Signs Sedation May Help Your Child

/in , /by

It’s time for your child’s dentist appointment. Your child has expressed discomfort with the idea. Is this a time when tough love is important, or could sedation dentistry help your child? Here’s what the team at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry wants you to know about sedation dentistry.

1. Your Child Has Severe Anxiety

Going to the dentist should not bring on extreme anxiety. If it does for your child, sedation may help limit that anxiety and turn the experience into a more pleasant one. As your child’s parent, you’re the best one to know when this is needed or not, but you can always discuss your child’s anxiety with your dentist in Jacksonville or St. Johns, FL, to see what the right choice would be.

2. Your Child Needs Extreme Dental Work

Cleanings and simple fillings may not require sedation, but if your child needs more intensive care, they may be more comfortable if they’re sedated. Sedation could also allow our dental team to do more procedures at one time, which could make your child’s dental care easier in the long run.

3. Your Child Struggles to Sit Still

Sometimes, the issue isn’t anxiety. Super active children can struggle to sit still enough for dental care. This can frustrate the child and the dentist. A little bit of sedation can make the entire process easier.

Do you think your child could benefit from sedation dentistry in Jacksonville or St. Johns, FL? If so, reach out to Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry to discuss your options today.

How to Get Your Anxious Child Ready for a Happy Dental Appointment

/in , /by

Many children feel anxious about visiting the dentist, and so do their parents! Even if you’ve scheduled an appointment with us here at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, the top pediatric dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, you may still be worried about how to make your child’s dental visit a positive experience. We’re here to help with the following tips:

1. Normalize Dental Care Early in Life

Start making oral care a normal part of life very early on. This can take the mystery out of dental care generally. Even before your baby’s first tooth arrives, you can massage their sensitive gums with a clean, cool washcloth, and then advance to gently brushing their first baby teeth. As soon as that first tooth appears, schedule their first pediatric dentistry appointment. The younger they start going to the dentist, the less scary it is.

2. Set an Example

Kids listen less to your words and pay more attention to your actions. Share your dental appointment experiences in a positive light. Brush your teeth together and show them how you floss. Make it a normal and natural part of your child’s day, with you setting the example.

3. Playtime!

If your child is anxious about visiting the dentist, role-playing, children’s books, and videos can help prepare them. For example, you can play dentist with your child and their favorite stuffed animals. Playing dentist with their own stuffed animals can demystify the experience and help them feel more confident.

4. Make a Pre-Appointment Visit

A few days before your child’s dental appointment, stop by the office with your child. Meeting the team, exploring the surroundings, and seeing other happy kids at the dentist can turn an unknown place into a familiar, friendly one.

5. Choose a Kid-Friendly Dentist in St. Johns and Jacksonville

[Practice_name] is a child-centered pediatric dental practice. Everything from our friendly, helpful staff and dentists to the comfortable, kid-friendly surroundings is designed to defuse anxiety and make going to the dentist fun! Our pediatric dentists can help your child learn great oral health habits for life. Schedule an appointment with us today, and let us know how we can help your child feel at ease.

When Do Teens Need to Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?

/in , /by

Has your teen been complaining about pain near their molars? They may be getting their wisdom teeth. These back molars aren’t absolutely necessary for people to have, and they can end up causing issues that require them to be removed. At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, might recommend wisdom teeth removal for any of the following reasons.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

These molars can get stuck inside the gums, stopping them from being able to break through. When they’re impacted, they can cause infections or other issues.

Crooked Growth

In some cases, wisdom teeth emerge through the gums fine, but they end up growing crooked or slanted. We may recommend removing them to prevent damage to nearby teeth or other problems.

Ongoing Discomfort

Some of our teen patients need wisdom teeth removal in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, when they experience frequent pain from impacted teeth. Removing these teeth relieves this discomfort.

Cysts

Wisdom teeth can end up with cysts or sacs filled with fluid near or around them, causing discomfort and raising the risk of infection.

