Time to Break the Fear Cycle

A staggering 36% of the population has dental anxiety in some way, shape, or form. With fear like this, it’s no wonder that many people do whatever they can to avoid going to the dentist. As a person ages, this fear cycle can wreak havoc on their oral health. Because our little ones watch our every move, fears like this can trickle down to the next generation.

Knowing this, we must do everything we can to create a positive, fear-free experience for our children, especially when it comes time for a dental procedure. Thankfully, we here at Spinnaker Pediatric Dentistry have the technology to help alleviate dental anxiety! Laser dentistry might just be the tool to help your child maintain their adorable smile, whether they have dental anxiety or not!

Understanding Dental Anxiety in Children

When you’re little, it can be hard to understand what’s happening at the dentist. To your little one, a dental drill might seem like an evil monster coming to harvest their teeth. Though we do our best as parents to prepare them for this, there’s only so much we can do when faced with a child’s imagination. If needles are required for their dental procedure, it’s no wonder our children refuse to participate.

Though dental anxiety is common, it’s wise to do everything we can to prevent it. If dental anxiety continues to bloom and grow, it can create lasting issues in their overall health. For example, if they prematurely lose any of their baby teeth, it can do more than just create a temporary gappy smile. The neighboring teeth will naturally shift to fill in the gap, creating severe misalignments. These crooked teeth can make it harder to keep their teeth clean, cause speech issues, and even create problems chewing their food.

How Laser Technology Reduces Dental Anxiety

Laser technology can both limit the chances of your child forming dental anxiety and lessen any that might already be present. Treatments are completely pain-free, and they minimize the need for anesthesia. Using laser technology creates less damage to the tissue, meaning there is less bleeding. This fosters faster healing and recovery. It reduces the use of drills and potentially scary vibrations, instead creating a comforting and calming environment for your little one! The heat of the laser also sterilizes the area, reducing the risk of infection.

What Laser Dentistry is Used for

You might be surprised by how many ways laser dentistry can be used. It can be used in different hard-tissue repairs, including locating and repairing cavities. Laser technology can be used to prepare a tooth for a crown, or even to whiten teeth and treat tooth sensitivity.

But the usefulness of laser technology doesn’t stop there. It can even be used for soft-tissue repairs. Some of these include tongue and lip ties, or repairing congenital abnormalities. Laser dentistry can even be used to shape the gumline or remove tissue that creates certain kinds of sleep apnea.

Other Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is a game changer for kids with dental anxiety because it immediately eliminates the sometimes aggravating sound of the dental drill. It also works more precisely, reducing the amount of healthy tissue that is affected, and (as mentioned previously) reduces the risk of complications by sterilizing tissue as it works, lowering the possibility of infection.

Our Fear-Free Approach

Here at Spinnaker Pediatric Dentistry, we make it our mission to provide fear-free dental treatments for children. Our dental team is highly trained in the use of laser technology, so we can be certain to provide an anxiety-free experience.

Whether for lip-ties, tongue-ties, or pulp therapy, you can rest assured that our staff is confident in their ability to take care of your child with as little pain as possible.

It’s time to set the tone.

When it comes to children’s dentistry, it is imperative that your child feels safe and secure in their environment. Doing so not only diminishes the chance of dental anxiety, but it also sets the tone for how your child will care for their teeth throughout the rest of their life.

It’s a relief to know that there are treatment options available if your child needs them. Gone are the days of drilling away a cavity! It’s time for laser treatment!

Whether you need to get your child in for their regular dental cleaning or you are worried there might be an issue, remember we are always here for you and your family. We pride ourselves in providing a safe, pain-free environment for your child! Whenever you are ready to make an appointment, don’t be afraid to give us a call!