Dentistry for Teens – Garland, TX

Dental Checkups and Cleanings

Making sure your teen gets in for a six-month dental checkup and cleaning is imperative! Not only do these visits allow our team to check for possible signs of decay or damage early on, but we are also able to professionally clean their teeth and keep their smile looking and feeling their best year-round. Our team of experts will go over tips and techniques that are designed to prolong the life of your teen’s smile and recommend treatment options should one or more be necessary.

Oral Cancer Screening

Although oral cancer is rare in children, it is still possible, which is why we will perform an oral cancer screening each year. With a quick and easy scan of your teen’s oral cavity and facial structure, we can look for abnormalities, oral sores, or other problem areas that may be associated with oral cancer. Should we discover anything out of the ordinary, we will refer you and your teen to a specialist who can provide a formal diagnosis and begin treatment right away.

Dental Sealants

Your teen’s back teeth may not always get as much attention as they deserve, especially when it comes to brushing and flossing. To avoid bacteria and food particles from entering into the pits and grooves of these chewing surfaces, we can apply dental sealants. This plastic coating is placed over their molars within minutes and is virtually painless. With proper care and maintenance, these sealants can last 10 years or more and prevent harmful particles from penetrating the tooth’s enamel, effectively safeguarding their smiles.

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatments

Even if a cavity has already formed in your teenager’s smile, not all hope is lost. At The Dental Specialists, we can use silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to prevent the existing decay from spreading further into the tooth’s layers. It will also help strengthen tooth enamel and better protect against future decay. By allowing our team to move forward with this method of treatment, we can save their tooth and preserve much of its natural structure in the most noninvasive way until a permanent restoration is created and put into place.

Nightguards/Sportsguards

Whether your teen is the quarterback for their high school’s varsity football team, captain of the volleyball team, or simply prone to grinding their teeth when stressed, a customized nightguard or sportsguard can protect their smile. These unique oral devices serve as a barrier against hard-hitting tackles, a spiked ball to the face, sudden falls, or bruxism. Worn tooth enamel, chronic jaw pain, and sports-related oral injuries can cause your teen to feel embarrassed by their smile. However, with the help of a custom-made nightguard or sportsguard, you can help them avoid a trip to the emergency pediatric dentist in Garland and instead, embrace a beautiful, fully intact smile.

Space Maintainers

If your young teen or pre-teen has a baby tooth that falls out too early, their regular, healthy teeth may begin to shift in an attempt to close the gap. As a result, this can cause problems for the permanent tooth when it tries to erupt. To keep this from happening, our team can insert a space maintainer that will keep the gap open and their regular teeth firmly in place. This will allow the adult tooth to move into place without any problems, giving your teen a better chance of avoiding orthodontic treatment as they get older.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

If decay is causing your teeth to have problems with a particular tooth, it may be necessary for us to recommend a tooth-colored filling to address a growing cavity. Once bacteria penetrate the initial layer of the tooth, it will create a small hole also known as a cavity. To keep it from growing and reaching the dentin layer, a tooth-colored filling that consists of composite resin can be applied. The malleable substance will fill the tooth once all the decayed portions are cleaned. Creating a tight seal to prevent future reinfection, your teen will be pleased with the results, as the resin will be color-matched to blend in with their existing healthy teeth.

Tooth Extractions

No matter the age, removing a tooth is never a welcomed reality. Fortunately, our team at The Dental Specialists will never recommend this treatment unless it’s necessary. If your teen has a baby tooth that needs to come out, has severe decay that causes a tooth to no longer be “savable,” or requires tooth removal for successful orthodontic treatment, we can safely extract the specific tooth, ensuring your teen remains comfortable throughout the procedure. It is always our goal to help your child keep their natural teeth as long as possible; however, should tooth extraction be necessary, we will go above and beyond to keep your teen safe and relaxed during their visit.

Metal-Free Dental Crowns

If your teen needs more than a tooth-colored filling to treat a severely decayed or damaged tooth, we can use metal-free dental crowns to better protect their smile. Instead of relying on traditional amalgam (i.e., gold or silver), our team will work with a specialized lab to ensure technicians use tooth-colored materials to create a crown that matches the color, size, and shape of their natural tooth. This will ensure that the restoration blends in beautifully with the rest of their smile while continuing to create a tight seal around the tooth to prevent reinfection or damage from reaching the weakened tooth.

Dental Bonding

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, many teenagers are not eligible for certain treatments. However, if a minor chip, crack, stain, or gap exists, we are pleased to offer dental bonding. This fast and easy treatment uses composite resin that is matched to their natural tooth color and applied directly onto the enamel. Shaped and sculpted by our team of professionals, we will use a curing light to harden the resin and give your teen a new and improved appearance. Not only is the process virtually painless, but it can be completed in about an hour, making it a great option for busy teens.

Teeth Whitening

If your teenager is like most, the last thing they want is a smile that is stained or discolored. Because appearances are everything to a 16 or 17-year-old, we can put their smile back on track with the help of teeth whitening. Whether it is performed in our office or with a take-home whitening kit, we can blast away stains and brighten their teeth up to eight shades! With professional teeth whitening, they can avoid the potential for tooth sensitivity after treatment as well as enjoy a brighter, more beautiful smile when returning to school.