Preventative care is one of the simplest and most important ways to make sure your child’s teeth grow in strong and healthy. Giving them the proper tools and teaching them the right way to brush when they are young lays the groundwork that will create healthy habits they will carry with them into adulthood.

Most children have two cleanings a year, but children with a higher risk of caries may need more frequent visits.

During a checkup, will your child’s hygienist will clean their teeth and, if necessary, take x-rays and give your child a fluoride treatment. The dentist will perform an exam and review if any treatment is needed.

Digital x-rays help diagnose cavities while they are tiny, often allowing for less invasive treatment. If they are caught early enough, decay may be stopped with some minor changes to your child’s homecare routine.

Using digital x-rays, Dr. Andrew Olson can look for teeth that haven’t erupted yet, make sure your child’s jaws and teeth are developing well, and monitor whether orthodontic treatment will be needed in the future.

Today’s digital x-rays expose your child to less radiation than ever before. Lead aprons and taking x-rays only when necessary further reduce your child’s exposure.

Topical fluoride treatments help keep your child’s teeth cavity-free between visits by strengthening the enamel. Depending on your child’s age, the fluoride may be brushed onto your child’s teeth or put into a foam tray and allowed to sit on their teeth. For younger children, a fluoride varnish is brushed onto the teeth. Fluoride varnish hardens when it comes in contact with saliva, forming a hard film that is brushed off later that evening.

Older children usually have a tray loaded with foam fluoride placed in their mouths for a specific amount of time along with a suction straw to remove any foam overflow and saliva. When the time is up, your child is told not to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to work.

Dr. Andrew Olson and his hygiene team are happy to answer all your questions about fluoride treatments and treatment options.

A frenum or frenulum is a small piece of tissue that attaches either the upper lip to the gum tissue or the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

In some children, this frenum or frenulum is attached too tightly and can pull on the lips or gums causing tongue-tie, problems nursing, speech issues, trouble eating or drinking, or cause pulling on the gums around teeth that can create a periodontal issue as the child ages.

During a frenectomy, the dentist makes a small incision in the frenum or frenulum, allowing for greater movement of the lips. Results are instant, and this simple procedure can be done in-office with a local anesthetic. The incision site usually heals in a few days with little to no discomfort.

The use of Silver Diamine Fluoride in dentistry is well documented for its ability to stop decay noninvasively. Using SDF is a conservative approach to treating decay, especially in baby teeth that will be lost in a few years. Dr. Andrew Olson and his team can discuss with you if Silver Diamine Fluoride treatment is right for your child.

What is Silver Diamine Fluoride?

Silver Diamine Fluoride, or SDF, is an FDA-approved antibiotic liquid that, when applied topically, can stop decay from progressing. While this treatment probably won’t prevent the need for a restoration in the future, it has been proven effective in stopping further decay until either the baby tooth is lost, or a more permanent means of repair, like a filling or crown, can be performed.

The Procedure

After the treatment area is isolated and dried, Dr. Andrew Olson applies the Silver Diamine Fluoride to the decay using a small brush. Then, a fluoride-infused sealer is placed over the Silver Diamine Fluoride so it can work its magic undisturbed.

A follow-up appointment about a week later makes sure the Silver Diamine Fluoride is working, and a second application is applied.

After your child’s procedure, daily home treatment with a fluoride rinse (like ACT) is recommended, as is twice daily brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste.

What to Expect After Treatment

After your child’s appointment, you may notice some discoloration where the SDF made contact with the surrounding tissue of the gum, skin or an existing restoration. The decayed area where the Silver Diamine Fluoride was applied will also turn dark. This is an indication that the SDF is working and is perfectly natural.

Silver Diamine Fluoride is a safe, FDA-approved, effective way to stop decay. However, if your child has a silver sensitivity, please let us know before their appointment.

If your child needs restorative treatment in the form of a filling or crown, Dr. Andrew Olson and his team will create a custom treatment plan for your child and review all options with you before treatment begins. We believe a conservative approach to children’s dentistry is usually the best course of action.

Fillings are placed in the tooth following decay removal to preserve natural tooth structure. Nowadays most fillings are made of a composite resin that is matched to your child’s natural tooth color. In some rare instances amalgam (silver) fillings may be used.

Crowns can be made of many different materials depending on where in your child’s mouth they are to be used. Stainless steel, resin, and zirconia are all durable choices and require very similar preparations.

Why Does My Child Need a Crown?

Sometimes an area of decay is too large for a filling or the decay has compromised the whole side of a tooth, so there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling. If your child has an accident that results in a heavily damaged tooth or if your child is at high risk for developing cavities, the doctor may decide it’s best to preserve the entire remaining structure.

If you are concerned that your child needs a crown, Dr. Andrew Olson and his team are happy to answer all your questions.

Sometimes a child comes to us that has had a negative dental experience or they are too young to understand the dental treatment needed. We offer different sedation options to help them relax and make their dental appointment more comfortable for everyone, patient and parent alike.

For most patients, laughing gas is very safe and plenty to help your child relax. It is mixed with oxygen and delivered with a small mask worn over your child’s nose. Your child is awake, responsive, and breathes without assistance. When treatment is finished, the mask is removed, and within a few breaths of air, the laughing gas has left your child’s system.

