The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by "the 1st tooth or the 1st year", with routine exam and cleaning every 6 months

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Regular visits to your pediatric dentist can help your child maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for their Lifetime! additional benefits include :

establishing a long lasting partnership with a dentist who deeply cares for your child

engaging in meaningful conversation regarding your child's unique needs

  preventing tooth decay and pain

  minimizing traumatic experiences at the dentist 

minimizing costly, invasive, lengthy dental procedures 

 

​​Dr. Ming and her team provide a range of preventative services including:

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Cleanings, Exams, and Oral Health Education

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Sealants/Fluoride  

• ​Both act as a preventative step against tooth decay. Fluoride protects smooth tooth surfaces and makes tooth enamel and root surfaces more resistant to tooth decay.  Sealants cover over (seal) deep grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of teeth 

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X-rays  (radiographs)

•  Xrays are indicated when the molars of baby teeth begin to touch, or if cavities or trauma are noted.  Xrays have a major role in helping a dentist diagnose potential oral care issues in a your mouth before they become a major problem. They are typically taken every 12-18months. Xrays allow dentists to find cavities, look at the tooth roots, check the health and height of the bony area around the tooth, determine if periodontal disease is an oral care issue, and see the position of developing teeth​ in children.

 

Restoring Smiles and Oral health

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Tooth Colored Fillings

Fillings are the most common restorative dental procedure and nowadays fillings can be natural looking. Fillings patch and cover holes in the tooth caused by cavities, to prevent the tooth decay from penetrating deeper into the tooth. Fillings also make it more difficult.  Fillings do wear out over time, and it is common to have the fillings redone every couple years.

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Crowns & Bridges

A crown, sometimes called a "cap", covers a tooth that was severely damaged by decay or fracture to restore it to its normal shape and size.  A crown is recommended if you have a particularly weak tooth that needs protection or for cosmetic reasons.  Crowns can also be used to attach bridges and to cover a dental implant.

If your tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, Dr. Ming will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. But when the damage is too extensive for the tooth to be repaired, the tooth may need to be removed (extracted).  In most cases, extractions may be done using local anesthetic.  If however, your caserequires additional sedation, she will refer you to an oral surgeon who can safely and effectively perform the treatment.

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Some other common reasons for tooth removal:

• Extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in or baby teeth that don't fall out

• People receiving radiation to the head and neck or cancer therapy

• Wisdom teeth, also called third molars need to be removed if they are decayed, infected, or if there is not enough room in the mouth

Periodontal disease is a progressive infection of the supporting gum tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place. . The best way to slow it down is to  maintain excellent and correct daily brushing and flossing techniques.  If you have periodontal disease, Dr. Ming can assess your best treatment option which depends on the type of the gum disease you have and how severe it is.  

 

Gingivitis - mild periodontal disease

• This is a common and is inflammation of the gums  Signs of gingivitis include red,puffy and tender gums that bleed when the you brush and floss your  teeth. Gingivitis often resolves with good oral hygiene and routine cleanings at the dentist.

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