Back to School Check-Up

With school back in session, children will be on a regular schedule, and hopefully, be regularly eating and brushing their teeth. But the resumption of the school year also means that problems from dental caries and other oral issues will be more disruptive. If your child is due for a check-up (and they’re recommended every six months), now’s a good time to visit South Carthay’s Dr. Suzanne Haeri.

Even in baby teeth, toothaches cause a lot of problems. Children who are in pain have a harder time learning and controlling their behavior. Those who are under stress may grind their teeth in their sleep, causing jaw pain and potentially damaging their enamel. We can provide professional cleanings and replace decayed material with fillings, but check-ups are also an opportunity for prevention. We teach children better oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and chewing sugar-free gum. We also provide fluoride sealants to protect the teeth from infections.

Besides being an opportunity to do maintenance, check-ups allow us to plan for a child’s future needs. Our digital x-rays allow us to safely monitor the development of adult teeth. If it looks like a tooth is going to be impacted, we can discuss with kids and parents options such as extractions and orthodontic treatments. We can also discuss whether a child will need a night guard or to have their mouthguard refitted.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

Fluorosis

Dr. Suzanne Haeri of South Carthay specializes in difficult cases of cosmetic dentistry. As part of her patient education program, she wants people to learn more about fluorosis, a rare but easily-misunderstood condition.

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel. Dentists commonly apply it to children’s teeth and many cities supply it through the water. However, it is possible for people to consume an excessive amount. If this happens, their teeth may become discolored. The effect of this would usually be mild enough to only be visible during a dental examination, but in the worst cases, still-developing teeth in a child may turn brown.

To mitigate the risk of excessive fluoride consumption, it is important for children to learn to spit out their toothpaste once they’re done brushing. When brushing the teeth of a child who is too young to spit, parents should be careful to only use a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste. Parents should also not give their children fluoride supplements without consultation with a dentist. Excessive fluoridation results in internal tooth stains, which cannot be bleached away, but they can be covered with Lumineers.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

Children's Biannual Check-Ups

Just because a tooth isn’t permanent doesn’t mean it should be allowed to rot. At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay practice, we encourage everybody to maintain biannual dental appointments, and that’s especially important for children. Caries, the little bits of decay which cause cavities, are a big problem with consequences for more than just kids’ oral health.

Children are the demographic most likely to suffer from caries, and caries is the most common ailment among children. In young children, toothaches can discourage the use of speech, leading to developmental delays. It people of all ages, they also prevent sleep and sometimes cause people to avoid eating. Sleep and nutrition deficits are especially harmful to children and are often the cause of irritability and poor academic performance. They can also lead to a habit of jaw-clenching, which can cause headaches, neck aches, and cracked teeth.

During the biannual check-up, we give patients’ teeth a thorough cleaning and assess them for caries. We can provide fillings for cavities, but it is best to bring children in before decay can advance enough to require a root canal or a larger restoration.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

People who depend on others for their oral hygiene need their caretakers to be informed about their particular needs. Young children are in the highest risk group for developing cavities, and for the protection of her most vulnerable patients, Dr. Suzanne Haeri wants the families she treats to understand the phenomena of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

Incisors, the front teeth, are usually the first to erupt, and the fronts of the incisors are frequently exposed to sugar through a baby bottle. Though parents may rightly try to avoid giving their babies drinks such as juice and soda which have high sugar contents, it is actually the amount of time teeth are exposed to sugar, more than the amount of sugar, which puts them at risk for decay. Drinking water is an important way in which we wash our teeth, but babies usually don’t have access to water bottles. They are often given bottles filled with milk or formula to slake their hunger and thirst all day.

To prevent decay, babies should only be given bottles for a limited amount of time or get their teeth brushed more frequently. They should also be taught to drink from cups at the age of one. Parents should start brushing their babies’ teeth as soon as the first one begins to emerge, keep them supplied with water.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, of Cosmetic & General Dentistry, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.