Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Sara B. Babich, DDS

Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Sara B. Babich, DDS

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13 services for Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Sara B. Babich, DDS

Teeth Cleaning

Teeth Cleaning


Dental Cleaning for Kids and Teens

Dental Cleanings or Prophylaxis (“prophy”) is an essential component of preventive dentistry. The goal is to remove microbial plaque which can cause gingivitis (gum inflammation), and cavities.

Only our professional staff can determine how frequently this must be done. Some patients accumulate tartar faster than others.

DENTAL EXAMS & CLEANINGS

DENTAL EXAMS & CLEANINGS


FLUORIDE

FLUORIDE


Silver Diamine Fluoride, SDF, is an alternative treatment for tooth decay under certain conditions. Treatment of children’s deciduous (primary or “baby”) and permanent (“adult”) teeth with silver diamine fluoride is a rather new strategy provided by pediatric dentist Dr. Babich located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side aimed at preventing tooth decay (dental caries) and at arresting existing tooth decay.

What Is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is a bacterial infection, in which bacteria of the oral cavity, the main culprit is Streptococcus mutans, metabolize dietary sugars to sticky polymers that allow them to adhere within a biofilm to the tooth surface. In addition, bacterial metabolism of dietary sugars forms acidic end-products that demineralize (i.e., soften) the enamel, the hard tooth outer surface.

If left unchecked, the bacterial infection will advance, burrowing deeper into the tooth structure, first into the dentin and thereafter to the pulp, which houses nerve endings and blood vessels. Recognizing that tooth decay is a bacterial disease, the strategy behind topical application of silver diamine fluoride to tooth surfaces is to inhibit bacterial growth in existing areas of decay and to prevent the occurrence of areas new decay.

Read more on how to prevent tooth decay and about an association between lead poisoning and tooth decay.

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry


Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening


Best Teeth Whitening for Kids and Teens

Everyone wants a “wow” smile. Although this starts with a healthy smile, a little extra whitening may be desired. Teeth whitening, a bleaching process to whiten or lighten tooth color, is most commonly accomplished with chemical oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, alone or in the presence with light, acting as an activating agent.

Although considered a type of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening may be an important psychological boost to a person, whether an adolescent or an adult, embarrassed by off-colored or stained teeth. Focus on the whiteness of one’s teeth may be an off-shoot of media perceptions of unrealistic beauty that is imposed upon the general public.

However, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a negative self image due to discolored teeth can evoke serious consequences for kids and teens.

Many factors interact to cause discoloration of teeth. Tooth discoloration is a function of the age of an individual and of environmental lifestyle choices. Teeth darken as we age. Underneath the enamel, the hard, outer white covering of a tooth, is the softer region termed the dentin, with a yellowish tinge. As one ages, the enamel thins thereby allowing the yellow dentin to be more pronounced.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extractions


Tooth removal can be intimidating and a little scary for anyone. Unfortunately, as a parent, you may be a little nervous too. Please let us guide your child to soothe, calm, and help them. It is best not to precondition a child with fears and doubts. As a parent, you can take the time to talk with Dr. Sara, an extraction specialist and a leading children’s dentist in NYC. She will be more than happy to cover all the kids tooth extraction details and help you fully understand the removal procedure. That way, everyone can be prepared for the tooth extraction experience, recovery and its aftercare.

Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Pediatric Dental Emergencies


What Parents Need to Know About Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Even when your child has preventive and routine care at our Upper East Side Pediatric Dentistry practice, dental emergencies can happen. In many cases, the difference between saving and losing a tooth depends on taking the proper action in the immediate aftermath of an injury.

Come see our new cutting edge kids’ dentistry center in Manhattan and meet a university and hospital trained, emergency pediatric dentist Dr. Babich for highly effective and time-tested dental treatments.

Dental Mouth Guards for Kids and Teens

Dental Mouth Guards for Kids and Teens


Six Reasons Your Child Needs a Sports Mouth Guard

The American Dental Association estimates that athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are sixty times more likely to suffer dental injury than those who do.

The use of a mouth guard can prevent more than 200,000 injuries to the mouth each year. That’s why I highly recommend mouth guards for my pediatric dentistry patients.

Dental mouth guards typically cover the upper teeth and also protect the soft tissues of the tongue, lips and cheek lining.

I consider wearing a mouth guard mandatory in contact and collision sports including:

  • Football
  • Lacrosse
  • Boxing
  • Wrestling
  • Basketball
  • Hockey
  • Soccer

A mouth guard can also prevent injury in non-contact sports, such as bicycling, skating, skateboarding and gymnastics. Hits to the face in those sports may be accidental, but they are just as damaging.

Gingivitis Treatment for Kids and Teens

Gingivitis Treatment for Kids and Teens


Healthy gums are usually pink in color and do not bleed during tooth brushing or flossing. Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is manifested by swollen, reddened gums that easily bleed during tooth brushing or flossing. The gums may be tender and painful to touch.

Inflammation is caused by bacteria that form a sticky biofilm (or, plaque) along the gumline, causing the gums to become reddened and swollen.

