Chicago Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Blog

The Tooth Fairy has served children for generations by leaving them a small gift for tucking their lost baby teeth under their pillows. This beloved tradition is a great way to keep children excited about growing up and help them understand the importance of proper oral care. If your child has recently lost a baby tooth, here are a few ways to help them welcome this benevolent pixie.

Just because you have braces doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to enjoy all of your favorite Halloween sweets. Although the metal brackets and wires helping to straighten your smile can break or become dislodged by eating certain treats, like taffy and hard candies, undergoing treatment doesn’t automatically mean you won’t be able to enjoy them at all. Read on to learn what Halloween candy you can still eat with your braces and how you can protect them.

Few things are more precious than witnessing your child’s first tooth emerging from their gums. As their gummy smile transforms into baby teeth, it’s never too soon to introduce them to a dentist. Despite the temporary nature of baby teeth, they play a crucial role in your child’s oral health and development. Regular checkups enable early detection, ensuring the well-being of your child’s mouth. Here’s why it’s important for them to visit the dentist every six months, even if they have just a few teeth.

Even if you enjoy going to the dentist, as soon as they whip out a term like “interproximal reduction” you might do a double take. Despite its confusing name, the procedure is actually simple and pain-free. Depending on your situation, it could also be necessary to preserve the future of your oral health.

Continue reading to learn more about interproximal reduction and how it can help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile.

Does your child have a crooked or gapped smile? With numerous teeth-straightening alternatives available, selecting the right method for you or your child can be challenging. Although clear braces are gaining popularity, traditional metal braces still hold numerous advantages. If you are contemplating teeth straightening treatment, read on to explore four reasons why orthodontists may recommend traditional braces as the optimal choice.

Maintaining a healthy smile from a young age is crucial for children, and one of the secrets to doing this lies in dental sealants. These solutions are notably effective in preventing the development of cavities, and over the years, advancements in dental technology have led to them being made from awesome materials such as SDF, or silver diamine fluoride. In fact, in a comprehensive study conducted by New York University, children were given SDF sealants to measure their effectiveness alongside standard cavity care and prevention; the results showed that they were effective at both preventing and curbing future decay! Here’s a closer look at these sealants and some of their awesome benefits when used in pediatric dentistry.  

Whether you’re an adult or teen, addressing orthodontic problems like crowding and bite misalignment are not only important for your health, but also for your confidence. A straightened smile can go a long way, and although braces and aligners can be a lengthy commitment, they’re well worthwhile. Be prepared for your first appointment by getting the answers you’ll be glad you had as you undergo treatment. Read on for four important questions to ask your orthodontist.

Oral health is something that matters your whole life—from the moment you have teeth and forever after! But sometimes, children struggle to establish, maintain, or improve their oral hygiene habits, which ultimately spells bad news for their smiles moving forward. And as a parent, it’s up to you to help your little one understand the value of taking great care of their teeth, as well as helping them achieve healthy and bright pearly whites. Better yet, you can make things much more fun for your kid, too! Here are some useful tips from your pediatric dentist that are certain to help.

It’s been a few hours since you’ve left your orthodontist’s office with your brand-new clear aligners. You are excited about treatment, but you are also getting hungry. It’s time for you to take out your aligners for the first time on your own.

However, these plastic devices are purposefully tight against your teeth, which means removing them won’t be easy, particularly at the beginning of treatment. Here are five tips to help you learn this process as quickly as possible.

Your child seems excited by a certain sport. They enjoy participating, work hard to practice, and they may even excel at it! But they have crooked teeth and need orthodontic treatment, which often requires a couple of years. Could braces stand between them and their athletic dreams?

No matter the sport, braces should not hinder your child’s ability to pursue what they love. However, there are some things you should know before starting treatment so that their smile both during and after treatment can be safe.