Pediatric Dentistry

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, every child should visit a dentist by their first birthday. Westgrove Dental is pleased to offer comprehensive dental care for our younger patients provided by our experienced team of pediatric dentists.

Westgrove Dental has been at the forefront of providing exceptional pediatric dental service for years to patients in Westmont, Villa Park, and the surrounding areas. Our office is a friendly and welcoming environment for parents and children alike. Parents love the ultra-modern practice with a focus on staying at the forefront of technological advances. Children play Xbox 360 or PS3 while they wait and get to watch their favorite movies while they’re in treatment.

Our multi-specialty office has board-certified specialists so that Westgrove Dental can become your family’s dental home. With orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and pediatric dentists, we have everything your child needs in one convenient place.

Our dedicated team of pediatric dentists are active members of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists and have gone through years of training to hold the specialty title of a pediatric dentist. They are passionate about providing comprehensive and compassionate care to all of their patients and work hard to ensure even the most anxious little ones transform into children who look forward to their dental visits.

Our dentists perform routine check-ups, as well as screen for dental development abnormalities, and counsel parents on harmful oral habits that can affect the development of the smile. They are also experienced and trained in treating children with special needs or who are medically compromised.

To maintain their oral health, children should visit the dentist every six months, in addition to a robust at-home oral care routine.

We love treating patients of all ages, but there is something special about a child’s very first appointment! It is recommended that children have their first visit by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth erupting. Beginning a relationship with a dentist from this young age allows your child to form a bond and shows them that their dentist is here to care for them. Learn more

X-rays are an important diagnostic tool for your dental team because they can reveal information that a dental exam may not. X-rays allow us to see below the surface, detect dental abnormalities, and reveal issues that may be hidden from the naked eye. X-rays can show us abscesses or cysts, loss of bone, tumors, tooth decay, developmental abnormalities, poor root position, or abnormalities below the gum line or inside a tooth. Digital X-rays are more efficient and safer than traditional film X-rays. While dental X-rays already emit very low levels of radiation, digital X-rays allow us to get the images we need while exposing our patients to 90% less radiation than traditional X-rays. We take every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients when taking X-ray images. Learn more

Fluoride is a well-known mineral that serves an important purpose for our smiles – it keeps our enamel strong, which can help defend against tooth decay. There are many benefits to fluoride for both you and your child:

• It can strengthen the enamel of both baby and adult teeth.
• It can harden bone development even in teeth that have yet to erupt.
• It can reverse the early effects of tooth decay.
• It can prevent the growth of bacteria on teeth.

While fluoride is found in most municipal water supplies and toothpaste, your dentist may recommend additional fluoride for your child to ensure a healthy smile. This treatment takes only a few minutes but has lasting benefits. Depending on your child’s needs, a fluoride treatment may be recommended at regular intervals, typically three, six, or 12 months. Learn more

Dental sealants are a protective coating that is placed over the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars. These teeth are the hardest to keep clean, and because they have pits and grooves, it is easy for food debris to get stuck in them. Sealants provide an extra layer of protection against decay. Sealants typically begin when a child is around the age of 6 or 7 and can last for up to five years. A Centers for Disease Control study showed that dental sealants could reduce the risk of decay by as much as 80%. Learn more

At Westgrove Dental, we work hard to ensure your children are set up for a lifetime of good oral health. In children who may have small areas of decay or cavities, fillings are needed to stop the spread of the decay and preserve the tooth. We use composite fillings, which are white fillings that better match the natural color of your child’s tooth.

White fillings work well on small to medium cavities, and because of their aesthetic quality, they can be used on any teeth in your child’s mouth – even front teeth. Learn more

Dental crowns are used as a cap to restore a damaged tooth to its proper shape. In children, we typically use stainless steel crowns in the shape of a tooth. Crowns are needed when a child has excess decay in a tooth that a filling alone cannot correct. If a baby root canal is needed, a crown can then be used to cover and protect the tooth and restore the smile. Learn more

A baby root canal, or pulpotomy, is performed when a cavity becomes too large to be treated with a filling. Large cavities can eat through the tooth to the nerve, where they can cause pain, inflammation, and even infection. In a baby root canal, the cavity is removed, as well as the infected portion of the tooth pulp, nerve, and any additional tissues that are infected or painful. The root canal will attempt to salvage as much of the tooth structure as possible and support this remaining structure with a crown. Learn more

We know that visiting a dentist can cause a bit of anxiety, especially for some of our younger patients. At Westgrove Dental, we work hard to ensure all of our patients are comfortable and ready for their dental work, so that means we may need to use something to help an anxious patient feel at ease. We use “happy air,” better known as nitrous oxide or laughing gas, to help our patients feel less anxious during a needed procedure. When inhaled, happy air does just what its name implies – it helps your child feel calm and happy as they breathe in. There are no lingering effects once finished, and happy air allows your child to receive the treatment needed to keep their smiles healthy without worrying about feelings of anxiety getting in the way. Learn more

Sedation dentistry may be recommended for children who require excessive treatment, have serious anxiety, or for children who may have special needs. In these cases, sedation can ensure your child can sit long enough to receive the needed treatment. Two types of sedation dentistry are used at Westgrove Dental. Both are safe and effective, and which is best for your child will be determined by you and your child’s dentist. If you opt for oral conscious sedation, your child will feel very sleepy; however, they will be awake and can still respond to simple commands. If you opt for general anesthesia, your child will be put to sleep before the procedure. This is often the recommended route for children who have extreme anxiety, need a lot of dental work, are unable to sit still for an extended time, or for some children who have special needs. Learn more

Children often experience minor dental emergencies that may require a call or visit to our office. Toothaches, cuts on the lips or cheeks, bumped teeth, knocked out baby teeth, chipped or fractured teeth, facial swelling, or fractured jaws are all reasons to call your dental health professional. Toothaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, but if the pain persists, it is important to call our office so we can determine the source of pain and provide treatment. Cuts to the lips or cheeks can be treated at home; however, if the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, you should take your child to the emergency room. If your child injures a tooth in any way, it is important to call our office so we can schedule an appointment as soon as possible to repair the tooth. If your child injures their jaw, take them to the emergency room immediately. Learn more

Sometimes, children require teeth to be extracted by a dentist. There are several reasons this may be indicated:

• Excess decay
• Tooth is chipped or cracked beyond repair
• To make room for permanent teeth

In the first two instances, removing the affected tooth is important to ensure the overall health of your child’s smile and prevent pain or toothaches. Most children will lose their baby teeth on time, but for some children, one or two baby teeth may become stubborn and refuse to fall out. In this instance, your child may require professional assistance to remove the tooth. Ensuring baby teeth fall out properly allows for the permanent teeth to erupt properly. Learn more