Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that your child has their first dental exam as soon as their first tooth erupts, or at least by their first birthday.  If you suspect your child has cavities, it is very important you see a dentist to have their teeth examined.  Although baby teeth eventually fall out, it is important to have the cavities repaired.  Cavities can cause your child pain and will also effect your child’s overall health and well-being.
• X-rays
  There are many advantages of digital X-rays over traditional dental X-rays.  We can view the images instantly, and there is less radiation. We can enhance the images in a variety of ways to improve viewing, the images can be stored electronically for instant retrieval in the future, and we can avoid the chemicals used in the traditional developing process.

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  Puffy, sore, or bleeding gums are caused by the buildup of plaque and tartar due to poor oral hygiene habits. It is important you assist and encourage meticulous home care for your child, as well as make sure they have a dental cleaning and check up every 6 months.
• Fluoride Treatment
  Professional fluoride treatments are important to keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong. Fluoride treatments help protect your child’s teeth from cavities. We offer a variety of Fluoride flavors and techniques to suit any child’s preferences.
• Dental Sealants
  A sealant is a white coating brushed and cured to the chewing surface of your child’s teeth to prevent cavities from forming in the deep pits and grooves. A sealant is a non-invasive procedure that does not require any numbing agents to be used.
• Space Maintainers
  A space maintainer preserves the space that results from a prematurely lost baby tooth. It prevents the surrounding teeth from drifting into this space and optimizes the available room for the future eruption of the permanent teeth.  A space maintainer is made of stainless steel and/or plastic and is usually cemented in the child’s mouth soon after the tooth is lost.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Crowns
  An extraction refers to the removal of a tooth. Extractions are often performed to aid in orthodontic treatment, or when a stubborn baby tooth is not lost at the proper time. An extraction may sometimes be necessary if a tooth has abscessed or has a cavity too large to warrant a filling or crown.
• Restorative Dentistry
  During Dr. Sotillo’s graduate training, his research focused on skeletal biology and bone remodeling. His future interest includes advancing pediatric dentistry through research, teaching and clinical practice. Dr. Sotillo’s research interests include hospital dentistry, prevention and restorative dentistry, and craniofacial biology.

Endodontics

• Pulpotomy
  When the nerve of a baby tooth becomes infected or abscessed, a pulpotomy or pulpectomy is necessary to save the tooth. During a pulpotomy the infected part of the nerve is removed and a sedative medication is placed inside the tooth to prevent sensitivity and to promote healing. A pulpectomy, often referred to as a “root canal”, involves removal of the nerve.
• Root Canal Treatment
  If your child needs Root Canal Treatment on a permanent (adult) tooth, we will refer you to a dentist who specializes in Root Canal Treatments.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Tooth Extractions

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  At Metropolitan Pediatric Dental Associates, we treat infants, babies, children, preteens and teenagers. Our pediatric dentists have studied tooth eruption and the spacing issues that may arise with the mixed dentition of children. We understand the importance of orthodontics and offer limited orthodontic care, right in our offices.
• Braces
  Braces are special appliances used to align and straighten teeth. The length of time the braces need to be on the teeth can differ greatly depending on your child’s needs.

General

• General Dentistry
  The pediatric dentists and pediatric dental team members at Metropolitan Pediatric Dental Associates have been providing quality general dentistry, preventive care, orthodontic treatment, and hospital dentistry for children and adolescents in the twin cities metropolitan area since 1965. Please complete and print the referral form below and fax it to the location your patient prefers. We will call your patient to set up an appointment within 2 business days.