 Children's
Dentistry
Dr. Wright has trained with some of the world's most prominent
infant and child dental teachers. He is rapidly becoming known as
Pueblo West Area's leading dentists for families who want comfortable,
safe and friendly care for their children.
Click below for information regarding your child's dental care.
Sealants
To Prevent Cavities
Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting the teeth against
decay-causing bacteria. The sealants are usually applied to the
chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where
decay occurs most often.
A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the
chewing surfaces of the back teeth—premolars and molars.
This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits
and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant
acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.
Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and
plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles
cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract
food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing
out" plaque and food.
Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply, and it takes only
a few minutes to seal each tooth. The teeth that will be sealed
are cleaned. Then the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid
solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant
is then 'painted' onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly
to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is
used to help the sealant harden.
As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will
be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force
of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication
is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will
check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary.
Please call our office with any questions you may have about
the benefits using a sealant in preventing dental decay.
Mouthguards
Use a mouthguard during any activity that could result in a blow
to the face or mouth. A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent
broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. It
will stay in place while you are wearing it, making it easy for
you to talk and breath.
Talk to your dentist about having a custom mouthguard made specifically
for you. This will fit comfortably and offer the best protection
for your smile.
Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant
risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. This includes a
wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, baseball,
gymnastics, and volleyball.
Mouth protectors, which typically cover the upper teeth, can
cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth
and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. If you wear braces
or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist
may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well.
Accidents can happen during any physical activity. A mouth protector
can help cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result
in an injury to the mouth. A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one
basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped
or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss. A
mouth protector can limit the risk of such injuries as well as
protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.
A properly fitted mouth protector will stay in place while you
are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.
There are three types of mouth protectors:
- Stock
Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready
to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well.
They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
- Boil and bite
Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting
goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors.
They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to
adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the
directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth
protector.
- Custom-fitted
Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made by your dentist for you
personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but
because they are customized they can offer a better fit than anything
you can buy off the shelf.
Please call our office if you would like a comfortable mouthguard
to protect your teeth.
Tooth
Decay Prevention
Although tooth decay has declined among young children as a group,
it can still be a problem for individual children, and even teens
and adults. That’s because plaque, a sticky film of bacteria,
constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing
sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that
attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these
acids in contact with your teeth and after many such attacks,
the enamel can break down and a cavity forms.
Preventing Decay:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.
- Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and
oral exams.
- Ask your dentist about dental sealants (see above), a protective
plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces
of the back teeth where decay often starts.
If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate
to call
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