Pediatric dentistry in Austin
kids actually look forward to.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first visit by age 1, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. The visit is short, low-pressure, and as much about teaching parents what to watch for as it is about looking at the tooth. Starting early is also the single best predictor of a kid who is not afraid of the dentist later.

In most cases, the answer is no special treatment. Gum-health issues like gingivitis are very rare in toddlers. If your toddler’s gums are swollen and tender, this is likely due to the natural teething process. As the teeth begin to move beneath the surface of the gums, the gums may look swollen or red, and seem inflamed. Your toddler may also be cranky or complain of pain in their mouth if they are old enough to do so. However, this is completely normal. As their tooth erupts, their gums will stop swelling and will become less inflamed. Once the tooth has fully erupted, you will no longer notice any serious inflammation or swelling around the area.

Yes. Baby teeth shape chewing, speech, and jaw growth, and they hold space for the adult teeth coming behind them. Lose a back baby tooth too early and the molars behind it slide forward, leaving no room for the adult tooth to come in straight, which turns a small problem now into orthodontic treatment later. Treating baby teeth is almost always the cheaper path.

Yes. Modern digital pediatric x-rays use a tiny fraction of the radiation of older film. We only take them when there is a clear clinical reason, suspected decay between teeth, an injury, or a developmental concern, and we use a lead apron and thyroid collar every time. For most healthy kids, bitewing x-rays are taken every 12 to 24 months, not at every visit.

If your gums start bleeding while you are flossing, should you keep flossing? Absolutely. Bleeding while flossing is often a sign that you need to be flossing your gums more thoroughly or frequently, not that they should be left alone. It might sound counterintuitive, but the more you floss, the less your gums will bleed, unless the bleeding is related to physical damage to your gum tissue or a systemic issue. Many patients will stop flossing an area that bleeds, but the best thing to do is to give that area more attention.

Many kids do, many do not. We track jaw growth and crowding starting around age 7, which is when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation. Sometimes the answer is to wait. Sometimes early intervention with Invisalign First or a small appliance saves a much bigger treatment in the teen years. Either way, we will tell you what we see and what the options are, without pressure.

Just about all kinds of toothpaste contain some sort of mild abrasive, as this helps remove plaque and polish your teeth. However, whitening toothpastes usually have a higher level of abrasive particles. Baking soda is often used, as is silica, dicalcium phosphate, and a number of other abrasives. These abrasives are usually formulated specifically to be softer than your enamel. This ensures that they do not wear down your teeth, but they can still be used to buff away surface stains caused by plaque buildup, and keep your teeth looking bright and beautiful.

If you have a persistent or severe toothache, this may indicate that you have an infected tooth. If this is the case, it is critical to come in for an emergency appointment to get a root canal and restore your tooth. Enamel Dentistry offers emergency care and expert root canal therapy, and we want to make sure that our patients are informed about the signs and symptoms of infected teeth. For kids, the pediatric version of a root canal is typically a pulpotomy, which removes only the infected pulp inside the crown of a baby tooth, leaving the root intact so the tooth can fall out naturally on schedule.

We accept most major dental insurance plans. Pediatric preventive care, exams, cleanings, fluoride, and routine x-rays, is typically covered at 100% by most plans. We will verify your benefits before the appointment and walk you through anything that is out-of-pocket. If you do not have insurance, the Enamel Dental Plan is a low-cost annual membership that covers cleanings, exams, and x-rays.