Preventive And Functional Dentistry For Kids

Setting Children Up For A Lifetime Of Healthy Smiles

At Sidekick Smiles, your child’s oral health is always our top priority. That’s why we don’t only focus on preventing cavities and gum disease with treatments like teeth cleanings and oral exams. At our office, Dr. Deep and our team optimize a functional dentistry approach. This is an approach that helps protect and preserve your child’s oral health and overall health as they grow.

Understanding Functional Dentistry

So, what is functional dentistry? Basically, it’s an approach to dentistry that emphasizes prevention, addressing the root causes of dental health issues, and the relationship between oral health and whole-body health.

For example, a traditional pediatric dentist may only be concerned about tooth decay after they notice it during an oral exam. They may recommend fluoride treatment to strengthen the tooth,  or a filling to repair the cavity once it gets worse.

In contrast, Dr. Deep will work closely with you not just to identify tooth decay, but to prevent it completely. He will look at things like your child’s diet, hydration, oral microbiome, and common issues like mouth breathing during sleep. This allows Dr. Deep and the Sidekick Smiles team to identify potential risk factors and provide you and your child with a personalized plan to prevent cavities and other common oral health issues.

Our Functional & Preventive Dentistry Services

What sets us apart from other pediatric dentists in King of Prussia? Here’s a look at just a few of our preventive and functional dentistry services.

Oral hygiene with AirFlow Therapy

In addition to traditional dental cleanings, we also offer pediatric teeth cleanings with AirFlow. This dental hygiene system uses a combination of air, warm water, and powder particles to clean away biofilm and tartar from your child’s teeth, and has been proven efficacious especially in children who are under Orthodontic care (i.e in braces). Not only is AirFlow more effective than a traditional dental cleaning, but it’s more comfortable, too. No scraping or pointy dental tools are required!

Identifying root causes and creating personalized care plans

This is at the heart of everything we do at Sidekick Smiles. When you and your child meet with Dr. Deep, he’ll do more than just clean their teeth. He’ll get to know you and your little one, learn more about their lifestyle, ask about past oral health issues, and get insights into their overall health.

By identifying issues like thin enamel, saliva pH, and other factors that can contribute to cavities and gum disease, Dr. Deep can create a personalized plan that will protect your child’s smile and keep their smile strong as they grow.

Airway and sleep health for kids

Quality sleep is essential for kids to grow up happy and healthy, and it’s important for the development of their smiles, too! For example, things like teeth grinding (bruxism) and mouth breathing at night can interfere with proper oral development and raise your little one’s risk of cavities.

Dr. Deep specializes in airway and sleep health for kids. Our team can develop a plan to address improper swallowing, poor tongue position, mouth breathing at night, teeth grinding, and more. With Sidekick Smiles on your side, you can make sure your little ones are getting high-quality sleep, and that their oral development isn’t compromised as they continue to grow.

Hydroxyapatite varnish for cavity prevention

In addition to conventional fluoride varnish, we also offer hydroxyapatite varnish to help prevent cavities. We understand that some parents may be worried about the effects of fluoride, and hydroxyapatite is an excellent alternative. This is a natural substance that’s already present in teeth. Not only does hydroxyapatite varnish strengthen and remineralize teeth, but it’s also completely non-toxic and harmless if swallowed.

Metal-free fillings and crowns

We specialize in both metal-free composite crowns and tooth-colored white crowns. All of our aesthetic dental restorations are made without metals like mercury, silver, copper, tin, or stainless steel. 

This means that you don’t have to worry about heavy metals when it comes to your child’s filling or crown. Not only that but our tooth-colored crowns and fillings match their existing tooth color perfectly. This means your child can continue to smile proudly after their visit to Sidekick Smiles!

Book A Consultation With Dr. Deep To Learn More!

Is seeing a functional dentist in King of Prussia a good option for you and your family? Find out for yourself by scheduling your first visit with Dr. Deep today! We’re always accepting new patients, and we’d love to show you and your family what makes Sidekick Smiles such a special place for kids of all ages.