St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

You are here: Home / Archives for Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry

3 Tips to Help Parents Prevent Tooth Decay in Their Children

by Leave a Comment

Use these 3 simple tips to keep your child’s smile healthy and cavity free.

Parents only want what’s best for their kids. It’s a fact. We want them to get a better start in life than we did. We want them to be healthy, have access to a great education, and provide them with the best opportunities. So, naturally, when something doesn’t go as we hoped, we may tend to go into panic mode.

Case in point: your kids’ oral health.

child with no cavities at dentist

Picture this: after doing your homework about your baby’s first teeth and how to care for them and being diligent about his routine, you discover at your St. Louis pediatric dentist appointment that his teeth are demineralized. What gives?

Here is an explanation and possible solutions.

Why Tooth Decay Occurs in Toddlers

You need two variables for tooth decay to occur:

  • The presence of the right bacteria in the mouth and
  • A lifestyle that allows the bacteria to thrive and multiply.

If you have the habit of kissing your baby on the mouth or putting his pacifier in your mouth before giving it to him, then you may be passing colonies of cavity-producing bacteria to him.

Likewise, letting your dog lick your kid on the mouth is another risk factor as they are common carriers.

While the presence of the right bacteria in the mouth can lead to tooth decay, it also needs the right environment to thrive. A person that has an unhealthy lifestyle and consumes lots of acidic foods and drinks on a daily basis will have poorer oral health than one that follows a balanced diet.

How to Remineralize Your Toddler’s Teeth

Unless you are extremely careful, you may have passed some of the harmful bacteria to your baby. Don’t despair! As we’ve mentioned already, it takes more than just that for cavities to occur. Take a look at your kid’s habits and see what you can change.

Here are some ideas:

Instill Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Is he brushing his teeth twice a day? We mean REALLY brushing, not just touch them lightly with the toothbrush for a few seconds. Also, is he brushing correctly? Ask your St. Louis pediatric dentist to show you how to clean his/her teeth correctly so that you don’t miss anything. Try to make the entire process fun. Put a song or create one together about how you are going to get the cavity monster.

Skip the Sweet Snacks

Giving your kid sweet snacks between meals is a surefire way for their teeth to demineralize. Instead of a cookie or pancakes, offer them fruits and other healthy snacks.

Control Their Sugar Intake

You may think that giving your kid to eat a handful of dried fruits, such as raisins is benign. The quantity is small and raisins are healthy, right? Well, not quite. Most foods nowadays are packed with added sugars. As we all know, sugar is one of the main culprits of tooth decay.

Hopefully, these simple tips will help you keep your child cavity-free. Additionally, it is important to have your child see a dentist regularly to keep up with their oral health. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Call (314) 862-7844

5 Games to Make Brushing Fun for Toddlers

by Leave a Comment

Here are some of our favorite examples of games you can play with your toddler while brushing their teeth.

When it comes to the health of your children, there is nothing you wouldn’t do to keep them protected and safe from disease, injury and harming factors. When your child is stubborn and rejects treatment or prevention, you have to do the right thing and insist on what is best for them. Sometimes it doesn’t go very smoothly, but a parent knows that there are some tricks that can make unpleasant tasks a little more acceptable for the little ones.

toddler brusher her teeth

The best way to convince a toddler to do something he would normally reject is to combine play with that task. And when it comes to brushing their teeth, the possibilities are endless. There are so many games you can try that surely your toddler will come to like brushing his teeth.

Here are some of our favorite examples of games you can play with your toddler while brushing their teeth.

Sing a Song

Singing makes everything more fun, relaxed and joyful. There are plenty of songs about brushing your teeth that you and your toddler might love, but if you are more of an improv duo, you can invent your own rhymes and tune to brush your teeth. Use a simple song that lasts about 2 minutes because that is how long brushing should be.

Pretend to Be at the Dentist

Pretend play is always a good way to determine toddlers to do things that they would normally wouldn’t like. Imagining a scenario around a simple task can make that moment fun and easygoing. If your toddler has already been to a St. Louis pediatric dentist and it was a successful experience, you can use this scenario to get him to open his mouth, look at his teeth in the mirror and brush.

Brush Everyone’s Teeth

It always helps to be with a friend in times of hardship. If your toddler is not a big fan of brushing his teeth, bringing one of his favorite toys to the bathroom while you are brushing teeth might help him overcome his fear. Pretend that you are brushing your teeth or even let your toddler do it, brush the toy’s teeth and then move on to your toddler’s teeth.

Invent a Story

If your child is excited when it’s story time, you can use that opportunity to invent a story related to brushing. Create fun characters, like bacteria villains and superhero toothbrush and toothpaste, or anything that you think might spark your child’s imagination and make him enjoy these moments.

Red Light/ Green Light

A really good idea for bigger children is to adopt the red light/green light game to brushing your teeth. When he is opening his mouth, you can make silly noises or moves, then freeze when his mouth is closed. This can mean at least 2 minutes of fun, which will allow you to properly clean his teeth and make brushing fun.

