate with an orthodontic consultation if braces are indicated.

Children and adults who have a tendency to get cavities or have a susceptibility to periodontal disease need x-ray pictures more frequently than other patients. Many times you can pick up problems early on that would otherwise be overlooked and neglected. Whenever there's been an injury to the mouth or painful symptoms, x-rays are indicated to determine the problem and plan the proper course of treatment.

In any case be assured that x-rays will be taken only when they serve a meaningful purpose, in a medically safe manner and in the patient's best interest. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to speak to any of the doctors or other dental personnel. Sustaining your confidence is our goal.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

Modern dental x-ray machines are very safe. We use only state-of-the-art, low radiation machines. The amount of radiation exposure your body receives on an airplane flight from Los Angeles to New York exceeds the amount of exposure you will receive from a modern dental x-ray machine. Contrast this minimal exposure with the risk of not finding an illness until it is too late, and you can see why we prescribe regular diagnostic x-rays.

Adequate home care is imperative if you want to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile and prevent costly dental treatment in the future. The goal of home care is to regularly remove the sticky film of bacteria called plaque from your teeth.

When to Begin Brushing

Once your child's teeth begin erupting, you can begin cleaning them by wiping them with a moist washcloth. As your child gets more teeth, you can begin to use a soft child's toothbrush. You should use just a pea-size amount of a fluoride toothpaste or a non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby OraGel) until your child is able to spit it out.

For most toddlers, getting them to brush their teeth should not be a chore.

Some suggestions for making tooth brushing less of a battle can include:

• letting your child pick out a few toothbrushes with their favorite characters and giving them a choice of which one they want to use each time.
• let your child brush their own teeth first and you brush after.
• read some children's books about tooth brushing.

It is a good idea to create a "tooth brushing routine" and stick to the same routine each day.

Brushing and Flossing Instructions

Children's hands and mouths are different than adults. They need to use toothbrushes designed for children. Both adults and children should use brushes with soft, rounded bristles for gentle cleaning. Change to a new brush about every three months.

Wipe infant's teeth gently with a moist, soft cloth or gauze square. As babies grow, use a child's toothbrush with a small, pea-sized dab of toothpaste. By age 2 or 3 begin to teach your child to brush. We encourage you to continue to supervise your child brushing their teeth until they are able to do so themselves - sometimes this can be until pre-teen years. We often advise children to use a gentle, short, back and forth motion to remove plaque. When they are older they can switch to the method described below.

Hold the brush at an angle (45 degrees) towards teeth and gums. Move brush back and forth with short strokes, about a half tooth wide.

• Brush the inside and outside surfaces of each tooth, top and bottom.
• Hold the brush flat on top of the teeth and brush the chewing surfaces.
• Gently brush the tongue to remove debris.
• Floss between teeth daily.

Flossing should start when any two teeth touch and you are not able to brush between them. Use a gentle back and forth motion. Floss between all teeth that are touching and the back of the last 4 molars. An adult should help the child floss until she/he can do it by themselves. Another option is to use the pre-threaded floss picks with adult supervision.

Rinsing

Always rinse thoroughly with water after brushing (or after meals if you are unable to brush.) You may occasionally use a mouthwash to rinse. Children may benefit from the use of ACT fluoride rinse, to help prevent cavities from forming in between the teeth. It is not recommended for children to use alcohol based mouthrinses.

Normal pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth can trap food that can't be removed by brushing or washed out by water or saliva. A sealant is a tough, plastic material designed to bond (stick) to tooth enamel.

The Problem:

• Protect normal pits and grooves on the chewing surface of back teeth.
• Stop small amounts of decay from growing larger.

The Solution:

A clear or tooth colored sealant is painted onto the tooth surface to "seal" the pits and grooves and protect against decay. They are generally applied to children's first permanent back teeth. They can also be useful for adults in certain situations.

Alternatives:

There are no appropriate alternatives to sealants. If a tooth has decay, it will need a filling or other restoration.

There is evidence that demonstrates how periodontal disease may increase during adolescence due to lack of motivation to practice oral hygiene. Children who maintain good oral health habits up until the teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care.

As children enter their tween and teen years parents are nurturing independence and hoping that their children maintain all the good oral habits they have been teaching them for years. Unfortunately, there are many environmental factors that influence their behavior and they may increase their chances for developing tooth decay and gum disease.

