Baby teeth serve the important function of eating, speech, and esthetics (self image). These teeth not only help form the developing jaws, but they hold space for the permanent teeth so that a normal development occurs. The last baby tooth falls out at about twelve years of age. A decayed baby tooth can become so badly decayed that it can do damage to the permanent tooth. At times severe infections of the face, head, and neck can be caused by infected baby teeth. So it is important to restore baby teeth as soon as decay is first detected.

Restorative Visit

You can help us make this next visit a successful and positive experience for your child, by working with us to accomplish this goal. While taking to your child about this visit use positive words like fun, easy, tooth asleep, silver star, water spray etc. Do not use negative words like pain, hurt, needle, shot, tooth pulled etc.

The entire procedure will be explained to your child and you before the procedure is performed. Once the procedure is completed a piece of gauze referred to as tooth pillow is placed between the cheek and the teeth to prevent your child from accidently biting into the numb cheek and lip. When the anesthesia is wearing off your child will feel tingling sensation. Reaffirm your child that the tooth is waking up.

After treatment is completed you can help us to continue the positive experience by praising your child and referring to the "fun" time they had. Please avoid negative comments such as: Did it hurt? That wasn¹t so bad! You were so brave! Did you get a shot? Were you afraid? These comments could persuade your child in thinking there was a reason to be afraid, even though they were cooperative, had a good time, and may make their future visits more difficult.