Pediatric Dentistry

growing beautiful smiles

At Goldsboro Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics we put smiles first. We want every child to come in, but more importantly, to leave smiling. Taking care of both their oral health and emotional experience.

Preventative

Healthy pearly whites are possible for every kid. All it takes is the right education and care. During regular dental check ups we:

Provide a professional cleaning, removing stains, plaque, and tarter buildup.
Review proper nutrition and dietary habits.
Teach good brushing and flossing habits.
Assess risk for developing cavities.
Evaluate and assess for normal growth and development, including tooth development, eruption, spacing, alignment, and arch form.
Discuss any oral habits (ex. pacifier, thumb sucking) and how they may be affecting normal growth and development.
And provide resources that stop cavities like fluoride (a treatment that can help to strengthen teeth) and sealants (a material that protects/seals the groves in the teeth).

We also look forward to answering any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s oral health!

Restorative

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, cavities happen or teeth break. Whether the tooth needs a filling, a crown or a customized treatment, Dr. Smith can assess your child’s specific need and restore his or her teeth back to health and beauty.

Nitrous Oxide

Your child might catch the giggles during his or her visit to the office. For certain treatments, we use Nitrous Oxide, “laughing gas”, a safe and effective technique offered to ease your child’s experience during a dental visit. Nitrous Oxide is a blend of two gases-oxygen and nitrous oxide. It is inhaled and absorbed by the body to produce a calming effect. When inhaling, your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes. Nitrous Oxide is non-addictive, very mild and easily taken. When the dental treatment is over, your child breaths in 100% oxygen to flush out the Nitrous Oxide, and is good to go!

Conscious Sedation

Every child is not able to cope with new stresses or environments, making safe quality dental treatment difficult to achieve. One way to provide a safe and calm experience for some children is the use of conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is the use of a liquid sedative which relaxes your child without the loss of consciousness. This medicine causes sleepiness, loss of apprehension, and drowsiness. Vital signs are closely monitored during this treatment. When the treatment is completed, the child will need some time to recuperate and allow the effects of the medicine to wear off.

Emergencies

Any unexpected health issues can be scary, especially when they involve your child. When it happens, you may stress over deciding if you should call us right away or not. If the problem is clearly an emergency, call us ASAP or go to your local urgent care or emergency center if we are unable to answer you immediately. If you aren’t sure, consult the guide below. Give us a call or visit our Post-Op care section if your child is experiencing dental pain that you believe is related to recent dental treatment.

919-947-0800

What do I do if:

MY CHILD’S BABY TOOTH IS KNOCKED OUT?

CALL US RIGHT AWAY! Do NOT try to put the tooth back in on your own. It is okay that they tooth came out, but we need to assess the area as soon as possible to give the best care and to check for other injuries. If the accident happens after the office has closed, use the after hours number and we will get back to you quickly.

MY CHILD’S PERMANENT (ADULT) TOOTH IS KNOCKED OUT?

CALL US IMMEDIATELY! Find the tooth is you can and touch only the crown—the white part—and avoid the root. If the tooth is dirty, you can rinse it with cold water but not for longer than 10 seconds and do NOT use soap or scrub the tooth. The best thing to do is place it back in the socket, but it you cannot, put it in a stainer with milk and your child’s saliva. Then, come to the office immedietly, even if it is not normal business hours.

MY CHILD IS COMPLAINING OF A TOOTHACHE?

Give us a call so we can schedule your visit as soon as possible. This isn’t usually an emergency, but we don’t want your child to be in pain.

Once you call us, ask your child to point to the exact area that is hurting. Check it for foreign objects that could be causing pain. Loose baby teeth or erupting teeth can also cause pain. Also see if you can spot a small hole underneath the tooth, as this could be a sign of a cavity.

If you notice swelling in your child’s face, use a cold compress and call us as soon as possible. Any swelling related to dental anatomy is very concerning. This could indicate an abcessed tooth or other infection, both of which need to be treated as soon as possible to avoid complications.

To comfort your child, here are some simple remedies to use until you are able to visit us:

Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water or salt water.
Try to floss out and dislodge any food debris that may be impacted and causing pain.
Apply a cold compress (no heat should be used) or ice wrapped in a cloth.
Administer ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed for pain. Be sure to follow the recommended age and weight dosage guidelines printed on the bottle.
Do NOT place aspirin on the gums or on the aching tooth. This can lead to serious burns.

MY CHILD’S TOOTH HAS BEEN KNOCKED LOOSE, CHIPPED OR FRACTURED?

CALL US RIGHT AWAY! By taking immediate action, we can save the tooth, prevent infection, and even avoid extensive and costly treatments. Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress before heading to the office. If you can locate the missing piece of the tooth, bring it with you to the dentist.

MY CHILD RECEIVES A SEVERE BLOW TO THE HEAD OR JAW FRACTURE?

CALL 911! This can be life-threatening. Do not move your child unles you are certain there has not been any damage to the spinal cord. Once your child has been treated by emergency services, give us a call so we can determine what treatment is needed on our end.