Our mouths are filled with bacteria, and the foods that we eat, especially sugars and starches, help bacteria grow and produce acids. The acids eat into the protective enamel on teeth, creating flaws that weaken the tooth’s structure and eventually lead to tooth decay.• The first stage of tooth decay is the demineralization of the tooth’s enamel, and when this happens, white spots appear on the tooth’s surface.• The next stage is when the enamel breaks down more and the white spots become brown.• After this, the decay reaches the tooth’s dentin.Until recently, signs of decay have been treated by drilling that removes it. After drilling, the hole, or cavity, is filled with filling material.Today, if the decay is spotted before it reaches the dentin, the problem can be solved with infiltration treatment rather than drilling.

Absolutely. Baby teeth may be meant to fall out eventually, but they're still really important. Your child’s last baby tooth usually will fall out around the age of 11-12, so your little one will be using their baby teeth to chew, eat, and speak for a very long time! For obvious reasons, this means it’s important to preserve their tooth and keep it in good shape.You need to treat cavities right away, too. The sooner you treat your child’s cavity, the sooner they will feel relief from tooth pain and sensitivity. These symptoms will only get worse if you don’t seek the proper treatment. And, eventually, your child’s cavity may turn into a tooth infection if it destroys the outer layer of their tooth.

So if you think that your child has a cavity, it’s best to bring them into Kids Tooth Team right away for a consultation with Dr. Alex and our team. Common signs of cavities include dark or discolored spots on teeth, visible holes and pits on the teeth, complaints of tooth sensitivity, and discoloration or inflammation of the gums near the affected tooth.

We offer a variety of options for treating cavities in baby teeth. We usually recommend a stainless steel crown or a zirconia crown, since crowns provide excellent protection and coverage for baby teeth. Dental fillings are also an option for some teeth, and dental sealants are a good option if you want to reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay in the future.

Your child will only need a space maintainer if they lose a baby tooth early. For example, if your child slips, falls, and knocks out a baby tooth while they're playing, Dr. Otto will recommend that they get a space maintainer. Space maintainers, as the name suggests, are placed in areas where your child has lost a baby tooth. They help maintain the proper spacing in your little one’s smile, which allows their adult teeth to erupt without complications in the future.

But if your child’s baby tooth loosens and falls out naturally, they likely will not need a space maintainer. Or, if they have an accident and knock their tooth out but their adult tooth is almost ready to erupt, a space maintainer may not be necessary.

It can be hard to tell on your own, of course. So if your child loses a tooth and you think that they may need a space maintainer, you can bring them into Kids Tooth Team for a consultation with one of the dentists at our Buda, South Austin, or Kyle location. A quick oral exam and a set of x-rays will help us determine whether or not your little one needs a space maintainer.

If you’re the parent of an infant, the main thing you’ll notice are issues feeding. Kids with tongue ties or lip ties often have problems latching onto the breast properly, and may have issues bottle feeding as well. If your child is very fussy and colicky when feeding, is having trouble gaining weight, or is swallowing a lot of air and burping a lot when feeding, these could all indicate a tongue or lip tie.

As kids grow older, you may also notice other signs that could indicate the need for a frenectomy. They may have trouble eating certain solid foods, since their tongue and lip ties will make it difficult to chew and swallow properly. Kids with tongue and lip ties may also develop speech impediments, and have trouble pronouncing certain sounds like “T” “D” “N” “L” and “S.”

We know that it can be hard to tell if your child has tongue and lip ties, or if they need a frenectomy. But you’re not in this alone. With just a quick consultation at Kids Tooth Team, Dr. Alex can diagnose your child, assess the severity of their tongue and lip ties, and determine if a frenectomy is right for your little one. Don’t wait, and contact us today for help with tongue and lip ties.

Kids with healthy teeth will not need tooth extractions. There are only a few exceptions. For example, some kids may have an extra tooth, or may need one or more teeth to be removed as part of the process of getting orthodontic treatment.

Wisdom teeth are another exception. These teeth grow in later than the rest of your child’s teeth, between the ages of 17-25. They're a natural part of the mouth, but many kids don’t have enough space in their mouths to accommodate them. If they don’t grow into their mouth correctly, your child’s wisdom teeth may need to be extracted.

But for the most part, tooth extractions are only needed when your child has an unhealthy tooth that can’t be saved with any other treatment. Tooth extractions are always a last resort option at Kids Tooth Team. Whenever possible, we will try to save your child’s tooth with treatments like a pulpotomy.

Sometimes, though, a tooth may be too damaged to save, or it may be necessary to pull it to prevent further complications. If this is the case for your child, Dr. Otto may recommend a tooth extraction. We offer gentle extractions, and keep your child comfortable with dental sedation throughout the entire process.

Once your child’s unhealthy tooth has been pulled, it will need to be replaced. If it was a baby tooth, Dr. Otto will recommend a space maintainer, which will maintain the proper gap in their smile until their adult tooth erupts.

However, if your child has lost an adult tooth, they will need a replacement. Dental implants are typically the best option for replacing adult teeth. However, they usually are not placed until your child is 16-18 years old, and their jaw has finished developing. Until then, a fixed or removable bridge can be used to replace the missing tooth.