At Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Garden City, NY, we’re here to help your little one feel comfortable and cared for, even during cavity treatments. Cavities are common in kids, but with the gentle touch of Dr. Manpreet Dhillon and Dr. Ravneet Dhillon, your child’s dental health is in the best hands. Our team specializes in making pediatric cavity fillings a calm, positive experience for children and their families.
Why Are Pediatric Cavity Fillings Important?
Cavities can do more than just cause toothaches—they can affect your child’s overall health and even their confidence. Treating cavities early with a pediatric filling protects your child’s teeth from further damage and restores their smile. Our fillings are designed to keep your child comfortable and ensure their teeth function as they should, so they can focus on what matters most—being a kid.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cavities are the most common chronic condition in children, but they’re entirely preventable and treatable!
Benefits of Pediatric Cavity Fillings
Stops Tooth Decay in Its Tracks
We remove the decayed part of the tooth and seal it with a durable filling to keep harmful bacteria out. This prevents the cavity from getting worse and keeps your child’s smile healthy.
Brings Back Comfort and Function
Cavities can make eating uncomfortable, but a filling restores your child’s tooth so they can chew and enjoy their favorite foods again. Healthy teeth mean better nutrition and happier mealtimes!
Boosts Your Child’s Confidence
Visible cavities can make kids feel self-conscious. Our tooth-colored fillings are designed to blend naturally with their smile, giving them the confidence to share it with the world.
What to Expect During a Pediatric Cavity Filling
A Gentle Checkup
We start with a thorough exam, using digital, low-radiation X-rays to carefully check for cavities. If treatment is needed, we’ll walk you through every step so you feel informed and reassured.
Preparing the Tooth
Once we’re ready to begin, the area around the tooth will be numbed before we gently remove the decayed part of the tooth and clean the area. Whether we use a dental drill or a laser, we prioritize your child’s comfort every step of the way.
Placing the Filling
Next, we place a tooth-colored composite filling into the prepared area, shaping it to look and feel just like their natural tooth. A special light hardens the filling, and your child’s tooth is ready to shine again!
Before & Afters
stop scrolling and start straightening!
Dental Trauma Guide
What to do in the event of trauma to the teeth and mouth:
If bleeding occurs:
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- Apply pressure with a clean cloth or gauze
- Try to identify the source of the bleeding
- If the gums or teeth are bleeding see a dental professional
- If the lips or face are injured visit the emergency room
If a tooth is chipped
- If the tooth fragment that chipped off is found, store it in milk, saliva or saline. Do NOT store in alcohol, water or mouthwash
- Contact a dentist for an emergency appointment
If a baby tooth is knocked out
- Baby teeth are not advised to be re-implanted but should be brought to the dentist to be evaluated
If there is a shift in the position of a tooth/teeth
- This is urgent! Contact a dentist for an emergency appointment ASAP
- If injury occurs outside of business hours visit the emergency room
If an adult tooth is knocked out
- Handle the tooth by the crown, try to avoid touching the root
- Rinse the tooth with milk or saline, DO NOT SCRUB
- Place the tooth back into the socket if possible
- If not, store the tooth in milk, saliva or saline. Do NOT store in alcohol, water or mouthwash. Adult teeth can be re-implanted by a dentist
- This is urgent! Contact a dentist for an emergency appointment ASAP
- If injury occurs outside of business hours visit the emergency room
If unsure whether a baby or adult tooth is knocked out
- Store the tooth in milk, saliva or saline and allow the doctor to determine. Do NOT store in alcohol, water or mouthwash
- This is urgent! Contact a dentist for an emergency appointment ASAP
- If injury occurs outside of business hours visit the emergency room
In all cases, focus on controlling bleeding (with gauze/clean cloth and pressure) and managing pain with motrin/tylenol (follow manufacturers instructions for dosing). Some dental emergencies are more urgent than others but all cases of dental trauma should be evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible.
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How to Reduce the Risk of Dental Trauma
Dental injuries are very common amongst active children. Here are some tips to reduce your child's risk of experiencing serious dental trauma.
Safe Play Environments
- Check play areas for younger children for hard surfaces and sharp corners, try to child-proof or limit access to such areas
- Keep hard objects and toys away from young children especially when they are teething (ages 0-3)
Preventing Sports-Related Trauma
- Helmets, facemasks and mouthguards reduce both the frequency and severity of dental/facial trauma.
- Mouthguards are highly recommended for all collision and contact sports and help prevent injuries such as broken or displaced teeth, jaw-joint injury, lip/cheek/chin lacerations and even concussions
- Custom mouthguards made by a dental provider offer the highest level of protection and can be made for children of all ages
- Pre-formed stock mouthguards and boil and bite mouthguards are more affordable alternatives which offer a lower level of protection than custom mouthguards but still reduce the risk and severity of injury
Education and Preparation
- Even with safeguards in place injuries happen! Learning how to manage dental injuries will help the adults managing the situation stay calm and act fast
- Some children are more prone to dental injury depending on their unique dental anatomy. Regular dental check ups will help identify potential risks and a dental provider can offer personalized suggestions
Frequently Asked Questions
