At McQueen Dental, pediatric dentistry is about more than bright, healthy smiles. Dr. McQueen wants to make sure your child’s visit is rewarding and fun, so there’s no fear of “next time.” Our entire kids dentistry team takes the extra time to earn the trust of both you and your child, and to make sure each trip to the dentist is a pleasant, calm experience.
We encourage you and your child to ask questions about our pediatric dentistry services and are always happy to address any concerns you have as a parent. We offer empathetic oral health education and use simple explanations to answer your child’s questions and reassure them.
If your child is anxious about their appointment with us, we provide laughing gas to help make their visit more relaxing.
Your Child's First Visit (age 8+)
At McQueen Dental we start seeing children for dental care after their eighth birthday. We focus on providing the highest quality pediatric dental care possible.
It’s completely normal for your child to be unsure or nervous about their first dental visit with us, but at McQueen Dental, they don’t have to be! Our practice is designed to make your child comfortable and excited to visit the dentist.
Pediatric Dental Checkups
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) advises that children be seen for a dental checkup every 6 months. These visits allow Dr. McQueen to closely monitor new changes in your child’s mouth and ensure that you, as a parent, have the information you need to promote continued oral health in your child.
Dr. McQueen may suggest additional checkups if your child is more susceptible to cavities, or if your child is showing signs of orthodontic problems.
Teeth-Strengthening Mineral Application
Dental teeth-strengthening mineral treatments are safe and effective in decreasing the chances of cavities. Dr. McQueen often recommends this treatment along with dental sealants to help protect your child’s teeth. This teeth-strengthening mineral acts as a shield for the tooth’s outer enamel and can actually reverse early dental decay in some children.
Protective Pediatric Dental Sealants
Protective dental sealants are thin coats of plastic painted onto your child’s back teeth to protect deep grooves and depressions from accumulating bacteria and food particles. Studies show that 88% of cavities in American school-aged children are caused by food and bacteria being caught in their rear molars.
At McQueen Dental, we typically apply a protective sealant to your child’s back teeth, premolars, and molars. The sealant will last for several years, but we will continue to check it's durability at your child’s regular dental appointments.
Tooth Colored Dental Fillings
Treatment for cavities in children depends on how severe the decay is as well as each child’s age and risk of future cavities. At McQueen Dental, we typically treat cavities with discreet, effective tooth-colored fillings.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped coverings cemented to a badly damaged tooth to restore its shape and functionality. Dr. McQueen may recommend a pediatric dental crown for your child’s tooth if there is a large cavity, if it was broken or chipped due to trauma, or if the tooth hasn’t developed correctly.
Gentle Tooth Extractions
Unfortunately, sometimes a child’s tooth may be too badly decayed to save. In this case, Dr. McQueen will perform a gentle tooth extraction. An extraction may also be recommended if your child's tooth is severely broken or if it is crowding other healthy teeth.
Space Maintainer
Your child might need a space maintainer if they lose a tooth early or have a baby tooth extracted. If your child needs a space maintainer, Dr. McQueen will custom fit it to your child’s mouth. It will keep the space where the baby tooth was lost open in order to allow the permanent tooth to come into place.
Baby teeth are vital to the healthy development of adult teeth and facial structure. If a space maintainer is not used, your child’s other teeth can shift into the open space and more invasive orthodontic treatment may later be needed.
Laughing Gas
If your child is anxious, has special needs, or just needs extra help staying calm and comfortable, Dr. McQueen may recommend using laughing gas. Laughing gas is a completely safe way to help children receive the dental care they need without anxiety or fear.
Once your child's dental treatment is over, the gas will be completely out of their system after just a few minutes. Laughing gas is widely considered to be low risk for nearly every dental patient. At McQueen Dental, our goal is to always care for your child’s dental health in the safest way possible.
Questions About Our Pediatric Dentistry Services?
Is your child due for a preventive checkup? Give McQueen Dental a call to schedule their appointment with Dr. McQueen today!
Are you missing one or more of your teeth? Restorative dentistry can repair and restore the natural look of your smile.