Children’s Dentist – Springfield, MO
Kickstart Your Child’s
Oral Health Right
Start your child on a path to healthy teeth and brighter smiles by bringing them to Galleria Dental of Springfield for a checkup beginning around 3 years of age. Your child’s first “happy visit” is complementary at that age. Offering dental services for toddlers, children, and teens, we want to educate and encourage your child to maintain healthy oral practices from the start.
Visiting the gentle, caring children's dentist helps instill a positive association with your child and dental assessments. As soon as their first teeth start to show, begin the brushing process. We look forward to building a relationship with your kids and promoting a lifetime of wonderful oral health with children's dentistry.
Why Choose Galleria Dental of Springfield for Children’s Dentistry?
- Welcoming Dentist That Caters to Families
- Frenectomies Available With Soft Tissue Laser
- 100% Customized Sportsguards
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings for Children
Making your child feel comfortable during their visit is always the number one priority here at Galleria Dental of Springfield. Doing this early makes future visits even easier, no matter how old they are. During the initial visit, we spend more time educating you on important habits that you’ll need to keep in mind for your child’s at-home oral care. The examination and cleaning is relatively brief, and we’ll always make sure your child, no matter how old they are, feels completely comfortable throughout the whole appointment.
Dental Sealants
As your child begins to learn their oral care technique, they might find themselves struggling to get it just right. Alternatively, they may be more susceptible to tooth decay simply because of their genetics. In either case, dental sealants can give them an added layer of protection and reduce their risk against decay. These sealants are made from composite resin and are designed to protect the most vulnerable teeth from bacteria, including teeth with deep pits and cracks for food debris to collect in.
Athletic Mouthguards / Sportsguards
If your child is active, you should know that more people experience dental injuries from playing sports than any other activity. That means your child is going to need a form of protection that actually keeps their smile intact. With custom-made sportsguards, your child’s teeth will be protected in the long-term, whether they love to play football, basketball, baseball, hockey, or wrestling. By choosing custom solutions over store-bought ones, you can expect the best comfort possible, meaning your child will actually want to use their sportsguard!
Frenectomies / Lip & Tongue-Tie
One of the reasons why we recommend that you bring your child in for an early visit is so we can confirm that all of their oral structures are developing properly. This includes tissue that connects their top and bottom lips to their mouth as well as the tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This tissue, known as the frenulum, can become overgrown, making it difficult for your child to perform basic tasks.
Non-Nutritive Habits / Thumb Sucking
While thumb-sucking may seem like an innocent habit, it can actually cause major problems for your child’s oral development. For example, it can change the way in which your child’s teeth erupt and sit inside the mouth. Improper development can also cause their bite to change, making it uneven and requiring the need for orthodontics later in life. Dr. Tolliver is prepared to help your child break these non-nutritive habits and to be incredibly patient every step of the way.
Pulp Therapy
While it is not common, children can experience oral injuries so severe that their teeth require detailed root canal therapy. Whether your child has severe tooth decay or they’ve experienced a bad fall, our dental office can perform pulp therapy to save their tooth. With the help of our soft tissue laser, we can reassure you that your child’s pulp therapy will be more precise, comfortable, and effective than ever before.
Children’s Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions
Now you know more about when to bring your child in for their first visit and a few ways our children’s dentist, Dr. Tolliver, can keep their smile in tip-top shape. With that being said, it’s completely natural to still have a few questions on your mind. How often should they visit our dental office? What can you do to protect their teeth from decay? What if they are nervous about their first appointment? You will find the answers to these questions and more below. If you’d prefer to speak with our team directly, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment!
How Can I Prepare My Child For Their First Dental Appointment?
Between adjusting to the dental office and being surrounded by unfamiliar people, it’s not hard to see why your little one may feel a bit apprehensive about their first visit. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to calm their nerves, and maybe even get them excited about the idea of taking care of their teeth! First, introduce the concept of “going to the dentist” through books and videos that depict their favorite characters getting a dental checkup and cleaning. You can show them pictures of our dental office and our team on our website as well, so there is some familiarity at their visit. We’d also be happy to show them around the dental office to help them get acclimated to the new space before their appointment – whatever it takes to make them feel welcomed and comfortable.
How Often Should My Child Visit the Dentist?
Whether your child is coming in for their first visit or is ready to graduate high school, they should visit our dental office at least every six months for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning. This will allow us to catch dental issues in the early stages, ward-off decay, and clean the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth routinely. However, if your child is more prone to cavities, then we may recommend they visit us more frequently.
Since Baby Teeth Aren’t Permanent, Do They Really Need Special Care?
Yes! Although your child’s primary teeth won’t stick around long enough to be a part of their “permanent” smile, they do play a crucial role in helping them chew pain-free and speak clearly. Neglecting them can lead to premature tooth loss, allowing nearby teeth to encroach on that space and result in misplaced adult teeth. So, caring for their teeth and gums during each stage of their life is of the utmost importance!
How Can I Protect My Child’s Teeth From Cavities?
Tooth decay is a rampant issue facing children of all ages. Luckily, cavities are largely preventable with a few best practices. In addition to brushing twice a day (or after every meal, if possible), make sure they begin flossing daily as soon as two teeth begin touching. While mouthwash isn’t typically recommended for children, you can keep their mouth free from harmful bacteria by limiting their sugar intake, increasing their consumption of nutrient-dense foods, and making sure they drink plenty of water. And, of course, have them visit our dental office every six months for a checkup and cleaning.