Providing the Best In Family Dentistry for 30 Years
If you are looking for a children’s dentist in Carlsbad, Ca, Dr. William Neff, and the Los Coches Dentistry staff offer a customized, gentle approach to children’s oral healthcare. By providing every child consistent, compassionate dental care every visit is positive.
Children’s oral health care is more than good dentistry. It entails trust, counseling, and parental involvement. We personally treat your children as we would our own and encourage parents to accompany them during their dental exam.
Los Coches Dentistry, located in the La Costa area of Carlsbad, Ca, specializes in dental education, tooth decay prevention, and a healthy lifestyle for infants, kids, and teenagers.
Kid’s Preventative Dentistry
During your child’s first dental appointment we evaluate their oral and dental development. In addition, we provide counseling about dietary habits, brushing and flossing instructions, and if necessary, fluoride recommendations.
Oral Habit Evaluation – “Oral habits” of children refers to any thumb, finger, or pacifier habits that may be causing unwanted dental growth and development. At our family dental practice in Carlsbad, we observe oral habits to make corrections should the behavior begin to pose a problem.
Proper Diet – Proper dietary habits are as important to your child’s dental health as supervised hygiene and visiting the dentist. Tooth decay (cavities) is the most common children’s disease in America. Contrary to popular belief, tooth decay is not caused by the amount of sugar or carbohydrates your child consumes. But instead, it is caused by the length of time those substances sit on your teeth. Therefore, not surprisingly, sucking on sugary liquids is the leading cause of children’s tooth decay.
Sealants – Sealant is a coating that protects the grooves and depressions within teeth. Since sealants form a barrier protecting the tooth from small food particles and bacteria, tooth decay can be dramatically reduced when a sealant is used. Carlsbad children’s dentist, Dr. William Neff highly recommends the use of sealants in older children as well as for use on primary baby molars to prevent preliminary decay.
Fluoride Treatment – Under dental supervision, fluoride can be a key element in the prevention of tooth decay. Fluoride keeps tooth enamel strong by hardening weak areas of the tooth.
Restorative Dentistry for Children
Fillings – Generally children’s cavities are filled using local anesthesia and tooth-colored fillings. Laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, is recommended to make your child’s first fillings a positive and non-threatening experience.
Crowns – Crowns may be necessary if a cavity has damaged the tooth structure past the point a filling can repair. Depending on the cavity location, there are various crowns available to restore the tooth. Dr. William Neff will recommend which crown is appropriate based on the degree of your child’s cavity and their natural bite.
Teeth Whitening – As your child ages and their permanent teeth become fully erupted and developed, teeth whitening can be considered. This time frame for the average child would be in their junior to senior year of high school. If your child expresses interest in teeth whitening, please consult Los Coches Dentistry for an evaluation.
Scheduling your Child’s First Dentist Visit
Early visits are the proactive parents’ best chance at reducing the risk of tooth decay. Dr. William Neff recommends that children visit a dentist when the child is two to three years. Or, when the parents can comfortably brush their child’s teeth without them fussing. No matter what your concern or question, Los Coches Dentistry is here to assist with all of your family’s dental needs.
