Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  The health of your child’s teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of his or her entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at home is necessary to keep your child’s smile looking its best, visiting the dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The American Dental Association recommends that your child visit the dentist every six months to ensure his or her teeth stay healthy and smile stays beautiful.
• X-rays
  Because we care about your child’s bodily health and well-being, we believe that reducing the amount of radiation exposure is extremely important. Although the amount of radiation used in dental X-rays is very small, the effect is cumulative, so all radiation counts. Digital X-rays can reduce your child’s exposure to radiation by up to 80 percent!

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  Your child’s exam will take about 45 minutes. Each regular exam includes a detailed teeth cleaning, in which we will clean, polish, and rinse the teeth to remove any tartar and plaque that have built up on the tooth’s surface.
• Fluoride Treatment
  A fluoride treatment in the dentist’s office takes just a few minutes. After the treatment, patients may be asked not rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your child’s oral health or your doctor’s recommendation, your child may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe at-home fluoride products such as mouthwash, gels, or antibacterial rinses.
• Dental Sealants
  Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.
• Space Maintainers
  If your child’s tooth has come out too soon because of decay or an accident, it is crucial to maintain the space and prevent future space loss and dental problems when permanent teeth begin to come in.  Without the use of a space maintainer, the teeth that surround the open space can shift, and impede the permanent tooth’s eruption.  When that happens, the need for orthodontic treatment may become greater.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Resin Composite
  Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, may include gold, porcelain, or composite. Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are typically used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important. There are two different kinds of fillings: direct and indirect. Direct fillings are fillings placed directly into a prepared cavity in a single visit. Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. These fillings include inlays, and veneers fabricated with ceramics or composites.
• Veneers
• Crowns
  Imagine your child undergoing a complex dental treatment like an extraction, or filling a large cavity that also needs a crown.  We are pleased to offer children the option of comfortable, safe and effective sedation dentistry.  Our pediatric dental patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have...

Endodontics

• Pulpotomy
  A pulpotomy removes the diseased pulp tissue within the crown portion of the tooth.  Next, an agent is placed to prevent bacterial growth and to calm the ramaining nerve tissue.  This is followed by a final restoration (usually a stainless steel crown).
• Root Canal Treatment
  Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injuries are the main reasons for a tooth to require pulp therapy.  Pulp therapy is often referred to as a “nerve treatment”, “children’s root canal”, “pulpectomy” or “pulpotomy”.  The two common forms of pulp therapy in children’s teeth are the pulpotomy and pulpectomy.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Tooth Extractions

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  Dr. James E. Hyde graduated from Texas Tech and received his dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1970. He received his pediatric dental specialty degree in 1972 after a two-year residency at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He has been an associate professor of pediatric dentistry at Baylor, teaching interceptive orthodontics and corrective early growth problems to graduate students from 1972-73. In 1973, he began his private practice.
• Braces
  Whether your child wears braces or not, protecting his or her smile while playing sports is essential. Mouthguards help protect the teeth and gums from injury. If your child participates in any kind of full-contact sport, the American Dental Association recommends that he or she wear a mouthguard. Choosing the right mouthguard is essential. There are three basic types of mouthguards: the pre-made mouthguard, the “boil-and-bite” fitted mouthguard, and a custom-made mouthguard from the dentist. When you choose a mouthguard, be sure to pick one that is tear-resistant, comfortable and well-fitted for your mouth, easy to keep clean, and does not prevent your child from breathing properly. Your dentist can show your child how to wear a mouthguard properly and how to choose the right mouthguard to protect his or her smile.