Glossary

A number of factors contribute to toothaches or pain in or around a tooth. These factors include cavities, tooth decay, or in some cases, a tooth abscess. Poor dental hygiene is often a cause of tooth decay, but the tendency to develop tooth decay can be inherited. While waiting to be seen by the dentist, you may give your child over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or aspirin. This will help alleviate some of the pain. If they are in serious pain, we will arrange an emergency visit.

If your child is experiencing toothaches due to an abscess, the dentists may recommend your child undergo antibiotic therapy or receive a root canal. Good oral hygiene habits help prevent tooth decay. In addition to regular flossing and brushing and visits to the dentist, a low sugar diet is recommended. Fluoride treatments and sealant applications are also important for preventing tooth decay.

There are many different factors that can cause tooth discoloration. An abnormally colored tooth is anything other than the yellowish-white to the white color of normal teeth. The factors that contribute to tooth color include congenital conditions, genetics, infections, and environmental factors. Abnormal color and shape may be caused by a malfunction in body processes. Some of these factors can influence the way your child’s enamel is formed, while others simply stain the enamel. Teeth may be uniformly discolored or it may appear as spots or lines in enamel. In addition, discolored areas may have a different density and porosity than normal enamel. The color and hardness of enamel can also be affected by drugs or medications taken by either the child during the time of tooth development or by the mother while pregnant.

Second only to the common cold, tooth decay is one of the most common disorders affecting children and young adults. It is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people. This risk for tooth decay is increased by consuming carbohydrates (sugars and starches), and sticky foods tend to be more harmful because they cling to the surface of teeth.

The bacteria present in your mouth convert all foods–especially sugar and starch–into acids. Within 20 minutes after eating, plaque begins to build up on teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance formed from bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva. If the plaque is not removed from the teeth, it mineralizes into tartar and allows tooth decay to develop. The resulting cavities are caused by the acids in plaque creating holes in the tooth that dissolves the enamel surface of the tooth. Cavities are usually painless until they start affecting the nerves, grow large, or cause a tooth fracture. If left untreated, it can lead to a tooth abscess and destroy the internal structures of the tooth. This can lead to tooth loss. For more information about nutritional issues and how your child’s diet can affect their dental health, please contact us today.

Thumb sucking is a normal habit for many children. Its peak occurrence is at about age two and it can be an important source of pleasure for an infant or toddler. This habit is usually nothing to worry about since your child will usually outgrow the habit. However, if they continue to suck their thumb past age 4, dental problems such as malocclusion may occur.

Supernumerary teeth are extra teeth that develop in addition to the normal 32. This is a condition called hyperdontia. These extra teeth will most likely lead to crowding, poor oral hygiene, and the need for orthodontic treatments. The development of supernumerary teeth can be seen on x-rays, and our dentists will work to extract these teeth as early as possible. This prevents crowding and shifting. These teeth are most commonly found behind the teeth directly in front of the molars and just behind the upper teeth. They can also be found near the back teeth/wisdom tooth area.

Also known as a root canal, a pulpectomy is used to save and repair an infected or decayed tooth. A root canal procedure involves removing the nerve and pulp of a tooth. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and sealed. The nerves are in the roots or “legs” of the tooth. The pulp is the soft area within the center of a tooth. The tooth is nourished by blood vessels and connective tissue that travels from the tip of the tooth’s root into the pulp chamber.

Because the enamel of baby teeth is very thin compared to permanent teeth, it is easier for tooth decay to infect the pulp and nerve area of primary teeth. When this happens, your child will have to receive a pulpotomy. This is when some of the pulp or nerve tissue above the gum line is removed, along with decay. A layer of sedative filling material is placed in the cavity after the area is thoroughly cleaned. This protects the remaining nerve tissue. The rest of the tooth either receives a stainless steel dental crown or is filled with composite resin material. The material used depends on what part of the tooth is affected. For more severe cases of decay, a pulpectomy or root canal may need to be performed.