Treatments
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Pain free dentistry
No more injections! Pain-free dental treatment!
The Wand – computer aided pain-free anaesthesia
- The Wand is ideal for treating children. It is a pain-free alternative to the traditional dental injection and it is a computerised system that delivers precise local anaesthetic without the pain and anxiety of a dental needle or discomfort associated with the effects of extensive numbing.
- Traditionally, local anaesthetic is administered with a needle and numbs the entire side of the face – which not only makes it difficult to speak and eat after treatment, but it can cause post-operative trauma too, as children can’t feel if they’re biting their lips or cheeks.
- The Wand is changing all that, using a computerised, sensor-controlled probe that numbs only the tooth being treated. This is known as STA, or Single Tooth Anaesthesia.
How does The Wand work?
The Wand’s precision control makes the whole numbing procedure less painful overall. It only numbs the tooth being treated. With The Wand, children won’t experience numbness across the face, as with traditional anaesthetic – so they won’t run the risk of damaging their mouth by accident.
It works instantly – there is no need to wait for the anaesthetic to take effect, so the dentist can complete your child’s treatment more quickly.
The source of discomfort for most injections actually isn’t the needle, it’s the flow of the anaesthetic into your gum tissue. The Wand delivers the anaesthetic at an optimal flow rate directly into The Wand handpiece for a comfortable injection. This creates a pathway of anaesthesia so the patient hardly feels anything at all.
What are the benefits of The Wand?
- The absence of pain, due to the injection speed being below patients’ pain threshold
- A lower dosage of the anaesthetic liquid being used
- No damage to the crown of permanent teeth, which are developing below baby teeth in the jaw
- No anaesthetic effects in the lips, tongue or cheeks, which eliminate the issues related to biting and temporary changes to facial expressions
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Oral Hygiene Service
We provide a rigorous and comprehensive oral hygiene service for your child depending on age and stretching over a period. We recognise the important of starting at a very early age as this will set them up with the skills to look after their oral and dental heath for life.
Joining the Kid-Dental Club would provide personalised oral hygiene services such as healthy diet advice, tooth-brushing techniques, scale and polish of the teeth as well as fluoride application to prevent tooth decay.
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White Fillings
Composite fillings
Composite is a tooth-coloured, putty-like resin that can be moulded to fit the tooth exactly. These white fillings are not only the best option for adults who want a natural-looking, metal-free result - they’re also great for children.
Unlike amalgam or silver fillings, white fillings are minimally invasive and do not require the removal of healthy tooth tissue, which also means less drilling. Composite material hardens in seconds, making the procedure super-convenient with minimal downtime.Using composite material, we are able to restore the strength of teeth in an efficient and effective manner while maintaining great natural aesthetics.
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Cosmetic Dentistry for Children
Most cosmetic aspects of children’s dentistry is based on providing tooth-coloured material to replace discoloured teeth, fractured crowns and fillings and make the teeth as natural-looking as possible.
Using Composite putty-like resin, we are able to mould it to fit most discoloured or fractured front teeth appropriately. Unlike silver fillings, composite or white fillings not only give you a very natural look, they are minimally invasive with less drilling and do not require the removal of healthy tooth tissue. The composite material is also able to restore the strength of the teeth and create a great natural smile.
Crowns for baby teeth come generally pre-formed from stainless steel crowns, which are adjusted to fit teeth perfectly. Children’s crowns however, could be made from tooth-coloured bespoke ceramic materials. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the benefits of both options.
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Treating and Restoring
Crowns for baby teeth
Unlike custom-made adult crowns, crowns for baby teeth are pre-manufactured in different sizes and shapes then adjusted by the dentist in situ for the perfect fit.
Children’s crowns can be made from metal or tooth-coloured ceramic (your dentist will talk you and your child through the benefits of both options), and are durable enough to last until the natural tooth falls out.
Root Canal treatments for children
Many of us who have experienced a root canal treatment might be horrified by the thought of their child having it too. However, it is important to understand that baby teeth have a different anatomy compared to adult teeth.
The outer shell of a baby tooth (the enamel layer) is much thinner, while their inner part (the nerve chamber) is much larger in volume. As soon as decay goes through the outer shell, children can start feeling some sensitivity, which they usually cannot explain and, as a result, it tends to go unnoticed. If the decay cavity goes deep enough and reaches the nerve, an infection can start. This can be extremely painful for children, causing throbbing pain in the tooth or the jaw and even swelling. Baby-tooth root canal treatment will not only remove the infection instantly, but will save the tooth from an extraction too.
High levels of care and expertise
Our dedicated children root canal specialists are able offer extremely high level of skill, care and experience and has access to the most advanced dental microscope for highly accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Space maintainers
A space maintainer is a small appliance that effectively preserves the gap created by a missing tooth, so that when the time comes for the adult tooth to erupt, it can do so without any problems.
If your child loses a tooth due to injury, infection or because an extraction is required, the missing space between the teeth may lead to overcrowding or crooked teeth. This is because the teeth coming in on either side of the space will begin to drift into the empty space, meaning there is insufficient space for their adult teeth.
A space maintainer can prevent this from happening, by taking over the function of the lost tooth and preserving the gap between the teeth.
