What is a "Silver Filling"?

Amalgam, or “silver,” fillings are one restorative material that Dr. Phillips or Dr. Stockton can use to replace lost tooth structure due to caries (cavities). This material is silver in color and is a strong, durable option to restore you child’s tooth.

What is a "White Filling"?

“White” fillings are also called resin or composite fillings. This restorative material is an esthetic option, which closely resembles the color of the tooth. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton will help you make the best decision about which filling material is best for you and your child.

What is a Pediatric Crown?

When there is extensive loss of tooth structure, a crown may be indicated for your child’s tooth. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton are happy to provide several options, including stainless steel crowns (“silver crowns”) and EZ Pedo crowns (“white” or tooth-colored crowns). Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton will guide you to the best option based on your child’s individual needs.

What is a Baby Root Canal?

(Also called Pulp Therapy or Nerve Treatment): The center of the tooth, called the root canal or dental pulp, is the part of the tooth that carries nutrients to the tooth. In some cases of dental trauma or damage to the nerve as a result of dental decay, a baby root canal may be indicated. The Doctors will remove the affected portion of the nerve, place a medicament, and restore the tooth with a filling or crown.

What happens when my child loses a baby tooth early?

In some situations where the front baby teeth are lost early due to trauma or decay, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton are able to replace these teeth with “fake teeth” on a retainer called a Pedo Partial. These Pedo Partials are helpful to maintain esthetics, speech, and function of your child’s teeth until the permanent teeth are ready to erupt.

In other situations when a back baby tooth, or molar, is lost early, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton may recommend a space maintainer. There are several varieties of space maintainers, each designed to hold space until the developing adult tooth is ready to replace the lost baby tooth.

What is a sealant and how does it help prevent cavities?

Sealants work by filling in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of teeth. They work as a measure to help prevent dental decay by sealing out food particles that could get stuck in these crevices. Sealants last for several years and are a great preventative tool that Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton may recommend for your child.

Do you offer sedation for my child?

Both Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton have been trained on sedation techniques to help make the appointment as easy and comfortable as possible for your child. Children may require different types of sedation to safely complete their dental care needs. We offer a variety of sedation options and techniques to best help accomplish this goal. A few of the sedation options that we offer include Nitrous Oxide analgesia, in-office conscious sedation and general anesthesia accomplished in a hospital setting. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton will help you make the right decision based on your child’s individual needs.

Are dental X-rays necessary for my child?

Radiographs (X-Rays) can be a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can be missed. X-rays are an important part of the dental examination process to aid Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton in diagnosing dental cavities, survey developing teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stockton will decide which X-rays would be most beneficial to help accomplish a complete dental evaluation for you child.