Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  Routine dental exams make for healthy, beautiful smiles and good oral hygiene habits. We want all of our patients to enjoy these benefits and encourage parents to bring their children in for regular dental check-ups and teeth cleaning. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see a dentist at least every six months, or more often, depending on child's diet and risk assessment. These visits are very important in preventing cavities. Not only will Dr. Heckert check your child's teeth, but your child will also learn the necessary techniques for good oral hygiene.
• X-rays
  Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than undetected and untreated dental problems.

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
• Fluoride Treatment
• Dental Sealants
  Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of back teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded resin, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free.
• Space Maintainers
  Space maintainers are appliances made of metal or plastic that are custom fit to your child's mouth. They are small and unobtrusive in appearance. Most children adjust to them easily after a few days.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Resin Composite
  Amalgam is the traditional, time tested restorative material that dentists have used for the past 150 years. Although there has been a debate about the safety of amalgam the ADA states that amalgam is safe to use in both children and adults. In a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association on dental amalgam and composite, they found no difference between children treated with dental amalgam or white composite resin fillings. The advantages to amalgam are that it can last for years and they are less expensive than composite fillings.
• Crowns
  A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth restoring its size, shape, and strength. The crowns, when fully cemented in place, encase the entire visible portion of a tooth and extend a small part under the gum line.

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  If a primary tooth is lost too soon the teeth next to it may tilt or move into the empty space. This creates a lack of room for permanent teeth to come in. The result will be crowded and/or crooked teeth requiring extensive orthodontics.
• Braces
  Did you know that about 39 percent of dental injuries to children are from sports? Using a mouth guard is an easy and effective way of protecting your child's teeth and gums from injury. At Growing Smiles Dentistry we can make a custom mouth guard for your child. Children with braces can also be made a custom mouth guard.