Frequently Asked Dental Questions – Allen, TX

When should my child have their first dental appointment?

We recommend that your child sees a dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts. However, you should also bring them in no later than their first birthday. During their early checkup, we will make sure your child’s smile has the best start possible. In addition, we will provide tips on taking care of their teeth as soon as they “sprout.”

Can you help children with special needs?

Absolutely! Both our dentists and team members are happy to serve children with a wide array of physical, intellectual, or sensory special needs. Simply give us a call and tell us about the accommodations they need and we’ll make them ahead of your appointment. We’ll make sure both you and they have a great trip to our dental office.

When you call, we’ll ask for an up-to-date list of medical conditions, medications, and allergies. We’ll ask about what things make your child feel comfortable, their favorite things to do, and what we should avoid to prevent upsetting them. The more information you give us, the better we can make their environment when you arrive.

My child is in a lot of dental pain. Do you accept emergency appointments?

Yes! Whether your child is dealing with a bad toothache or just suffered a physical accident that left teeth damaged, please give us a call ASAP. Our team members will get them scheduled for an appointment right away so they can get professional care. In many cases, we can see them the same day you call.

How is Silver Diamine Fluoride different from regular fluoride?

Standard fluoride is commonly used to strengthen teeth and repair small areas of decay. In contrast, SDF can stop active cavities by killing bacteria that are harming the enamel directly. It also improves the chances we can save your child’s tooth, protect nearby teeth, and stabilize teeth damaged by cavities until we can place a filling or crown.

How can I get my child to stop sucking their thumb?

It’s important to know that thumb-sucking can have a major negative effect on a child’s oral development if they continue the habit after teeth begin erupting. Thankfully, there are a few ways to help them break the habit. First, you should reward them for not sucking their thumb, rather than punish them when they do. Start off with little treats if they can go a day, then a week without thumb-sucking. Make a record of your child’s progress and create milestones so they can have rewards to work towards and further reinforce quitting the habit. It’s also a great idea to figure out when and why your child sucks their thumb. For example, are they thumb-sucking when feeling scared, nervous, or bored? You could show them other ways to help cope with these emotions so they break the habit naturally.

How can I know if my child will need braces?

At your child’s next visit, we’ll check the alignment of their primary teeth and incoming adult teeth. We may recommend they undergo something called Phase 1 Pediatric Orthodontics if we do notice any issues. This procedure is meant to help the adult teeth come in straighter and minimize the need for braces later (or at least shorten the length of their orthodontic care if it is required). We will monitor and/or treat to help teeth fall out at a more ideal timing. Then, we’ll create custom oral appliances that help protect space and guide teeth into more favorable positions. After most or all of their adult teeth have erupted, it will be time for your child to visit the orthodontist.

Can a child have sleep apnea?

It’s possible, yes. Many children with sleep apnea tend to be misdiagnosed with ADHD because the symptoms are so similar. For example, if your child is hyper, has difficulty concentrating or snores loudly, we can complete an airway assessment to confirm if they are at risk for sleep apnea. If this is the case, we’ll create a treatment plan to help them right away.

Will you take my Dental insurance?

Sprout Dentistry for Kids of Allen is an in-network provider with many of the most well-known insurance plans. This means in all likelihood, we do accept your dental insurance. Our team will make filing claims forms and maximizing benefits as easy as possible. If you are using a plan we are out-of-network for, we have affordable and convenient Wellness plans that are custom-tailored to meet the needs of your child. This allows you to minimize dental costs all while providing the highest quality care. Give us a call if you’d like to learn more about how we can use your specific policy.