Chicago, IL Preventive Dentistry Preserves Healthy Teeth
At Growing Smiles, we’re always here to help treat your little one’s dental problems with kindness and trustworthy skill – but if our team had its way, we’d prefer to stop them from happening in the first place. Dr. Kristin, Dr. Reena, Dr. Paula, and Dr. Lexi will be happy to monitor your son or daughter through the years with routine check-ups and cleanings, providing helpful treatment options to protect and strengthen their precious smiles along the way. New patients from surrounding areas are always welcome – contact us today to schedule a first visit!
Check-ups & Cleanings
Routine visits to the dentist are just as important for children as they are for their parents, if not more so. We strongly recommend that your son or daughter attends a check-up and cleaning every six months, or twice each year. During this process, one of our dentists will thoroughly review the patient’s mouth for any signs of tooth decay or other issues that may need attention. Depending on their age, we will also go over the proper age appropriate oral hygiene recommendations and what they can do at home to help themselves enjoy strong, healthy teeth for life.
During your child’s cleaning, our team will use a light, gentle touch to clear away decay-causing plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and along the gum line and finish with a protective fluoride application. If they feel anxious during this process, nitrous oxide gas is available which can help them relax.
TMJ Therapy
Is your son or daughter struggling with facial pain or a jaw that constantly locks, clicks, and pops? These are common signs of TMJ disorder, which can occur when a person’s jaw joint becomes injured or stressed. At Growing Smiles, our dentists are more than capable of diagnosing TMJ disorder with an evaluation and can help evaluate any jaw related issues and provide a plan to resolve these issues.
Sportsguards
We love hearing about our patients being active on the field or court during their favorite sport! However, there is a high risk of dental damage if your child’s athletic activities include the possibility of physical contact with hard surfaces or other players. That’s why our dentists at Growing Smiles strongly recommend the use of a customized, high-quality sportsguard once all permanent teeth are present. These devices offer valuable benefits, especially when compared to the typical, “one-size-fits-all” guard from the store – they’re designed to be comfortable, sturdy, and easy to wear, helping your child have a great time while their teeth stay well-protected.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is a very dangerous disease that often isn’t correctly identified by dentists until it’s already reached advanced, destructive stages – that’s why routine screenings are so critical for patients of all ages. During check-ups, our dentists will carefully scan the mouth for any tell-tale signs that could indicate the presence of cancerous cells, including white or red patches, lumps and thickened areas, or sores that aren’t healing properly. If we locate something suspicious, a biopsy can be arranged to determine a diagnosis and whether any further treatment is needed.
Antibiotic Therapy
Antibiotic therapy may be needed if your child is experiencing inflammation, oral bleeding, and other symptoms of acute or chronic dental infection. This medication is very effective at treating dangerous bacteria in the mouth and helping prevent reccurrences of infection over time, which keeps little smiles strong and safe.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a natural mineral that is often added to drinking water, and for good reason – studies have shown that people who grow up drinking fluoridated water on a routine basis have stronger teeth and fewer cavities on average than those who don’t. At each check up, we provide professional fluoride applications that benefit your child’s oral health and reduce the threat of tooth decay for a safer, happier smile. Dental sealants are also available at our Chicago area practice!