Teen's Dentistry

Dental health during teen years offers another set of challenges. For most parents, this doesn't come as a big surprise. A dizzying number of changes strike during these formative years, and parents often experience a few frustrations along the way.

But teens listen more than we realize, and pestering parents can make a tremendous difference in the dental future of these young adults. Oral home care habits tend to slide, sometimes to the point of complete neglect. Increased independence may lead to eating and drinking habits that harm oral and overall health. Don't underestimate any encouragement given to help your teen avoid the long-term effects of cavities and gum inflammation.

Preventive visits every six months provide us with an opportunity to coach your teen and reinforce the efforts you're making with them. Sometimes the rapport we establish in a professional, yet friendly, setting proves especially effective. Plus we can share problems with them through visual aids while reinforcing any positive efforts they're making.

Tips for home efforts that protect your teen's dental health:

  • Limit sodas and energy drinks. Sugary carbonated drinks are the number one cause of tooth decay in adolescents. Many 20 ounce bottles of soda contain 18 teaspoons of sugar in an extremely acidic liquid. The combination can be devastating for teeth.

  • Encourage brushing before bedtime. Night hours can be especially harmful as the mouth dries out and bacterial plaque flourishes.

  • Explain the dangers of sharing toothbrushes. Teens love to share everything, even toothbrushes. The bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities can easily transfer from one person to the next through this method.

  • Slip in dental floss or a toothpick with their lunch or backpack.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Teen Dentistry Services

Taking care of our teeth is crucial at any stage of our lives. Proper oral health will prevent potential issues like chipped or broken teeth, periodontal disease, and other problems derived from eating disorders and tobacco use.

We know how complicated it can be to encourage teenagers to maintain great oral health throughout the year. One of the best ways to ensure your children are safe as they start growing their adult teeth is to book a visit with a dentist.

You won't have to look for a "dentist for teens near me" anymore. We have a professional team dedicated to making oral care easier to manage for everyone. If you're wondering how our teen's dentistry department can help, keep reading.

  • Children and teenagers are more unlikely to go to the dentist regularly. Most of the time, however, it's because of fear and bad past experiences. Our team is trained to give all our patients a great service while ensuring they are comfortable, which can help them feel more at ease with the idea of a dentist's visit in the future.

    It's crucial for young people to get regular dental check-ups because it allows us to monitor how their bite and alignment patterns change as they grow. This information can help us determine whether the patient needs an orthodontic treatment.

    These evaluations also help in identifying the growth pattern of a teenager's wisdom teeth. In some cases, these must be surgically removed to prevent other issues from developing over time.

    Going to the dentist as a teenager isn't only for identifying problems, though. It's important for these patients to understand how a teen's oral health works to ensure they treat their permanent teeth correctly.

    We work hard to promote an environment where every patient feels safe regardless of their age. Rest assured that we'll provide you with the peace of mind that you deserve during your teenager's growth phase.

  • There are plenty of habits that children carry over to their teenage years. Even though they may seem unharmful, they can lead to many problems.

    Some of the most common cases include:

    • Thumb sucking
    • Nail biting
    • Chewing ice
    • Brushing too hard
    • Teeth grinding
    • Chewing on certain objects
    • Smoking

    The key in most of these cases is to catch the problem before it's too late. Many teenagers start doing these things without even noticing, so it's important that they get guided by a dental professional as they work toward having good oral hygiene habits.

    Teenagers who visit their dentist frequently will ensure their teeth are safe and clean. Sometimes, they may not even need teeth whitening to make them look better. However, this can only be achieved through constant check-ups.

  • Pediatric dentistry specializes in children and teenagers, so it may be confusing to determine when it's convenient to seek an adult dentist.

    In most cases, a teenager should keep going to pediatric dentists until they are 18-22 years old. This is the approximate period when their mouth has finished developing.

    Contrary to popular belief, pediatric dentists aren't only suitable for kids. Your teenager will get the help they need as they keep growing and transitioning into adulthood.

    Feel free to ask our dentist for teen patients for more information. They will be able to tell you the best time for your teenager to start seeking treatment with an adult professional.

  • Even though both dentistry services have the same goal, they have three key differences.

    The first difference revolves around prevention. Dentistry for children and teens aims to preserve a patient's developing teeth against decay and avoid surgeries whenever possible.

    Adult dentists, on the other hand, focus on regular teeth maintenance and identifying particular problems. In these cases, it's more common to consider other treatment options like surgeries.

    Another difference refers to the educational aspect of oral hygiene. Teen dentists work hard to educate young patients to ensure they have great dental health for the rest of their lives. Adult patients likely already know which healthy habits they must have, so it's more about maintaining them.

    Finally, we have unhealthy habits. In teenagers, sugar is one of the main contributors to cavities and tooth decay in general. Once the patient transitions into adulthood, they may start consuming other things that are also problematic for the teeth, such as coffee, wine, and tea.

    The goal of the dentist is to help the patient identify and treat these potential problems before it's too late. Once you book your teen dentist appointment with us, you'll get all the information you need to get started.