Plaque is composed of bacteria, mucus, and food debris ; if not removed, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar (or, calculus) that is trapped at the base of the tooth, irritating the gums. Inflamed gum tissue may separate from the neck of the tooth, forming small gaps or pockets between the teeth and the gums.

Bacteria settle in these pockets and therein produce digestive enzymes and endotoxins to promote inflammation. If gingivitis proceeds unchecked, the pockets open up between the gums and the teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth. Bacteria may occupy those spaces and cause decay in the roots of the teeth.

Read more about early childhood cavitieshow to prevent cavities in kids and teens the latest treatment called Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment (SDF).

Periodontal disease develops when bacteria in the gum pockets adversely affect the periodontium, the specialized tissue that supports and maintains the teeth. Upon further inflammation and destruction of the periodontium, the teeth can gradually become loose and fall out or need to be removed. Persistent bad breath is an indicator of periodontitis.

Pediatric Dental Restorations

Pediatric Dental Restorations


When a tooth has a cavity or fracture, it should be restored to its original form, function, and beauty. When damage is minimal, small cosmetic  “fillings” can solve the problem.  When the defect is more challenging, other restorations such as crowns may be necessary. Early detection and early treatment is preferable option on our NYC pediatric dentistry center on Upper East Side.

What Happens If Your Kid Has A Badly Decayed Tooth?

Tooth decay is a common problem affecting many young children, and a cavity can become extremely painful without the proper treatment. Pediatric dentists including Dr. Sara Babich always try to save baby or primary teeth because if they are lost too soon or must be extracted, it can affect the development of adult teeth.

A child’s primary teeth are essential for guiding the development of their adult teeth, ensuring the right amount of room is maintained so adult teeth are more likely to come through aligned correctly.

When baby teeth are lost too soon, it increases the risk of a child requiring orthodontic treatment when they are older because the adjacent teeth are more likely to shift position, taking some of the room meant for the adult tooth. As a result, the adult tooth is more likely to come through crooked and out of alignment.

Dental Sealants for Kids and Teens

Dental Sealants for Kids and Teens


How Tooth Sealants Prevent Cavities in Children and Teens

Dental sealants are a great way to protect your growing child’s teeth from cavities. Sealants can prevent decay by as much as 80 percent, according to the American Dental Association (ADA.) A relatively recent advance in children’s dentistry, dental sealants for kids teeth help avoid much more costly dental restorations. It’s a win-win!

What Are Sealants for Kids Teeth?

Dental sealants are protective plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of primary (baby) and permanent (adult) molars to prevent tooth crevices from trapping food particles and bacteria. Sealants are recommended by the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).

How Dental Sealants Prevent Decay?

Sealants act as a barrier to food, plaque and acid to protect the decay-prone areas of the teeth. The back teeth are the ones that are most likely to show signs of decay, so it is important to take this extra step to help protect them.

Sealants are applied when molars erupt beyond the gums, generally between five and 10 years of age. They and are not typically visible when a child laughs, talks, or smiles. While sealants can last for many years, they need to be maintained and evaluated for wear, and occasionally require touch-ups.

Pediatric Teeth Grinding Treatment

Pediatric Teeth Grinding Treatment


Teeth grinding during sleep, termed nocturnal bruxism, is surprisingly very common in children. For example, Insana et al. (2013, Community based study of sleep bruxism during early childhood, Sleep Med., 14:183-188), in their study of children in Jefferson County, Kentucky, noted 36.8% of 1,953 preschoolers and 49.6% of 2,888 first grade children reported nocturnal teeth grinding one or more times per week.

Nocturnal teeth grinding in children may commence with the emergence of baby teeth and then later at the emergence of permanent teeth. Most children spontaneously stop nocturnal teeth grinding when their baby and permanent teeth have fully emerged, with nocturnal bruxism seldom occurring by the age of thirteen. Bouts of nocturnal bruxism last for about 4 seconds, occur about six times/hour, and may be accompanied by an awakening from sleep.

Most children eventually outgrow bruxism and dental treatment is not recommended unless there are immediate health issues. For example, intense teeth grinding of the upper jaw against the lower jaw may trigger dental concerns, such as:

  • Excessive wear on the teeth
  • Chipped teeth
  • Facial and jaw pain
  • Tooth temperature sensitivity to hot and cold foods
  • Headache or ear pain.
Sedation Dentistry for Kids and Teens

Sedation Dentistry for Kids and Teens


Here at Pediatric Dentistry Center in New York City we recognize that a certain percentage of the population have unique needs or have special anesthesia requirements. There is a myriad of reasons why local regional measures of anesthesia or simple behavior management techniques are not sufficient.

The reasons for anesthesia may include:

  • psychological (anxiety or fears)
  • emotional
  • or just a preference for deep anesthesia

Dental sedation is an excellent way for children special needs to receive dental care in a  way that is non-threatening and far more comfortable. With sedation dentistry, it’s possible for your child to feel entirely relaxed and calm, ensuring treatment is far more pleasant and bearable.

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