Pediatric Dentistry

Receiving high-quality dental treatment is just as important for children as it is for adults. We take great pride in helping our younger patients achieve excellent oral health and pediatric dental services in the Grand Junction community.

Pediatric Dentist in Grand Junction, CO

Ensuring optimal oral health in children is paramount for their overall well-being. Pediatric dentistry emphasizes key practices to maintain healthy and beautiful smiles: Encourage regular brushing and flossing to prevent cavities, schedule routine dental visits twice a year, discourage using teeth for non-eating activities, and limit intake of stain-causing foods and drinks.

A trained and highly skilled dentist, like Dr. Ryan Helgerson, knows exactly how to put young patients at ease and make each visit to the clinic a positive one. Dr. Helgerson prides himself on providing excellent dental care for younger patients in Grand Junction, CO.

What are the common issues of dental health in children?

Many of a kid’s dental problems are the same ones affecting adults, but as children’s teeth are still developing, untreated dental conditions can cause poor and misaligned tooth development, leading to a more serious problem as a child grows up.

Some of the most common issues with children are:
- Tooth decay
- Bad breath
- Sensitive teeth
- Thumb-sucking
- Gum disease
- Teeth grinding
- Canker sores
- Baby teeth-loss
- Over-retained primary teeth
- Dental Anxiety
What does pediatric dentistry include?

Pediatric dentistry includes using dental sealants to help prevent cavities and tooth decay on a child’s back molars. This is a proven preventive treatment that works by applying a thin acrylic coating over the teeth and allowing it to harden, which keeps out unwanted bacteria and plaque that could otherwise harm the teeth.

Additionally, using fluoride applications to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel is extremely helpful in preventing decay. This involves applying fluoride directly to the teeth—it will bond the enamel and help keep teeth strong and healthy, it could even reverse decay.
What is pulp therapy?

If your child starts to complain about sensitivity or constant pain, or if the tissue around a tooth is swollen and painful, they may have pulp damage. Damage to the interior living part of the tooth can occur because of trauma, decay, or other infection. The ‘pulp’ refers to the live part of the tooth.

If the pulp is damaged, it is important to retain as much of the living pulp as possible, while also treating the infection or removing any damaged sections. One way we do this is with a pulpotomy.

A pulpotomy can be performed if the pulp root is unaffected, and just the tip of the pulp is damaged. If the root is healthy we will remove all the decay and then place material over the remaining pulp to protect it. Finally, we will place a crown. By saving the pulp, your child has a greater chance of producing a healthy adult tooth.

A pulpectomy is performed if the damage has extended into the tooth root, we will need to remove all of the living material and fill the space — just like an adult root canal. We will place a crown to help with spacing when the adult tooth is ready to come in.