The short answer – yes. When children’s teeth are exposed frequently to carbs and sugars, acids form that begin to eat away at their tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as candy, cookies, soft drinks and fruit juices can leave harmful sugar-y deposits on their teeth that bond with the bacteria that lives in our mouths. Acid is produced and that acid can cause tooth decay- cavities.

A cavity is a hole that forms on the tooth’s surface –another word for this is tooth decay. This happens as a result of acid damaging the surface of the tooth.

Cavities in your child’s baby teeth are just as serious as cavities in their permanent teeth and definitely should be treated as so. Cavities can lead to infection in a tooth. This can happen super quickly in a baby tooth because baby teeth are thinner and weaker than permanent teeth. And… as everyone knows… all teeth are located in our mouths and the mouth is close to the brain. We don’t want any untreated infection near anyone’s brain! Also, untreated cavities can cause gum disease, bad breath, discomfort, pain, loss of appetite, sleep disorders, inability to focus, inability to eat, fever, swelling, and abscess/ infection. Untreated cavities will lead to other dental problems such as early tooth loss, spacing issues, speech issues and gum disease. Untreated cavities could cause systemic (full body) infection such as sepsis which could require a patient to undergo hospitalization and/ or surgery. What’s the easiest way to avoid all of the above? If your dentist says your child has a cavity? Have it treated.

Typically, the entire process takes less than an hour. First, we may numb your child’s mouth. Then, we carefully remove decayed tissue from within the cavity. Next, we insert the filling material and harden it with a special curing light. To finish, we polish the filling and adjust it so it will not interfere with your child’s bite. Their teeth may be sensitive for a few days, but they should be able to eat right after any local anesthesia wears off.

We will explain your child’s treatment procedures in a positive and pleasant manner to avoid any anxious or negative feelings toward dentistry. Their first dental visit will include: A comprehensive dental examination, an orthodontic and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) evaluation, a decay examination, and X-rays (recommended once per year based on the child's tooth decay risk or history of oral trauma).

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child should see an orthodontist between the ages of 7-8 years old. At this age, jaw and bite issues can be addressed and prevented early on. Dr. Rohner does an orthodontist assessment at each visit and will refer your child to the orthodontist at the appropriate time.

Dental sealants are thin coatings that are painted over the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. Because these teeth have many small pits and grooves, bacteria and food particles can easily burrow into the tooth enamel and cause decay and cavities to form. However, dental sealants form a protective barrier, keeping bacteria and food out and away from your child’s teeth. With proper care, they can last a decade or longer, but we will check them during each visit to ensure they’re still in place.

Every month, our team goes to the Operating Room at the One Day Surgery Center at Children’s Hospital to restore children’s teeth with the aid of general anesthesia.