Tooth Decay

These rear molars can develop tooth decay, whether they’ve fully or partially come through the gums. We may recommend having them removed to prevent severe decay.

Damage to Adjacent Teeth

Wisdom teeth can sometimes cause damage or wear and tear in neighboring teeth, especially if they grow in crooked. Extracting them helps protect your other teeth from harm.

Visit Our Dentists for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Are your teen’s wisdom teeth causing problems? We have a solution! Our dentists at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offer wisdom teeth removal in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, to ease discomfort and prevent additional problems.

How Often Do Kids Need a Routine Dental Exam?

/in , , /by

Keeping your kids’ teeth and gums healthy takes a combination of daily care at home and professional care. Routine dental exams are a major part of this. But how regularly do your kids need a checkup? At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, make the following recommendations for these visits.

What Do the Experts Recommend?

For most kids, routine dental exams should happen twice per year or every six months. Going less than that may allow too much tartar and plaque to accumulate on teeth, raising the risk of cavities. Having an exam twice a year also gives our dentists opportunities to catch oral health issues early.

When Would a Child Need More Frequent Exams?

Some kids may need to come in for dental exams in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, more often. Our dental team may recommend more frequent checkups if your child has severe or recurring oral health problems, such as cavities or gum inflammation. Seeing us more often allows us to check for these issues and take steps to prevent them from happening.

How Often Does My Child Need to See the Dentist?

That’s going to depend on your child’s oral health and other factors, such as jaw alignment and underlying medical conditions. Our dentists will let you know how often to set up a routine dental exam to make sure their teeth stay clean and in good condition!

Make a Dental Exam Appointment for Your Child!

Is your child due for a checkup? Our dental team at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offers dental exams in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, to help kids maintain bright smiles and healthy teeth and gums as they grow!

A divided baby food plate with orange and green purees, a bowl of mashed food, a fork, spoon, and green teether, all on a gray checkered cloth and green background.

Tips to Tame Teething Pain for Your Baby

/in /by

Has your baby started drooling buckets, gnawing on everything within reach, and getting fussy for no apparent reason? Sounds like your baby has entered the teething era. Having those hard little teeth break through can be an uncomfortable business, but it’s a whole new world when they finally arrive. Our team of pediatric dentists in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry wants to share some tips for making that teething era a little easier:

1. Know What Symptoms to Look For

All 20 baby teeth are present underneath the gums at birth, but somewhere around 6 months of age, they start moving to break through. The most common pattern is that the two middle teeth on the bottom emerge first, followed by the two middle top teeth. The process can take weeks, but most children have all 20 teeth by around age 3. Symptoms of teething include:

  • A lot of drooling
  • The urge to chew on everything
  • Fussiness and irritability—because teething can hurt
  • Inconsistent appetite
  • A rash on the chin and face can develop from all the drooling
  • You may also notice the gums getting a little red or puffy

Teething is a normal process, and babies may have a slightly elevated temperature during this time, but it should not go over 100.4. If your baby has a higher temperature or diarrhea (not a sign of teething), your baby may have an illness that you should address with their pediatrician.

2. Wipe Away the Drool

To help prevent rashes, try to keep your baby’s face cleared of drool as much as possible. A soft, clean terrycloth bib can help absorb some of the excess.

3. Cool Foods and Teethers

Avoid teethers with liquids in them and use rubber teethers instead. Keep a collection of them in the fridge (not the freezer) and switch them out for cleaning regularly. This can help take the edge off the teething gum pain. If your baby is eating solid foods, try pieces of cold (but not frozen) fruit like a mashed banana. Always be present when the baby is eating to prevent choking hazards. You can also rub the gums with a clean, damp, cold washcloth, especially at night before bedtime.

Bring Baby to See Our St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL Pediatric Dentists

And when that happy day finally arrives and that first hard, little, white tooth finally arrives, schedule your baby’s first dentist appointment with us here at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry. We can answer your questions, check to make sure the teeth and bite are growing properly, and help you set your child up for great dental health for life!

