What are Sealants For?

With the approach of the school year, many parents are eager to make sure their children’s teeth are in good condition. Toothaches are a common reason for children’s sleep and behavior problems, and general dentists can provide preventive care as well as repair. But one of the most common forms of preventive dentistry, the application of sealants, works for adults as well as children. At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office, we’re pleased to offer sealants for the protection of our patients’ teeth, and we especially want adults who have a history of tooth decay to know how they can benefit.

 

Sealants are shields that are applied to the grinding surfaces of the molars and premolars. Those teeth have multiple raised bits, called cusps, with indentations between them. The indentations commonly become caked in food debris, particularly starches, making them good spots for oral bacteria to grow in. These parts of the teeth can also be difficult to brush effectively, allowing the acid by-product of oral bacteria to settle into indentations and create bigger cracks. However, sealants smooth out the teeth’s grinding surfaces and create a barrier between the enamel and the food debris. They leave the teeth textured enough to fulfill their function, but slow the rate of decay.

 

Application of sealants doesn’t require preparation from the patient. After cleaning the teeth, we’ll apply a mild etching acid to them to increase their surface area. We’ll then paint the plastic sealant on in liquid form and harden it with a blue light. The patient will resume eating normally by the next day, and afterward, the sealant can last for as long as ten years as long as they maintain regular oral hygiene.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

Healthy Snacks For Children

Providing your children with a healthy and nutritious diet is a great way to prevent cavities. Sugary foods attract harmful bacteria to the teeth. This creates more instances of tooth decay and other oral complications. That’s why Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA, has put together a small dental guide to healthy snacks. Eating healthy guarantees a happy mouth!

 

It can be a real challenge getting your kids to eat foods that aren’t sugary sweet. Not every kid is good about eating vegetables like broccoli or celery either. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! Variety is key to nutritional harmony. Your Los Angeles, CA, dentist and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child’s diet consists of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, protein sources like nuts and lean meats, and whole grains.

 

Here are a few snacks tested and approved by your dentist:

-Veggies with dip

-Cheddar cheese and apples

-Sliced watermelon

-Low-fat yogurt with berries

-Unsalted almonds or coconut flakes

-Toasted whole-grain pita chips with hummus

 

Try to limit how much your child is snacking. Encourage them to eat more at the three meals of the day. A few snacks are fine, just don’t go overboard! Your mouth needs a break in between eating to clean itself, washing away any leftover food debris.

 

Dr. Suzanne Haeri is a quality dentist in the Los Angeles, CA, area. If you or your child need a dental appointment, call her office at 310-657-2200. You can also visit her website at https://www.suzannehaeridds.com/.

Dental Sealants for Pediatric Patients

Nearly half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth. To prevent them from forming, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS offers dental sealants to eligible candidates. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces where pits and groves tend to trap food and bacteria. Sealants fill in these pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot multiply.

Sealants are easy for Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS to apply. The sealant is painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaques and acids. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. With proper oral care, dental sealants can last up to ten years.

If you have questions or concerns regarding pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Suzanne Haeri and her staff are proud to serve the families from our community, and we want them to know it’s just as important for children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled between when the first baby tooth appears, and the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development is important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth. Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development. 

Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seems nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home, and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

We love to see good oral hygiene habits formed early, and make lifetime patients out of kids from our community!  To learn more about the services we offer, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

Losing the First Tooth

If you have a kid at home that’s growing into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  It’s an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  Dr. Suzanne Haeri wants kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience!

Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy can usually ease a little pain, too!

To learn more about tooth loss and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

How Thumbsucking Affects Teeth

Thumbsucking often begins as a habit for communication in young children. Though it’s a natural reflex for them, doing so can be dangerous for teeth. The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result in the pediatric patient. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS would like to explain the effects thumbsucking has on teeth and what you can do to help your child break the habit.

Thumbsucking is calming for a child and makes them feel secure in their world. After permanent teeth erupt, the action of sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth such as an overbite. To wean your child off of this routine, you should reward them for not doing it. Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure, so focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety. Additionally, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS can offer encouragement to your child and explain what can happen to their teeth if they don’t stop.

If you have questions about pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

Children’s Dental Care

Considering that teeth begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy, good dental care begins before a child’s first tooth appears. Babies are born with all of their teeth; you just can’t see them because they are impacted in the gum line. Even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren’t practiced. This is why Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s goal is to ensure that this generation and future generations of our young patients grow up with the healthiest conceivable smile.

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his or her first birthday. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS is offers pediatric services that will put your child at ease when it comes time to enjoy his or her dental visit. She teaches children of all ages how to maintain healthy teeth and gums while using the latest techniques in children’s dentistry and always assures that patients big or small leave the office with a smile on their face.

If you have questions about your child’s visit, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.