Dentistry for Toddlers – McKinney, TX

Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids for Toddler Dentistry?

• Both doctors are fathers & certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Kid-friendly dental office filled with welcoming staff
• Only use the latest technology & techniques to increase comfort

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

Once your child’s teeth start to come in, we recommend bringing them in for a checkup and cleaning at least once every six months. At these appointments, we’ll gently examine their teeth, gums, and development of their bite before giving them a thorough dental cleaning. Afterward, we’ll talk to them about the basics of dental care and diet so they can start to form healthy habits that will serve them well into adulthood. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have as well.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants help protect the most vulnerable areas of the teeth from developing decay. They are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth because these both trap the most plaque and are the hardest to clean. We simply paint on an extremely thin layer of a tooth-colored protective coating, and it quickly hardens into a barrier that food particles, bacteria, and acids cannot penetrate. They only take a few minutes to apply but can provide up to a decade of effective cavity prevention.

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatments

If your child has any cavities, we can use a quick and easy SDF treatment to stop the spread of the bacteria that is breaking down the enamel, effectively containing the cavity while preserving the rest of the tooth. SDF is applied to the teeth as a liquid where it quickly hardens and sits while it works its “magic.” This is a comfortable and conservative way of treating teeth compromised with decay until a permanent restoration can be placed.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

While our primary goal is to stop cavities from forming in the first place, they can still pop up for small children for a number of reasons, such as a lack of consistent brushing and a love of sugary treats/drinks. In any case, tooth-colored fillings enable us to repair minor cavities in just one appointment using a solution that’s designed to blend seamlessly into the smile. Instead of the old gray fillings, these fillings are made of a safe, BPA-free biocompatible composite resin that we can shade to perfectly match your child’s tooth enamel.

Metal-Free Dental Crowns

Primary teeth sometimes need  Crowns are shaped to look and function just like natural teeth, restoring the original shape and strength of the enamel at the same time. At Sprout Dentistry for Kids, in many cases, we offer the option of 100% zirconia crowns because of their lifelike appearance and reliable durability. With them, you get a fully repaired tooth that looks like nothing was ever wrong with it in the first place.

Tooth Extractions

While a child’s baby teeth will most often fall out on their own, some may need a little more encouragement in the form of tooth extraction to make room for and prevent delay or poor alignment of the incoming adult teeth. We might also recommend removing a tooth if it has developed so much decay or damage that it can’t be repaired. Thanks to our team’s friendly approach, light touch, and use of gentle sedation, we can ensure that your child will be completely comfortable from beginning to end.

Laser Frenuloplasties & Frenectomies

The tongue and both lips all have a small band of oral tissue called frenulums that connect them to the rest of the mouth, and these usually form while a child is growing in utero. If these tissues happen to be too short or thick, they can actually limit a child’s oral function, making normal eating, speaking, smiling, or even breathing extremely difficult. Thankfully, our team can fix these kinds of problems in just a few minutes using a soft tissue laser. Without any bleeding or discomfort, our pediatric dentists can quickly free the tissue so a child can enjoy full oral function immediately with shortened healing time.

Laser Bacterial Reduction

In addition to protecting your child from cavities, our team can also help them heal significantly faster and decrease pain from common problems such as aphthous ulcers or herpes simplex virus versus other traditional methods. We can use our soft tissue laser to quickly "zap" these lesions and eliminate harmful bacteria or virus. Treatment with the laser is safe, precise, and so gentle that most children don’t even need local anesthesia to remain comfortable.

Pulp Therapy

Most of the time, a cavity only affects the outermost layer of a tooth called the enamel, but if one is left untreated for a long time, the decay-causing bacteria can actually threaten or infect the sensitive nerve tissue located inside the tooth called the dental pulp. Deep decay close to or reaching the nerve can cause pain, but pulp therapy is a proven way to provide fast relief without affecting the function of the tooth. After numbing your child, we’ll simply remove the infected portion of the pulp while leaving the rest untouched so the tooth is able to develop as normal.

Non-Nutritive Habits

Is your child still sucking their thumb or finger even though their teeth are starting to come in? This can lead to misaligned teeth and even affect the development of the jaw if left alone, which can have long term negative effects on their facial growth. We understand that getting a child to stop such habits can be a very stressful process for both parent and child. Fortunately, our team can offer you a number of proven strategies that focus more on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, and you’re always free to reach out to us with questions. We’ve successfully helped countless children through this process before, and we can do the same for your little one!