Identifying your child’s early signs of tooth decay can help avoid severe tooth decay and premature tooth extractions.
Did you know that 52% of children between the ages of 6 and 8 have at least one cavity in their primary teeth? Cavities occur when bacteria feed on sugars and starch in the mouth and produce acid as a by-product. This acid erodes the enamel, exposing sensitive nerve fibers and causing intense pain.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
Identifying your child’s early signs of tooth decay can help avoid severe tooth decay and premature tooth extractions. Here are some of the most common signs of cavities in children to look out for.
A Persistent Toothache
A dull, throbbing toothache could indicate tooth decay, especially if it worsens at night. Some children also complain about pain and sensitivity while eating. This is another sign of dental decay. While pain relievers can manage the pain, they’re only a temporary solution. Visit your dentist to treat the decay and eliminate the pain once and for all.
Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Drinks and Foods
Does your child feel a sharp pain when they eat ice cream or drink hot chocolate? If so, then they may have cavities. The corroding action of the acid exposes sensitive nerve endings, putting them in direct contact with the outside. This explains the sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods.
Tooth Discoloration
Teeth usually start browning during the early phases of tooth discoloration. Be on the lookout for any signs of discoloration, even a subtle change in shade. However, remember that staining from decay is localized and not widespread like with pigment discoloration. Visit your dentist immediately if you notice browning in your child’s teeth.
Bad Breath
The bacteria in the teeth produce sulfur as a by-product, which explains why tooth decay children have bad breath. Unexplained bad breath moments after brushing your child’s teeth is an early sign of dental decay. You can use child-friendly mouthwash to freshen their mouths while awaiting the dentist’s appointment.
Darkened Holes in the Teeth
Dark holes in the teeth or broken teeth are signs of advanced tooth decay. This shows that the infection goes past your enamel and dentin and extends to the tooth’s core. If so, your child might need a pulpotomy or root canal to address the infection and stop the decay.
Bleeding Gums
Gum disease usually goes hand in hand with tooth decay. So if your child experiences gum disease symptoms like bleeding and swollen gums, they probably have dental. The best action is to take them to a dentist for prompt diagnosis and treatment. The earlier you do so, the better for your child.
Schedule an Appointment
Be on the lookout for the telltale signs of dental decay to preserve your child’s oral health. Remember, early detection goes a long way toward preventing tooth decay and other dental complications in your child. Schedule a dentist’s appointment when you notice these signs.
Is your child suffering from dental decay? If so, contact The Dental Anesthesia Center for prompt treatment and pain relief.
