Pediatric Dental Issues

At Pine Desert Dental, we offer treatment for all kinds of pediatric dental issues. These include pediatric dental emergencies, malocclusion, thumbsucking, baby bottle tooth decay, missing teeth, cavities, and mouth injuries. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced, maintaining optimal oral health is crucial for a child's overall development. 

We understand some issues need urgent attention, so our team offers same-day appointments. If your child has suffered from a chipped, dislodged, or broken tooth, do not hesitate to get immediate dental care from our team. 

As the American Dental Association (ADA) explains, targeting an emergency promptly could make the difference between saving or losing a permanent tooth. 

In case of a dental emergency, Dr. Sunitsch recommends the following:

• If your child has a knocked-out tooth, try to keep it moist in milk. If possible, place the tooth into the socket without touching the root. If that is not possible, place it between your child’s cheek and gum. 
• If your child has cracked a tooth, rinse the area with warm water and use a cold compress to help with swelling. 
• In case your child bites the tongue or lip, rinse the area and apply a cold compress. 
• In case your child has stuck something between the teeth, try removing it with waxed floss. Avoid using sharp objects since this could injure your child’s mouth and gums. 
• If your child has a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water and use waxed floss to remove food. Avoid using aspirin directly on the site of the toothache since this could irritate the gums.

When a child has malocclusion (bad bite), teeth are usually crowded, and the upper and lower teeth do not align correctly. This is one of the most common dental issues in pediatric patients. 

A bad bite can cause problems like speech and eating difficulties, jaw underdevelopment, teeth wearing, and an increased risk for chips and fractures. Additionally, crooked teeth make cleaning harder and increase the risk of developing cavities. 

Malocclusion starts becoming noticeable once children develop their permanent teeth, around 6 to 12. Keeping an eye on these issues with regular checkups with your dentist can help to have an early diagnosis and timely treatment. 

Thumbsucking is a natural habit in babies and infants that helps them relax, soothe and feel happy. This behavior is may be considered harmless but can turn problematic for your child once they are around 5-6 years old. 

Unfortunately, thumbsucking can change the shape of your child’s mouth roof and cause further problems with proper mouth growth and teeth alignment.

If you’d like to help your child break the habit, Dr. Sunistch can provide you with individualized consultation. 

Tooth decay is caused when the accumulated plaque on the surface of teeth wears away the enamel. Dental decay in infants is can also be known as baby bottle tooth decay. Kids are more prone to develop these issues when they have a sugar-heavy diet or are constantly given sugar-dipped pacifiers. 

Early loss of teeth due to baby bottle tooth decay can cause speech and eating problems. Plus, the chances that adult teeth will end up crooked or damaged increases.

Dr. Sunistch recommends avoiding sugary drinks in baby bottles to avoid dental decay in children. Also, rinsing and cleaning babies' mouths after they’ve had a bottle prevents plaque formation. Once your children’s teeth appear, brush them gently with a child-sized toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.  

If your child has lost a baby tooth too early, their adult teeth could erupt in the wrong space instead of where they should be. Once the adult teeth are ready to come in, the mouth may not have enough room because of the lost space. To hold the gap caused by missing teeth, Dr. Sunistch uses space maintainers. During your consultation, he will recommend the best treatment for your child. 

Foods and beverages with sugar become acidic from the bacteria in children's mouths and eventually break down tooth enamel, developing cavities or dental caries. 

This is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States and has increased in prevalence among young children. Kids whose permanent teeth have erupted are susceptible to caries. 

Sealants are a preventative treatment that helps avoid cavities. They are plastic covers that protect the chewing surface of teeth from acid. They intend to seal the narrow grooves found in back teeth to reduce the number of food particles and bacteria that settle into the fissures. 

Sealants can reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80 percent in molars. If you'd like to prevent cavities in your children's teeth, talk to Dr. Sunistch about getting dental sealants at your next visit.

If your child plays contact sports, the chances of getting tooth and mouth injuries increase. Mouthguards are a great option to prevent dental emergencies caused during sporting activities. They are custom-made to fit your child’s mouth and help avoid damage to the mouth and cheeks from injuries caused during sports.

Mouthguards provide a  cushion to gums, teeth, and cheeks, decreasing damage risks in the mouth and jaw. If you’d like to protect your children’s teeth during sports, Dr. Sunistch can work with you to get mouthguards for them. 

Pine Desert Dental offers treatment for pediatric dental issues to help children maintain optimal oral health and aesthetics. Dr. Zach Sunitsch and the Pine Desert Dental team can handle all your pediatric dental needs. 

He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. At Pine Desert Dental, we offer comprehensive pediatric dental services, including treatment for dental emergencies, malocclusion, thumbsucking, baby bottle tooth decay, missing teeth, cavities, and mouth injuries. 

For a consultation or more information, call us at (541) 549-0109 or request an appointment online. You can also visit us at our clinic in Sisters, Oregon.