Young girl in a yellow shirt looks anxious, holding her hands to her face and biting her lower lip, with a plain white background.

When to Take Your Child to the Dentist After They Lose a Baby Tooth

/in /by

When kids lose a tooth, the general next step is to give them a little treat under their pillow, not to take them to the dentist. Of course, there are situations when it makes sense to consult the dentist in St. Johns, FL, and it’s worth knowing what they are to better protect your child’s oral health.

When to See the Dentist

Most kids who lose baby teeth will fall within the range of normal. Maybe they have a little discomfort when it happens but they easily recover. Here’s when the situation steps outside of normal bounds:

  • Persistent issues: If the bleeding, swelling, or swelling is severe and ongoing, your child’s tooth may be infected.
  • Trauma: In some cases, a child falling and knocking out a baby tooth isn’t cause for concern, but if the trauma is severe and the pain doesn’t go away, you may want to contact the doctor.
  • No replacement: Your child’s permanent tooth should begin to grow within a few months of being knocked out.
  • Double teeth: If your child’s permanent tooth begins to grow in before they lose the baby tooth.
  • Early tooth loss: Children begin to lose their baby teeth around the age of 4.

Emergency Care in St. Johns

If you’re looking for an emergency dentist in St. Johns, FL, you might first have questions about whether it’s really necessary to bring your child in. After all, one person’s severe might be another’s mild. At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, we offer services to both clarify what’s normal and the best steps that you can take to get your child the help they need (no matter when you need us)!

Two clear dental aligners are shown, one resting on a blue storage case and the other placed on a white surface.

Are Clear Aligners the Right Solution for Your Child?

/in , /by

Is your child complaining about having crooked teeth? Wearing clear aligners may offer a great way to straighten them and improve your child’s confidence and smile! At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, offer this treatment if it’s suitable for your child. Here’s how to know if clear aligners are the right option.

Does Your Child Have a Moderate or Mild Bite Problem?

Clear aligners are really designed for less severe issues. More severe crooked teeth or alignment issues may require another solution.

Is Your Child Willing to Wear Them Most of the Time?

These custom trays only work if they’re worn for 20 to 22 hours per day. Your child needs to be ok with sleeping while wearing them, though they can remove them to eat.

Can Your Child Take Good Care of Them?

Your child will need to clean their clear aligners every day to keep them in good condition.

Does Your Child Have Other Dental Problems?

Clear aligners in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, work best when kids have a healthy mouth. We may need to treat decay or gum issues before this treatment.

Is Your Child Able to Complete Treatment?

Clear aligner treatment involves wearing different sets for several weeks or months. After your child is done with aligner trays, they’ll need to wear a retainer for several more weeks to make sure results last.

Set Up an Appointment Today for a Clear Aligners Consultation!

Ready to see if this is the best option for your child? Our dental team at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offers clear aligners in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, for kids who are considered good candidates for this type of treatment.

A pink and metal dental retainer is placed inside an open white plastic case on a tiled surface.

A Dentist Can Stop Your Child’s Thumb (and Pacifier) Sucking Habit Immediately

/in , /by

Thumb-sucking is super common for young kids. However, did you know that it can affect how their teeth grow if it continues for too long? Dentists see this all the time. That’s why many suggest trying something called a palatal crib. These are especially popular among parents trying to stop their child’s thumb-sucking habit (this includes pacifier sucking, too).

Where can you get this awesome oral appliance? From your child’s pediatric dentist in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, that’s where.

Let’s take a closer look.

What Is a Palatal Crib?

A palatal crib in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, is a tiny dental device that fits snugly on the roof of your child’s mouth. It looks like a small metal fence. Kind of like train tracks. This device is what blocks your child’s thumb from making contact with their palate (breaking the comforting sensation).

These cribs are specially made to fit comfortably and do their job without poking or hurting (which is super important if you want your child to wear it).

