Surf's Up Pediatric Dentistry Blog

Smiling isn’t just the most glowing attribute of your child anymore. Research from Wayne State University and other institutions suggest that it can positively affect their health in many ways! But what benefits could your tyke gain from the simple act of garnering a grin? If you’re curious what scientists have to say about the health benefits of smiles, continue reading.

Accidents can happen with no warning. A fun day at the park or enjoying a crunchy snack can lead to a chipped tooth. If your little one breaks a tooth, don’t panic! Even if the damage seems minor and your child isn’t in any pain, it’s still a dental emergency. Their tooth won’t grow back and they can be at risk of serious complications without prompt treatment from a pediatric dentist. Here’s what you can expect when fixing a chipped tooth.

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As a parent or guardian of a child with special needs, you likely have a busy schedule and a full emotional load. Hopefully, you have a supportive group of family, friends, and medical professionals around to help both you and your young one. That group should also include a pediatric dentist because, often, children with special needs are at a higher risk of oral health problems. Read on below to learn more about this connection and what you can do to help your young one keep their smile as healthy as possible.

Infants are expected to cry. Excessive crying, however, can be a major contributor to exhaustion and frustration in parents. If your baby seems to be crying more than they should, and your efforts to help them find relief are not yielding much success, it may be worth your time to have your child evaluated for a lip or tongue tie. What are these conditions, and what is their connection with colic? This blog post explains.

Though nursing your newborn can be a tender bonding experience, many new mothers struggle with it. Whether their child doesn’t ever seem satisfied, or they feel too achy to try anymore, there are many indicators that something isn’t quite right. In many cases, the baby has a tongue tie or other oral problem affecting them.

Often when new mothers reach out for help, however, they’re told that soreness while breastfeeding is normal or that they simply need to toughen up and give it time. This response dismisses the possibility that there may be a real dilemma, but fortunately, a dentist may be able to help! Keep reading to learn 2 myths about breastfeeding that could do more harm than good.

Today, lip and tongue-ties are becoming more commonly diagnosed in infants, largely due to the mass movement of parents educating themselves on the signs to look out for. Not only can this problem lead to excessive fussiness and digestion issues, but it can also cause painful and uncomfortable breastfeeding experiences. Once you notice these signs, what should you do? Do lip and tongue-ties need to be treated, or can they resolve themselves on their own? Read on to get the answers to these important questions.

A child’s oral health starts developing early on, and these early years do much to set the stage for their well-being throughout the rest of their life. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dentist’s appointment by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth erupting. Here’s what these early-life dental exams can do to help keep your child happy and healthy for decades to come.

Finding out that your child needs a frenectomy may not be the best news you’ll hear; however, knowing that the procedure is quick and virtually painless helps to reduce fears for you and your child. But exactly how long will it take for them to recover? What can you and your child expect in the days and weeks after surgery? To help answer these questions, a pediatric dentist is here to explain what you can expect when it comes to the timeframe for your little one to begin using their lip and/or tongue normally.

Your child’s smile deserves optimal protection. Because their oral hygiene habits are still developing, and their diets often consist more of sugar than greens, cavities can easily form, creating potential problems for their future smiles. Fortunately, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is now being used by dental professionals more and more to not only treat cavity-stricken teeth but minimize the possibility of future ones forming. Read on to learn more about SDF and what it can do to improve your child’s smile.

Does your child have a fear of needles? Do they struggle with dental-related anxiety or have a condition that makes it near impossible for them to stay calm and comfortable in the treatment chair? If so, you may have heard that dental sedation can help. Whether you’re considering nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or general anesthesia, it’s completely normal to have questions on your mind beforehand. The good news is that you can learn the answers to frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry for kids right here!