Services

Dental Xrays are an essential tool in helping Dr. De Mirza identify decay, assess growth and development and identify abnormalities and pathology. Advances in technology now allow digital xrays to reduce radiation exposure and produce instant, high quality images  that can be viewed immediately. The AAPD recommends for xrays to be taken once a year, however, if there are areas of concern, we will  discuss the need for additional xrays to view any changes that may have occurred since the last visit.

Fluoride, to apply or not to apply, that is the question?  Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Fluoride is commonly used in dentistry to strengthen enamel, prevent and reverse early decay and to help in the initial development of teeth. Fluoride treatments are usually applied twice a year to help prevent decay. Dr. De Mirza and her staff will assess your child’s risk for decay, answer any questions you may have about Fluoride and apply fluoride as necessary.

While your child enjoys watching movies on the screen above, our experienced and friendly team will thoroughly clean, polish and scale every surface of each tooth, removing plaque and debris, while informing your child on the proper diet, flossing and brushing techniques.

Tooth Decay is the most common chronic disease in children and adolescents. The risk assessment tool allows us to identify contributing factors that promote decay and to work with you and your child on how to eliminate these factors to prevent cavities from forming.

Are pain free injections possible? Absolutely!! The most common fear for children and adolescents is going to the dentist and feeling the pain of the “shot.” Well, that process just got easier. Dr. De Mirza uses the Dentalvibe while administering local anesthetic. The Dental Vibe is an FDA approved device that allows for pain-free injections by delivering soothing vibrations around the injection site to allow for the brain to process that stimulation rather than the pain stimulus. Your child will be distracted by the soothing sensation of the DentalVibe.

When Cavity treatment is necessary for your child or a fractured tooth occurs, the tooth will require a restoration to replace lost tooth structure removed by decay or fracture. Tooth colored fillings are the most esthetic material used to restore the tooth back to its natural appearance.

A Sealant is a preventative measure used to reduce the risk of decay. A permanent tooth has deep pits and grooves on the chewing surface that can harbor and trap bacteria and plaque causing the tooth surface to break down and form a cavity. When applied, a sealant coats  these grooves to allow for a smooth surface to prevent bacteria from accessing these areas. A sealant can last depending on how well it is taken care of. Any sticky or chewy foods  may pull a sealant off causing the need for replacement.

When decay becomes large and extends to the nerve, your child may experience pain. In order to treat this pain and remove decay, the nerve may become exposed. A baby nerve treatment is then necessary where the top portion of the nerve is removed that has been exposed to the decay. A medicine is then placed to protect the remaining pulp tissue in the canals. This procedure is done in order to prevent the unnecessary and untimely loss of baby teeth.

When a tooth has extensive decay that requires removal of a large portion of tooth structure or has had a baby root canal performed, the tooth requires support. A crown is used to completely cover the tooth to protect it from fracture and restore the tooth to its full function. A crown can be made of different materials  such as stainless steel, composite and zirconia.

As pediatric dentists, we strive to save teeth as much as possible. There are times, however, when removing a tooth is recommended. Teeth are removed for a wide variety of reasons including large decay that is unable to be restored, infection of the nerve tissue, orthodontic concerns and inability for primary teeth to exfoliate on their own. Dr. De Mirza will discuss the need for removal with you prior to treatment, and on the day of treatment, the tooth will be given local anesthetic, a “hug” and “wiggled” out.

When a tooth is wiggled out due to decay or infection, or has been lost prematurely due to trauma, the adjacent teeth can shift into that space and block the permanent teeth below from erupting properly. This may cause crowding and a future need for orthodontics. By placing a space maintainer, shifting of teeth is avoided and space loss  is prevented which allows for proper eruption of the permanent teeth below. A space maintainer may be needed on one or both sides of the mouth.

Dental emergencies are a common occurrence especially with children. Having the right tools and information to handle these situations can allow for your child’s permanent tooth to be saved.

If your child knocks out a permanent tooth, try to hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off any debris from the root. Gently re-implant the tooth back into the socket, if possible, to keep the root moist. If re-implantation is not possible, place the tooth in milk and contact our office immediately as time is of the essence for its survival.

If your child loses a primary tooth, do not re-implant as it may cause damage to the permanent tooth bud above. If the tooth is lost prematurely, we will discuss space loss and future need for orthodontics with you. If the tooth was lost on time, there is no treatment required other than controlling the bleeding and keeping your child comfortable.

Please contact our office during office hours, or on our emergency line, if any of the above situations occur or if your child has:

• A Tooth Ache
• A Lip Bite Post Treatment
• Trauma to Lip or Jaw
• Fractured tooth
• Abscess or Swelling

Dr. De Mirza and her staff will guide you on the best treatment scenario for your child.

Most children and adolescents have a fear of the unknown and visiting the dentist can create a lot of anxiety. Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is used to reduce children’s anxiety by relaxing them and allowing them to be in a happy state while having treatment completed. Nitrous oxide is a mixture of nitrous gas and oxygen that is inhaled through a mask on the patient’s nose. The nitrous gas is flushed out of the patient’s system before leaving the office and there are no remaining effects of the gas. Nitrous oxide can also reduce a severe gag reflex to allow treatment and obtaining Xrays to be more pleasant for the patient.