How Does a Palatal Crib Work?

Here’s the cool part. The palatal crib in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, acts like a guardrail. It keeps the thumb away from the roof of the mouth. That makes thumb-sucking less soothing. Almost immediately, this appliance helps kids give up their thumb-sucking habit. It does this by naturally retraining their mouth muscles.

The Benefits of Using a Palatal Crib

Why bother with a palatal crib anyway? Well, for starters, it can actually prevent future issues like crooked teeth and jaw alignment issues. Kids who use a palatal crib often avoid major bite problems and have better jaw growth, too. Plus, parents find that this oral appliance works much better than sticker charts and rewards alone.

Most kids get used to the crib in just a few days. And, the appliance isn’t usually needed for more than six months.

Contact Us – A Reputable Pediatric Dentist in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL

Worried about your child’s thumb-sucking? A palatal crib is a safe and simple solution. Contact Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry today for expert advice and to help your child break the habit altogether.

A dentist wearing a mask and gloves sits beside a smiling young girl in a dental chair; the girl holds a stuffed toy.

What Happens During a Pediatric Dental Cleaning?

/in , /by

All kids need routine dental cleanings, even for baby teeth. These visits are an important part of making sure your child’s teeth stay as healthy and strong as possible as they get older. Our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, offer pediatric dental cleanings as preventative care. Here’s what you and your child can expect during these appointments.

Removing Plaque and Tartar

Your child might brush and floss every day. But they can still end up with plaque and tartar on their teeth, increasing their risk of developing cavities and decay. During a cleaning, we use dental tools to remove these coatings from their teeth.

Polishing Tooth Enamel

Once tooth surfaces are clean, we polish them up to give them a bright appearance. This also makes it easier for our dentists to look for any signs of decay or other issues.

Checking for Dental Problems

Dental cleanings in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, for pediatric patients involve an examination to check for cavities, gum inflammation, or other problems that we need to address.

Applying Fluoride

During a cleaning, we apply this mineral to teeth as added protection from cavities. Fluoride helps keep your child’s teeth safe from tooth decay, making tooth enamel stronger.

Discussing Oral Care at Home

Pediatric cleanings also include guidance on how to help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums at home with regular flossing and brushing.

Schedule Pediatric Dental Cleanings Today!

Is it time for your kids to have their teeth cleaned? At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, we offer dental cleanings in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, for kids to help keep their teeth and gums in great shape as they grow!

A close-up illustration of a dental crown being placed onto a tooth, showing the details of the crown and surrounding teeth.

Why Your Child Might Need a Dental Crown for a Tooth 

/in , /by

Dental crowns aren’t just for adults. In fact, some kids need them to help keep a tooth safe from severe damage. Our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offer crowns for pediatric patients for any of the following reasons.

Chipped Tooth

Does your child have a chipped tooth? If the chip is large enough, we may recommend a crown to help restore the tooth. Otherwise, your child’s tooth might be at risk of further damage.

Cracked Tooth

Is there a large or deep crack in your child’s tooth? In this case, we might suggest a crown to help protect the tooth from bacteria and infections, along with additional harm.

Tooth Decay

We recommend dental crowns in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, for pediatric patients who have severe tooth decay. These coverings for teeth help reduce the risk of serious tooth infections and more advanced decay.

Sensitive Teeth

Does your child have a tooth that’s sensitive to hot or cold sensations? Placing a crown on the affected tooth helps protect it from exposure to heat and cold, reducing tingling and other signs of sensitivity.

Root Canal

Infections at the tooth root may require a root canal to stop bacteria from spreading and save the tooth from extraction. If your child has this treatment, we typically place a dental crown on the treated tooth to cover it and keep it safe from infections and decay.

Visit Us for Pediatric Dental Crowns

Does your child have a tooth that needs extra protection? We can help! At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, our dental team offers dental crowns in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, for younger patients with a damaged or decayed tooth.