Dentist for Teens – San Ramon, CA
Carefully Guiding Your Teen’s Smile into Adulthood
Teenagers lead pretty busy lives; between school, sports, extracurriculars, and other events and activities, it might not always be easy to make sure they’re staying on top of their dental hygiene. However, ensuring that your teen receives excellent dental care goes a long way; a healthy, bright smile is an important asset during adulthood that you should want your kid to have access to. Don’t wait to call our team of dentists for teens in San Ramon here at Gale Ranch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of San Ramon if it’s been at least six months since your teenager’s last dental visit; we’ll get them squared away!
Why Choose Gale Ranch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of San Ramon for Dentistry for Teens?
- Natural-Looking, Confidence-Inspiring Restorations
- Board-Certified Dental Team
- Sedation Options Available
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
Certain oral health issues including cavities and gum disease have the propensity to form without us even realizing it—and if your teen doesn’t attend their routine dental checkups twice every year, they might be unknowingly suffering from one or more of these problems! What’s worse is that these issues can worsen without timely intervention. Rest assured, during each of your teen’s checkups, we’ll be sure to inspect their teeth and gums and remove any built-up plaque and tartar, as well as look closely for signs of underlying issues.
Dental Sealants
Of all of the teeth in your teen’s mouth, their molars and premolars are actually at the highest risk for decay. This is because they are typically harder to reach with a toothbrush, given their position in the mouth. Not to mention, they also have several pits and crevices on their surfaces, which are ideal hiding spots for bacteria and lingering food debris. If we find your teen could use a little extra protection for these teeth, we can apply dental sealants to them. This makes it much easier to keep them clean and free of cavity-causing bacteria!
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has incredible dental health benefits, and no matter how old you are, it can help to keep your teeth strong and resilient. If you want your teen’s smile to remain as resistant to decay as possible, you should be sure they’re getting enough fluoride exposure, whether it’s from the tap water they drink or the toothpaste they use. In any case, we can also help by giving your teen a quick fluoride treatment at the end of their next visit.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Cavities are a nuisance, and they mustn’t be ignored—treating and filling them quickly before they can cause any further damage to teeth is any dentist’s top priority. We’re pleased to offer composite resin fillings instead of traditional amalgam ones; not only do those more closely match the shades of natural teeth, but they retain an impressive level of toughness and durability. They can serve your teen well for many years!
Root Canals / Pulp Therapy
It's sometimes possible for teeth to sustain damage to their pulp, or their innermost layer—and when this happens, the entire tooth is at risk of being lost! In many cases, we can turn toward a treatment known as a pulpotomy, which involves only removing the damaged pulp in the crown of the tooth. If the infection has already spread beyond the crown and reached the roots, then we might instead suggest root canal therapy. This involves removing the entire pulp of the tooth before sanitizing it and sealing it back up. Both of these treatments are sure to salvage the tooth and protect it from further harm!
Dental Crowns
When teeth sustain damage that can’t be fixed with a filling, often due to extensive decay, a dental crown is often the go-to solution. They’re placed on teeth following root canal therapy, as well. These are designed to cover the entire compromised tooth, protecting it from further harm but still allowing the patient to bite and chew normally. Crowns are highly customizable and come in several different materials, depending on the circumstances as well as your teens’ preferences.
Learn More About Dental Crowns
Tooth Extractions
You should know that we’ll only recommend extracting one of your teen’s teeth when it’s absolutely necessary, and we’ll always do what we can to preserve their natural teeth. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. But no matter the circumstances of your teen’s tooth extraction, we’ll make their comfort our top priority during the process. Here are a few situations that often call for a tooth extraction:
- The tooth has sustained severe damage and cannot be restored with a crown or filling.
- There’s an infection present that’s threatening your teen’s oral health, and root canal therapy isn’t an option.
- Teeth have become loose due to advanced gum disease.
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Athletic Mouthguards
If your teen stays active or participates in sports, they’re understandably at an increased risk for dental accidents—one unlucky foul ball or thrown elbow is all it takes! Luckily, you can keep your teen’s smile safe no matter what sport they’re playing by getting them an athletic mouthguard. These devices shield the teeth and gums from the brunt of an impact by redistributing the force across all of the teeth, rather than the point of contact. We’re happy to provide your child with a custom-made mouthguard that’ll protect their pearly whites; these offer more protection and increased comfort compared to store-bought varieties.