At Black Point Dental, we provide comprehensive dental care solutions for children, including emergency dental services, malocclusion treatment, and management of common conditions, such as baby bottle tooth decay, cavities, and mouth injuries.
Our experienced dentist, Dr. Patrick Ferguson, is dedicated to ensuring optimal oral health for your child's overall development.
To schedule an appointment, please call (888) 955-5922. We are located in Honolulu, HI, and look forward to helping your child achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
We understand some issues need urgent attention, and our team offers same-day appointments for such situations. If your child has suffered a chipped, dislodged, or broken tooth, do not hesitate to contact our team for immediate dental care.
How to Handle a Pediatric Dental Emergency
According to the American Dental Association, timely intervention can make the difference between saving or losing a permanent tooth. It is very important to seek prompt attention in the case of a dental emergency.
Here are a few things you can do in case of a dental emergency:
- If your child has a knocked-out tooth, try to keep it moist in milk and get to the dentist as soon as possible.
- If your child has a cracked tooth, rinse the area with warm water and use a cold compress to help with swelling before heading to the dentist.
- If your child has bitten their tongue or lip, rinse the area and apply a cold compress. In case of a foreign object stuck between the teeth, use waxed floss to attempt to remove it.
- If your child is experiencing a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water and use waxed floss to remove food particles.
Black Point Dental in Honolulu offers comprehensive dental care, including emergency services. Contact us for same-day appointments.
Thumbsucking is a common behavior that infants and babies use to feel calm and happy. While it may seem harmless, it can lead to issues once your child reaches 5-6 years of age. Prolonged thumbsucking can affect the roof of the mouth and hinder proper mouth growth and teeth alignment.
If you're concerned about your child's thumbsucking habit, it's best to seek professional help. Dr. Ferguson offers personalized consultations to help your child break this habit and prevent any future dental issues.Â
It's important to address this issue early on to ensure your child's dental health is not compromised in the long run.
Dental decay in infants, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, is caused when the accumulation of plaque wears away tooth enamel. This condition is more prevalent in children who consume sugary foods and are frequently exposed to sugar-dipped pacifiers.
Baby bottle tooth decay can lead to early loss of teeth, resulting in speech and eating problems and an increased risk of crooked or damaged adult teeth.
Dr. Ferguson advises avoiding sugary drinks in baby bottles to prevent dental decay in children. Additionally, rinsing and cleaning babies' mouths after bottle feeding can prevent plaque buildup.
Once a child's teeth emerge, gently brushing them with a child-sized toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste is recommended.
Malocclusion is a dental condition where the teeth are not correctly aligned when the jaws are closed. This can affect a child's ability to chew and speak properly and cause jaw pain and headaches.
Malocclusion can be caused by genetic factors, thumb-sucking, and other habits that affect the development of teeth and jaws. This is usually noticeable in children between 6 and 12 when their permanent teeth start to come in.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent further complications. If you suspect your child has malocclusion, it is important to contact a pediatric dentist for evaluation and treatment.
Dr. Ferguson emphasizes that sugary foods and drinks can harm children's teeth by breaking down enamel and leading to cavities. In fact, cavities are the most common chronic disease among children in the United States, and the prevalence is increasing. Even children with permanent teeth are at risk of developing cavities.
Fortunately, sealants are an effective preventive treatment that can help protect teeth from acid damage. These plastic covers are applied to the chewing surface of teeth, covering the narrow grooves in the back teeth and reducing the number of food particles and bacteria that can settle in the fissures.Â
In molars, sealants have been found to reduce the risk of decay by almost 80 percent. If you want to prevent cavities in your child's teeth, talk to Dr. Ferguson about getting dental sealants during your next visit.
Losing a baby tooth too soon can lead to the eruption of adult teeth in the wrong space, causing alignment problems.
Dr. Ferguson recommends using space maintainers to hold the gap caused by missing teeth. These devices are custom-made and can prevent future orthodontic issues.
During your consultation with Dr. Ferguson, he will assess your child's dental condition and recommend the most suitable treatment plan to ensure a healthy and beautiful smile.
Dr. Ferguson stresses the importance of protecting children's teeth and mouths during contact sports. Kids who play such sports face a higher risk of dental injuries, which can be prevented by using custom-made mouthguards.
Mouthguards provide a cushion to the gums, teeth, and cheeks, reducing the risk of damage to these areas during sports. Dr. Ferguson recommends getting a custom mouthguard that fits your child's mouth perfectly and provides the necessary protection.
By taking this precaution, you can help protect your children's oral health and prevent dental emergencies caused by sports injuries.
At Black Point Dental, we treat a range of pediatric dental issues. Our goal is to help your child maintain optimal oral health throughout their life. Dr. Patrick Ferguson and the Black Point Dental team are here to address all your dental needs.
Dr. Patrick Ferguson is a member of the Hawaii Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Board of Oral Implantology.Â
At Black Point Dental, we offer comprehensive dental services for the whole family, including treatment for dental emergencies, thumbsucking, baby bottle tooth decay, malocclusion, cavities, missing teeth, and mouth injuries.
To schedule an appointment for your child, call us at (808) 955-5922 or request an appointment online. You can also visit our office in Honolulu, HI.