Q&A
What Sets Your Practice Apart?
We love working with kids at all ages and stages. But a part of our heart is set aside for special needs children. I have created a specific program to help them through anxiety and confusion about their treatment. As they become more comfortable with us, we’ve found that their brushing and eating issues often improve at home.
What Does Dental Care Have To Do With My Child’s Overall Health?
When I speak at school career days, I tell students that if they study to become dentists, at least two years of their training will be in medical school. Why? Because the mouth is the gateway to the whole body. What happens in your mouth can make a huge impact on your overall health.
What Is The Most Important Thing Parents Need To Know About Their Child’s Dental Health?
How to manage cavity risk. Sugar and carbohydrates contribute to cavities. Instead of completely removing them from your diet, be smart about when you eat them. The bacteria in your mouth go through a feeding cycle every time you eat. At the end of that cycle, they spray acid on your teeth. Include your sweet treat at the end of your meal, when the bacteria are going through their feeding cycle anyway. The more often you eat, the more opportunities they will have to coat your teeth with acid.
How Can I Avoid Sedation When My Small Child Needs A Cavity Filled?
We often see three and four year olds who have a cavity in a tooth they won’t lose until they are 10 or 11. That needs to be addressed. Little ones have a hard time sitting still, and the equipment may frighten them. But you have options other than sedation. We use a laser that will numb the tooth. It feels like air blowing. We can address the cavity and the child goes away with no numbness.
What Other Issues Are Common For Children?
Bad breath is usually a sign that there are too many bacteria in the mouth. This can happen as a result of not brushing your teeth well enough or often enough, not flossing, or dry mouth. Certain digestive problems and even some medications can also cause bad breath. Kids can also develop gum disease. Gums become painful, red, and swollen, and may bleed. Kids with crooked or overlapping teeth may have more trouble thoroughly brushing and flossing and could be at greater risk. We can help.
About The Expert
Leslie Blackburn, DDS
Growing Great Grins
Dr. Leslie Blackburn earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Brigham Young University. She knew she wanted to work with children and chose pediatric dentistry. She received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery and master’s in dental education from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. She received her certificate in pediatric dentistry from Yale University.