If your child is older or suffers from severe anxiety, oral sedation (a pill or liquid medicine), IV sedation, or general anesthesia in a hospital setting under the care of a board-certified anesthesiologist may be recommended. Dr. Andrew Olson will be able to discuss these options with you to help your child get the care they need.

If a baby tooth has decay that has entered the nerve, or pulp, of the tooth, or if the tooth has suffered trauma, it may cause hot and cold sensitivity or constant pain. A root canal might be recommended to preserve the tooth until it is ready to come out on its own and be replaced by its permanent counterpart.

Saving a baby tooth instead of extracting it can help prevent issues with self-confidence, chewing, speech development, and bite alignment.

If your child has a broken tooth with exposed pulp, complains of hot/cold sensitivity or pain in a tooth, suffers trauma to the mouth, or if you notice a sudden change in your child’s eating habits, call Wasatch Dental as soon as possible.

The Procedure

Just like a root canal on an adult tooth, the doctor will remove the diseased pulp tissue from the tooth, disinfect the area, and fill the root chamber with gutta-percha, a rubber-like natural material.

After the root canal, a small crown or other restoration will placed on the tooth to help support the remaining tooth structure until it is ready to fall out on its own.

There may be some slight post-procedure sensitivity, but since the nerve is removed, there shouldn’t be any pain. Make sure to maintain a regular home care schedule to prevent the need of a root canal on any other baby teeth.

When caring for children with special needs, our overall approach to dentistry doesn't change, but the treatment plan may be slightly different to accommodate any issues you may be facing at home; e.g., brushing, flossing, dietary concerns and addressing aversions to food textures and tastes, etc. We are always empathetic to the needs of the caregiver as well as the child and show support in any way we can.

Our empathy and advanced training allows us to read a child’s body language to help them even when your child can’t express those feelings themselves. The team at Wasatch Dental has been trained to help every child remain as calm as possible throughout their visit.

Our office’s treatment rooms are designed to accommodate children with special needs so we can administer care in an environment that's accessible and comfortable for your child.

By visiting Wasatch Dental, you can rest assured that your child will be in the care of someone who can understand them and give them the gentle, respectful treatment they deserve.

It’s estimated that over 20 million children take part in one after-school sport or another. With that amount of children engaging in sports and other activities like skiing, gymnastics, and martial arts, there is a higher chance of injury. Did you know that up to 20% of these injuries are due to fractured or otherwise damaged teeth?

Dr. Andrew Olson can create a sports mouthguard for your child. After an impression of your child’s teeth is taken, he will fabricate a new mouthguard molded to custom-fit to their unique smile.

When worn regularly, your child can protect their teeth, jaws, and lips from injury. Your child only gets one set of adult teeth. Dr. Andrew Olson can help you keep them safe.

Studies have shown that almost 33% of children aged 2 to 5 have had a cavity. Even though baby teeth are only around for a few short years, it’s still important to keep them healthy because they hold the space for your child’s adult teeth. They also help develop proper speech patterns and help your child chew.

The procedure is the same for a child as it is for an adult. Depending on the size of the decayed area, a local anesthetic may be given, and if your child has any anxiety over the procedure, we have some sedation options available to make the procedure more comfortable.

After the decay is removed, a special gel is used to clean and etch the surface. Once the filling material is in place, it is light cured, polished, and adjusted to make sure it doesn’t interfere with your child’s bite. Tooth-colored filling material is much like a natural tooth in texture and is matched to your child’s tooth color.

After treatment, it’s important to maintain a regular homecare routine of brushing and flossing twice daily, so your child’s restorations stay healthy and prevent any more decay.

An extraction can make both children and parents anxious, but they are a common procedure in most dental offices. Sometimes a child’s tooth has too much decay to restore, or they need a tooth or teeth removed to make room for orthodontic treatment.

Regardless of the reason, Dr. Andrew Olson and his team will make sure you and your child are comfortable with the treatment plan.

After some local anesthetic, the doctor will remove your child’s tooth. If it is impacted or if it is a complicated removal, the doctor will discuss with you if sedation options are recommended.

Once the tooth is removed, our dentist will give you post-op instructions, and place a small piece of gauze over the extraction site to stop any bleeding and to help a clot form. Check and replace the gauze every 20 minutes until bleeding stops.

Here are some recommended tips for the first 24 hours after your child’s extraction:

• Use over-the-counter or prescribed pain reliever if recommended by the dentist.

• Give your child soft foods for the first 24 hours after their extraction.

• DO NOT allow your child to drink from a straw, rinse their mouths out, spit, or brush that area for at least 24 hours after tooth removal. This could dislodge the blood clot and cause a very painful issue called dry socket.

• Place an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the area for about 20 minutes to relieve swelling and discomfort.

• Immediately call our office if your child experiences fever, immense pain, or chills.

Wasatch Dental always considers your child’s comfort regardless of the type of treatment they are receiving. The dentist will discuss their unique situation with you to determine the best way to help them receive the treatment they need.