Lunchtime at the Zoo

More and more schools are offering processed foods for lunch either on their regular menu or via fast food restaurants or from vending machines dispensing carbonated drinks, juices, candies and high carbohydrate snacks. As a result, nutrition is seriously compromised, resulting in vitamin deprivations and excess exposure to foods which promote dental decay. If possible we recommend brushing after lunch or at least rinsing with water after lunch.

Stressing and Eating

Homework and studying were always important but now it seems more stress is placed on children at a younger age to get good grades, in anticipation of going to a better high school and then college. Staying up late at night leads to more snacking and juice and soda drinking and the tendency to fall asleep without brushing teeth. Again may we suggest more healthful snacks like popcorn, or nuts or fruit be made available. Of course, brushing after eating is always beneficial.

So Little Time, So Much to Do

Children are often over-involved in extracurricular activities to help them become well rounded. However the over-loaded schedules result in more haphazard eating on the run. The hallmark or our fast paced society is both parents working, trying their hardest to do their best for their families but with very little time. So everything has to be fast and easy... buy pre-prepared foods since there is no time to plan or cook a balanced meal.

Playing the Game

Drinking and swishing soft drinks and sport drinks to replenish energy and electrolytes is commonplace for children involved in sports. Some of these drinks contain as much as 10 teaspoons of sugar per 12 fluid ounces, bathing the teeth in liquid sugar over several hours. During sporting activities/exercise we recommend drinking and not swishing those energy drinks and alternating them with plain water. Soft drinks really serve no purpose.

Coffee or Tea

There was a time that only old people drank coffee and tea. But now sweetened coffee drinks or tea are offered everywhere whether it is as the gas station or the supermarket. You can choose caramel or chocolate with whipped cream and don't forget the pastry that goes with it. In addition to the decay factor there is the staining of the teeth. Again we encourage rinsing with water and/or brushing. Moderation is important.

Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry more than three million US teenagers smoke cigarettes, including 100,000 children under the age of 13. Smoking and smokeless tobacco are known causes of oral cancer, cancer of the esophagus, larynx and stomach and incidentally periodontal disease. We recommend that parents talk to their children about the dangers of smoking as soon as they're old enough to grasp the concept. The idea is not to ever start smoking or chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco is especially dangerous because children think it's "cool".

The Infamous Wisdom Teeth

By the time children approach their late teens, the wisdom teeth or third molars may become an issue either because of pain or lack of room to erupt. Some wisdom teeth come into the mouth normally, others need to be removed because of their position or lack of space. It's important to take a panoramic radiograph at this time to determine the position of the wisdom teeth and evaluate the future of the wisdom teeth. If removal is indicated, a referral will be made to a qualified oral surgeon.

"Diet" refers to the foods we eat. But "nutrition" refers to the relative value that food brings to the body. In other words you may have breakfast cereal as part of your diet but the ingredients list on the box will describe the nutritive value (good or bad) of the cereal. Ideally, children should eat healthy meals containing a balance of carbohydrate, protein and, fat along with vitamins and minerals. But snacking is a way of life for kids and adults too, so there should be a rational approach to snacking as it relates to overall health and particularly tooth decay.

There is a common misconception that eating candy and other sweets are the chief culprits when it comes to causing cavities. The truth is there are 4 factors that determine whether your children will get cavities in their teeth, heredity, what you eat, the frequency with which you eat it and, when you brush your teeth. There is no question that you can inherit the tendency to get cavities. You can't change your genes - at least at this moment in time. So what can you do?

Please understand that when you eat any processed or refined carbohydrate foods whether it be bread, or chips or breakfast cereal... those refined carbohydrates are transformed into the same sugars as those in a candy bar. The bacteria in the mouth use that sugar to produce acid and over a period of time you get decay (caries) and then cavities. There is a big difference in the dental decay factor between eating corn-on-the-cob and a bag of corn chips, a baked potato and potato chips, peanuts and peanut butter, raisins and grapes.

More importantly, if you eat those processed or fermentable carbohydrates frequently throughout the day, you'll get more cavities and they'll be more severe. For example, there's a big difference if your child eats 5 cookies all at once or 1 cookie at 5 separate times in the day. Each time your child eats a cookie the acid level in the mouth shoots up and attacks the teeth again.

So to Put it All Together for You

• Expose your children to as many different tastes as possible so they can vary their diet
• Limit the number of in-between snacks and choose snack foods like fruit, popcorn or nuts
• Do not let toddlers walk around constantly eating and drinking juice from a sippy cup
• Let your kids enjoy candy and cake and other sweet treats on occasion in moderation
• Try and time the tooth brushing to the eating experience whenever possible