Children’s Dentistry – Belle Plaine, MN
Helping Small Smiles Grow Up to Be Healthy & Happy
Dr. Davidson and her team at STAR Dental are used to working with younger patients and love being able to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to keep their developing grins healthy. Our team provides compassionate, comfortable, and enjoyable children’s dentistry that you can count on as a parent. If your little one is due for a checkup and cleaning or you’re concerned about their oral growth, we welcome you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose STAR Dental for Children’s Dentistry?
- Dentist with Training in Children’s Treatments
- Friendly, Understanding, & Passionate Dental Team
- Using the Latest Tech for Accurate Diagnoses
Dental Checkups & Cleanings for Kids
Your child’s first checkups and cleanings are the most important because this is when they get introduced to the dentist’s office and start to develop an oral hygiene routine that they’ll use to keep their smile healthy for their whole lives. At each of these visits, our team will examine your little one’s mouth to make sure it’s developing properly and give them the tools and knowledge they need to maintain a complete and healthy smile as a child, and eventually, as an adult.
Dental Sealants
For young patients, keeping teeth clean can be a challenge at first, especially in those tricky, hard-to-reach areas. The deep pits and grooves on some back teeth can easily accumulate food particles and bacteria in particular, leading to cavities. Thankfully, our team can help your little one guard these areas with dental sealants. Sealants are made of a tough plastic material that’s directly painted onto the chewing surfaces of teeth.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver diamine fluoride is an FDA-approved liquid that can be applied to a tooth that is experiencing decay. Once your child’s teeth have been cleaned, we’ll gently brush it onto their affected tooth and within a matter of minutes, the decay will be cured. The treatment is completely non-invasive and will also provide lasting protection from additional harm to the affected tooth, keeping your child’s smile healthy.
Lip & Tongue-Tie (Frenectomy)
Does your infant have difficult latching while breastfeeding? Do they have digestion issues that make them fussy? These are two common signs that they may have a lip or tongue-tie, which is when the piece of skin that attaches their tongue to the floor of their mouth or their lips to their gums are overgrown. This can limit the movement of their mouth and makes getting vital nutrition difficult. Dr. Davidson has specialty training in conducting frenectomies, which are procedures to remove the extra tissue and help your child regain the complete function of their mouth.
Athletic Mouthguards
STAR Dental offers customized sportsguards. Unlike the one-size-fits-all versions you can find at any sports store, our appliances feel comfortable and secure in your child’s mouth while still allowing them as much movement as possible.
Pulp Therapy
If your little one complains of a sudden toothache that’s keeping them from focusing on schoolwork or being able to sleep, it could be a sign that an infection has developed in the chamber of their tooth. To ease their pain and preserve their tooth, we offer pulp therapy. Dr. Davidson will gently and carefully remove the affected pulp and top their tooth off with a dental crown so they can continue using it as they normally would.
The First Visit
Your little one should start having their teeth brushed the day they erupt into their mouth. Typically, we recommend attending regular visits around when this happens.
Here are some tips for how to help your child have great dental appointments throughout the years:
- Be sure to schedule visits when your child will be well-rested and generally happy. Avoid the times when they’re usually napping or eating.
- Children tend to be good at picking up on their parents’ emotions and imitating them. Always use positive language when talking about the dentist, and don’t share scary stories or negative experiences with them. This can cause unnecessary panic.
- Be a good role model for your child! Brush twice a day, floss each night, and attend regular checkups at STAR Dental alongside them.
Healthy Start/
Ortho-Tain
It is estimated that about nine out of 10 children suffer from symptoms due to something called Sleep Disordered Breathing (SBD). This condition can cause a myriad of problems, such as a lower IQ, aggressive behavior, chronic allergies, and it is often misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD. The root cause is typically an underdeveloped jaw that leads to a narrow and unhealthy airway, which prevents normal breathing during sleep.
The Healthy Start/Ortho-Tain system uses a removable oral appliance to help guide the growth and development of a child’s teeth and jaw. It is designed to gradually open up the airway and increase airflow so a child can get the deep, restful sleep they need. It’s also a proven method to straighten the teeth without braces! The device itself is completely clear and only needs to be used for about two hours a day to deliver dramatic results.