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Preventative Dentistry
Prevent dental decay with fluoride varnish
Our mouth contains bacteria that feeds on the sugars in the foods we eat and the beverages we drink. This produces acid that can wear away the hard, outer shell of your tooth (enamel). This can lead to cavities. Fluoride protects teeth by making your teeth stronger and more resistant to acid, not only reducing the risk of cavities but even helping to reverse the early signs of decay.
Unfortunately, some children are more susceptible to cavities than others - genetics and salivary flow (how much saliva your child’s mouth is producing in a day) play a big role in this. In cases where, despite all parents’ and carers’ efforts, a child still has decay, fluoride varnish is applied by the dental care professional directly to the tooth surface to prevent cavities.
Fluoride Varnish
This is a simple solution that can slow and prevent tooth decay in children. Fluoride varnish leads to heavy remineralisation of the enamel surface, and subsequent acid attacks will allow fluoride ions to penetrate more deeply into the tooth structure. Varnishes like Duraphat® are useful because they stay on the tooth surface for some hours, allowing slow release of the fluoride ion.
Fissure Sealant
The application of fissure sealants is quick and painless
Dental decay is most likely to develop on your child's molars when they first erupt at the age of 6. At this age, the top (or chewing surface) of these teeth is not fully mineralised, and therefore more susceptible to decay. At the same time, the anatomy of the chewing surface contains numerous grooves and deep pits, known as fissures. These fissures are usually so narrow that toothbrush bristles are unable to clean them properly. This allows bacteria to flourish and decay to form. By applying a fissure sealant, we make the surface of the tooth smooth – which leaves decay with nowhere to develop. Fissure sealed teeth are 80% less likely to get caries.
Life expectancy nowadays is approximately 80-90 years. So, if your child’s first adult teeth erupt at 6 years of age, they will have to keep them healthy for the next 80 years or so! We believe that this makes treating their teeth at a young age a worthwhile investment.
Getting into Good Habits
- It is critical we teach our children good oral health habits from an early age. Worryingly, 40% of children develop cavities by the time they start school due to poor oral hygiene and the consumption of sugary snacks and drinks.
- Everyone’s mouth contains multiple species of bacteria.
- When we consume sugar, these bacteria produce acid on our teeth. Over time, this acid wears away at our enamel and leads to tooth decay.
- Brushing, flossing, and limiting our sugar intake are all important techniques for keeping this bacteria in check. However, even if we do all of these things correctly and regularly, there will still be fissures in our teeth where bacteria can hide.
- The depth of the fissure is genetically predisposed and not something you can change.
- Since these can be difficult to reach with a toothbrush, we need the help of sealants to add an extra layer of protection!
Custom Made Mouthguards for sports
Mouthguards are custom-made rubber coverings, worn over your child’s teeth to protect them from damage in contact sporting activities.
Sports such as football, cricket or hockey can lead to serious damage to your child’s teeth, including broken and lost tee. Other contact sports such as rugby, American football or boxing, can also lead to damaged, broken or dislocated teeth or jaws.
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Inhalation Sedation for Children
Inhalation Sedation is a good way to reduce anxiety in nervous patients
- Children often feel worried or frightened when visiting the dentist and receiving treatment. We find that one of the best and safest ways to lessen their fear is to carry out dental treatment under 'inhalation sedation', which is often referred to as 'happy air' or 'laughing gas'.
- Inhalation sedation at Kids Dental is provided by a highly skilled team that includes sedation-trained children's dentists, therapists and nurses.
- Parents can rest assured that their children will receive the highest level of care with us. After all, we are proud to say that we are the #1 Children's Referral Practice in London, with over 100 dentists having chosen to refer their patients to us for this treatment in 2018 alone! Our team performs an average of 15 sedations each week.
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Dental Emergencies
Dealing with Common Dental Emergencies
- Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
The immediate step is to attempt to stop the bleeding gum by applying gentle pressure or bite on a cotton gauze or a clean, rolled-up tissue paper and place it on the bleeding socket or site for around 5-10 minutes. Give your child pain- killers as appropriate. Please note that Ibuprofen may not be suitable for asthmatics. - Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown, avoiding the root end, and rinse it gently. Leave any attached tissue on the tooth. Attempt to put the tooth back in the socket with it facing in the right direction. Bite gently down on a clean towel or tissue to stabilise the tooth. If this simple procedure is carried out within 5 minutes, 80-90% of teeth should survive. Alternatively put it in cup or jar of milk or salty water. Call Kids-Dental or the emergency dental centres of your local hospital for assistance.
- Cracked, Broken or Chipped Baby Tooth
If the child is not in pain, it is not a real emergency. Call Kids-Dental or your local dentist so your child can be seen as soon as possible, where the right course of treatment will be carried out such as rebuilding the crown with a composite resin material, or removing the tooth if badly damaged. It may sometimes involve root canal treatment, known aspulpotomy/pulpectomy. - Cracked, Broken or Chipped Adult Tooth
Call Kids-Dental or your local dentist your child as soon as possible, where the right course of treatment will be carried out; such as rebuilding the crown with a composite resin material, or removing the tooth if badly damaged. It may sometimes involve root canal treatment. - If your child has a dental emergency please call us on:
020 8646 6300
Monday – Friday: 9am-5pm - outside of these hours please leave a message on the answer phone. If we are unable to get back to you within 30 minutes, please call your local Dentist or NHS 111 Alternatively contact the Dental Emergencies department at your local hospital.
- Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
