Dentistry for Kids – McKinney, TX

Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids for Children’s Dentistry?

• Led by two board certified pediatric dentists
• Both of our pediatric dentists are proud parents themselves
• Locally owned & operated so we are deeply-rooted in McKinney

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

We recommend bringing your child in to see us at least once every six months for a checkup and cleaning to ensure they enjoy a problem-free smile year after year. Our pediatric dentists will keep a close eye on their teeth, gums, and the development of their bite so they can take care of any problems as soon as possible, and our wonderful hygiene team will remove harmful plaque from their mouth to keep them protected from cavities.

Oral Cancer Screening

While very rare, it is still possible for a young child to develop oral cancer, a potentially deadly disease. Early detection is key to successful treatment of oral cancers, which is why we’ll give your child a complete oral cancer screening whenever they come to see us. We’ll examine their mouth for any sores or suspicious growths, and if we spot anything, we’ll help them get the follow-up care they need right away.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants allow our team to literally place a barrier over a child’s teeth in order to keep them safe from cavities. We typically only use them on the chewing surfaces of the premolars and molars, as these are the most susceptible to developing decay. A thin, tooth-colored protective layer is applied to the teeth, and it quickly hardens into place, blocking any plaque, food particles, or bacteria from reaching the enamel.

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatments

Silver diamine fluoride is a substance we can use to stop enamel-harming bacteria in the mouth to arrest a cavity that has already developed, saving a tooth while also protecting those around it. SDF goes onto the tooth as a liquid. It quickly hardens and then kills the bacteria while also strengthening the enamel at the same time. This is a conservative way of stopping the growth of a cavity until a more permanent restoration can be placed. This allows us to preserve more healthy enamel, arrest the decay progress, and potentially protect the health of the tooth’s pulp (nerve).

Nightguards / Sportsguards

Sprout Dentistry for Kidscan provide your child with a variety of custom-made mouthguards to keep their teeth protected whenever they need it. Is your child a burgeoning sports star? If so, a sportsguard will ensure their smile stays in one piece whether they are on the field, mat, or court so that they can show off their pearly whites in their victory photos! Does your child grind their teeth while they sleep? A nightguard may be a simple solution they only need to wear to bed. It works by preventing the teeth from wearing against one another, protecting them from any damage.

Space Maintainers

After a baby tooth has fallen out, a space maintainer literally helps keep the gap open in order to ensure that an adult tooth has enough room to grow in straight and in the best position possible. These are usually necessary if a baby tooth has fallen out too early, as this can lead to the surrounding teeth shifting and blocking the adult tooth. Our team will keep a close eye on how your child is losing their teeth at their regular checkups so we can determine if this treatment is ever necessary.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

While preventing cavities is always our first priority, we do have a quick and effective solution should your child ever develop one. Tooth-colored fillings are designed to be subtle in appearance unlike old-school gray amalgam fillings, as they can be shaded to perfectly match any child’s enamel. They are made of a safe, BPA-free composite resin, and because this substance is 100% metal-free, your child won’t experience any extra temperature sensitivity after receiving one.

Laser Bacterial Reduction

While an accumulation of plaque and bacteria on your child’s teeth can lead to cavities, the same buildup on their gums can actually cause an infection called gum disease, which can lead to redness, swelling, and sensitivity. If we determine that your child is at risk for or already has gum disease, we can quickly, precisely, and painlessly clean their gums using our soft tissue laser. Laser therapy can also be used to decrease pain and healing time necessary for such bothersome problems such as aphthous ulcers and herpes simplex virus. It uses a concentrated beam of light to vaporize any harmful bacteria while leaving the gums themselves untouched, meaning it’s easy for little patients to stay comfortable.

Tooth Extractions

While your child’s teeth should mostly fall out on their own around this time, some might need a little extra encouragement. If a baby tooth sticks around for too long, it can actually prevent an adult tooth from coming in properly, so tooth extraction may be necessary to prevent crowding, misalignments, or damage to surrounding permanent teeth. We may recommend removing a tooth if it has developed a really large cavity or sustained severe physical trauma. Children may also have supernumerary (extra) teeth forming that may be obstructing or displacing the growth or eruption of their normal adult teeth, which may require removal of the extra teeth to prevent serious long-term problems. Whatever the case may be, we’ll do everything we can to keep your child completely comfortable the entire time.

Laser Frenuloplasties & Frenectomies

Tongue-ties and lip-ties are relatively common problems children can have where their oral function is restricted, making it difficult or impossible for them to eat, speak, smile, or breathe properly. In most cases, a short or thick frenulum (a small band of oral tissue) is to blame. In the past, this would normally be resolved using a scalpel, but thankfully, Sprout Dentistry for Kids uses a much gentler approach. With a soft tissue laser, we can quickly, precisely, and painlessly fix these kinds of issues in just a few minutes while causing almost no bleeding or discomfort and shortening healing time.

Pulp Therapy

Every single tooth has a small bit of nerve tissue located at the center of it called the dental pulp, and if bacteria is able to reach it (whether due to a cavity or crack in the enamel), it can cause the mother of all toothaches. Pulp therapy enables us to stop the spread of bacteria causing the pain and save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. After numbing a child, we simply remove the infected pulp while leaving the rest untouched, allowing a tooth to develop and function like normal.

Non-Nutritive Habits

Is your child still sucking their thumb even though most of their peers have stopped? This habit can cause all sorts of issues for their incoming teeth and jaw, leading to a need for extensive orthodontic treatment or possibly jaw surgery down the road. Thankfully, we can give you proven strategies to help your child break this habit in the least stressful way possible. Our approach focuses more on positive reinforcement than punishment, and it’s already worked for countless other children.

Metal-Free Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a type of restoration we can use to repair severely damaged teeth in order to help them look and function like normal again. We offer 100% metal-free crown options because they have a natural appearance and are still extremely strong and durable. They are primarily made of high-quality zirconia (a ceramic-like substance), and should your child ever need one, blend it seamlessly into their smile.

Orthodontics

A crossbite is a type of misalignment where the upper and lower teeth are offset sideways. This cannot only limit a child’s oral function, but it can also cause the teeth to wear down faster and suffer breakage. Fortunately, we can place an orthodontic appliance called an RPE (rapid palatal expander) into a child’s mouth to directly address this issue. It is a small metal appliance that is held in place using loops that go around the molars, and it can slowly shift the teeth and bite until they come together properly. Correction of cross-bites at the appropriate age can shorten the time a child needs to wear braces in the future.