Contributing to your child’s lifelong healthy habits is very important, and tooth brushing is one of the more challenging tasks at hand, but putting an effort into making it fun is going to impact your child’s perception for many years to come. Make it fun and stay healthy!

Is It Too Early to Take My Child to the Dentist?

by Leave a Comment

The average recommendation is to make the appointment for when the child is 6 months to 1-year-old.

A visit to the dentist generally isn’t anyone’s favorite way to pass the time. And if you think of a restless toddler who puts on a tantrum just because his socks are blue, going to the dentist’s office may seem like an impossible mission. Plus, is it really needed? Their baby teeth are sparkling clean and they will be replaced soon anyway. Why bother with a possibly traumatic experience like that?

child at the dentist

The following might change your mind about oral health education or reinforce what you already planned about it.

The vast majority of dentists in America agree that the first visit to the dentist should be done early, some even expecting the child into the cabinet when the very first tooth appears. The average recommendation is to make the appointment for when the child is 6 months to 1 year old.

What Happens on the First Visit?

The very first visit you make to your St. Louis pediatric dentist’s office is more about getting the child used to the environment, having them acquainted with the doctor and reinforce the oral hygiene lessons you’ve been practicing at home. The dentist will gently introduce your child to the medical equipment, let him get comfy on the chair and talk to both of you.

The first visit is meant to get the child relaxed in this environment and to inform the parent about the correct way of cleaning the child’s teeth, how to encourage cooperation and what to be on the lookout for.

Some dentists, if all goes well, can perform a gentle cleanse and get rid of plaque and other deposits on the teeth. That is a great way of teaching the child that they will not be hurt when on the dentist’s chair and that oral health is extremely important.

How to Make the First Visit Successful

Your approach prior to the first visit depends a lot on the child’s age. An older child – 3 or 4 years old – can understand simple explanations about the importance of oral health and clean teeth. A one-year-old won’t be so easy to reason with, right? But don’t worry, there are other tricks to make them excited about going to the dentist.

Get them toy dentist utensils and have their dolls and teddies get some routine “dental procedures”. Bring their favorite toys to the cabinet and let them participate. Older siblings can also be of great help in this situations, showing their little brother or sister that they are calm and comfortable. Rewarding good behavior at the dentist is also a good idea.

pediatric-dentist-st-louis

St. Louis Pediatric Dentist

Most importantly, if you are calm and positive about their first visit to your St. Louis pediatric dentist, your child will handle the event much better. Here’s to healthy teeth!

Give us a call today to learn more or to schedule an appointment!


Call (314) 862-7844

Contact Us Online


How to Make Your Kid’s Visit to the Dentist as Stress-Free as Possible

by Leave a Comment

Your child’s oral health is very important and a good start will impact the rest of their lives.

Taking your child to the dentist as early as possible is a very important step in educating them about good oral hygiene. However, for many parents it seems like a stressful event, especially if the child is very young or if the parent himself has some trouble coping with dentist visits.

If you want to eliminate the stress associated with the dentist visit for your child, take your time to prepare with a few tips and tricks.

st. louis child at dentist

Visit the Dentist as Early as Possible

The best start to smooth dentist visits with your child is to let them get familiar with this situation as early as possible. If possible, try to make the first dentist visit while your child is still a toddler. It’s not too early, as some parents think, because it’s more about getting them used to the setting than getting actual procedures done.

Make the Visits Fun and Take It Slowly

If you start early and go to routine checks instead of waiting for the first problem to visit your St. Louis pediatric dentist, you don’t have to rush the appointment. You can take it slowly and let them explore the cabinet and the equipment, take the time to meet and get comfortable with the staff and realize that it is a safe zone. Most dentists will be very understanding of these courtesy visits.

Read Books about Going to the Dentist

Books are always a good aid in getting the kids familiar with certain aspects of life. Fortunately, there are plenty of about going to the dentist that will sparkle your child’s interest and set the correct expectations about the visit. It is important that you also project a positive image of the dentist and avoid saying words like “pain” or “hurt”.  

Play with Your Child and Pretend You Are at the Dentist

Another great way of learning what to expect is to play pretend dentist. You can take turns to be the dentist or the patient and use toys that look similar to the dentist’s instruments. There are plenty of dentist toys you can use to make the idea of going for a check-up fun and interesting.

Let Them Take a Comfort Item with Them

This might work better for younger children, but it is worth trying with older kids too if they feel a little anxious about going to the dentist. Take a toy or item that makes them feel comfortable, but avoid bringing them if they are too big and may interfere with the doctor’s work.

Stay With Them and Talk to Them

Most importantly, your presence should be calming and reassuring. Stay with them and make sure they can see you or hear you at any point of the procedure. Talk to them and the dentist and try to be cheery, calm and positive.

Your child will eventually get used to going to the dentist if you are persistent. Their oral health is very important and a good start will impact the rest of their lives.

pediatric-dentist-st-louis

St. Louis Pediatric Dentist


At The Dental Anesthesia Center, your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.


Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

Schedule an Appointment


6 Signs that Your Child May Have a Problem With His or Her Bite

by Leave a Comment

If you notice one or more of these symptoms and you are concerned that it may indicate a poor bite, don’t wait to schedule an appointment.

Pediatric Dentist St. Louis

When it comes to your child’s teeth you may be on the lookout for signs of plaque and tooth decay. But those are not the only things you should keep an eye on when checking your kid’s teeth. Malocclusion, or a poor bite, can affect your little one’s health, well-being, and comfort in the long term, and affect the way his or her permanent teeth will align.

But how can you tell if your child has a poor bite? Well, the first signs begin appearing around six years of age. That’s when the child has enough teeth to give evidence of a poor bite, giving you an idea about how their permanent teeth will emerge and align.

Here are 6 signs you can watch for to indicate that your child may have a poor bite:

  1. Difficulty Speaking – If your child has a lisp or other speech issue, it could be due to a poor bite. It may be a subtle symptom, but if your child’s teeth don’t align properly, it may lead to altered speech.
  2. Sleep Issues – There are a number of factors related to a poor bite that can lead to problems with sleeping such as mouth dryness, poor oxygenation of the brain, sleep apnea or snoring.
  3. Tooth Decay – Teeth that don’t align properly may be too crowded together. This can make it difficult to brush those areas and remove plaque, which can lead to tooth decay. That is why a poor bite is much more than just an aesthetic inconvenience and needs to be addressed as soon as possible by an orthodontist.
  4. Pain and Headaches – The pressure that a poor bite puts on some of the teeth will cause pain, tension, and headaches. If your child tells you about head, mouth or jaw pains, try to monitor him and see if a poor bite could be the issue.
  5. Severe Wear – Another sign that your child’s teeth are not in harmony is severe wear on the teeth. If your child has worn all the enamel off the biting edges of his or her teeth, you will be able to see a darker colored surface. This type of wear can be especially damaging to the front teeth.
  6. The Clench Test – Make sure your child’s mouth is empty, then have them close their teeth together and squeeze hard. If clenching their teeth together causes any sign of discomfort, they likely have a disharmony in their bite.

What Can You Do about It?

If you notice one or more of these symptoms and you are concerned that it may indicate a poor bite, talk to your child’s pediatric dentist. They will be able to identify an incorrect bite and correct it with the proper, least invasive treatment.

Braces, retainers or, in some serious cases, operation are often the best solutions for this issue. The dentist will present you with your best options.

Contact The Dental Anesthesia Center

If you notice issues with your child’s bite, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Problems with the way their teeth fit together can cause pain and discomfort, and can lead to other problems.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

What is Bruxism and When Should You Worry About It?

by Leave a Comment

Signs of bruxism are pain when chewing, sore jaw or teeth in the morning, chipped enamel or very specific wear in the points where the teeth meet.

Most children start grinding their teeth as soon as they get those first pearly whites on both the upper and lower jaw. It is also a way to experiment the new things they can do with the latest additions, so you don’t need to worry at first. It is perfectly normal. It is also to be expected when the permanent teeth start emerging or when other factors make them anxious. However, in the latter case, grinding teeth can be a sign of psychological distress and should be addressed early, as it tends to worsen with time.

The medical term for grinding your teeth compulsively is bruxism. You can talk about it with the your St. Louis pediatric dentist to learn more about how you can tackle it. But, as said before, a temporary habit of grinding teeth should be expected and you don’t have to worry about it.

If your child seems to persist in grinding his teeth and you consider it to last a bit too long, then you should contact a medical specialist to eliminate possible causes for chronic bruxism and get a possible courses of treatment.

Signs of Bruxism

First, you need to make sure you’ve identified the issue correctly. In a lot of cases, teeth grinding happens at night, during sleep, so your child may actually be unaware of the grinding. Observe the child during his sleep and check if there are any grinding sounds in the course of one or two hours. If the child sleeps in the same room or bed with siblings, ask them if they hear grinding at night.

Other signs of sleep bruxism are pain when chewing, sore jaw or teeth in the morning, chipped enamel or very specific wear in the points where the teeth meet. In this case, bruxism has been going on for long enough to affect the integrity of the teeth, so you need to schedule an appointment with your St. Louis pediatric dentist as soon as possible for a diagnosis.

Treatment of Bruxism

The treatment of bruxism depends on eliminating its cause. That is why it is important to see a dentist about it. They will be able to identify problems with the teeth, possible alignment problems, or other oral health issues that can correlate with bruxism.

If the teeth seem perfectly fine, the pediatric dentist can guide you towards other specialists, like a child therapist. If stress is the culprit behind bruxism, a therapist or counselor will talk to you and the child to identify the cause of the stress or anxiety.

St. Louis Pediatric Dentistry

If you are concerned about your child grinding their teeth, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

Call us today to schedule an appointment at (314) 862-7844.