Look no further than Dr. Lance Savoie Family Dental if you are looking for a children and family dentist in the Abbeville, LA area. Dr. Savoie has years of experience treating dental concerns for families and children. Dr. Savoie offers standard procedures such as regular dental cleanings and exams, dental sealants, and fluoride treatments.
Why Choose a Children and Family Dentist?
There are many reasons to choose children and family dentists in Abbeville, LA. First, a family dentist treats children and their unique oral health concerns. A pediatric dentist understands how teeth develop and how they may affect the child. Additionally, a skilled children’s dental office can make children feel comfortable – even at the dentist.
Another advantage to a family dentist is that the dentist understands your family’s history and genetic concerns. For example, if older siblings or parents have certain dental conditions such as poorly erupted wisdom teeth, Dr. Savoie can look for that and treat it early. Lastly, a family dentist is an excellent addition to your family’s healthcare team because families can schedule back-to-back dental appointments at Dr. Lance Savoie Family Dental. This means that the entire family can go to the dentist in one day.
Regular Dental Cleanings and Exams
As a family dentist, Dr. Savoie stresses the importance of regular dental cleanings and exams. Everyone, including children over the age of one, should have a dental cleaning and exam every six months. The dental team will remove hard-to-get plaque and debris from your teeth and gums during your dental cleaning. This debris and bacteria can create tooth decay or gum disease left untreated.
We treat tooth decay with a dental filling or a dental crown, and we treat gum disease with deep dental cleanings. During the dental exam, Dr. Savoie will examine the health of your teeth and recommend restorations if necessary.
Dental Sealants
For children whose back molars have erupted, Dr. Savoie recommends dental sealants. Dental sealants act as a physical barrier between bacteria and the tooth. The back molars are susceptible to dental decay because they have many crevices, and they are hard to reach with a toothbrush. Often, debris and bacteria get stuck on the back molars and begin to create dental decay. One way to prevent this is to cover the grooves of the back molar with a flat, slick surface called dental sealants. When bacteria or debris touch the top of a dental sealant, they will slide off.
Fluoride Treatment
After a regular dental cleaning and exam, Dr. Savoie may ask if your child would like a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a painless, quick treatment that strengthens the outer layer of the tooth called the enamel. For a fluoride treatment, your dentist will ask you to swish a solution around your mouth, or they will paint it on your teeth. The solution chemically strengthens the enamel. It is harder for bacteria and debris to break through the enamel and cause tooth decay.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
One procedure Dr. Savoie performs on older children is wisdom tooth removal. A wisdom tooth is the third molar in the back of the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth. These teeth often erupt horizontally rather than vertically, which can cause severe pain. This also increases the risk of infection. Dr. Savoie recommends that children 17 – 20 remove their wisdom teeth to avoid potential pain and disease.
Dr. Savoie is proud to be a local child and family dentist in Abbeville, LA. Dr. Savoie and his team offer various services for children and their families. For more information about our dental practice or to schedule an appointment, call our office.
