Choosing the right dentist for your child is crucial. At Kangaroo Smiles, we provide a secure and welcoming environment that caters to the unique needs of young patients. Our clinic is designed with children in mind, from the playful décor to the gentle approach of our staff, making sure that your child feels comfortable and relaxed.
Our team consists of pediatric dental specialists who are not only highly skilled but also passionate about pediatric dental care. With years of specialized training, our dentists have the expertise to handle the dental needs of infants, children, and adolescents.
At Kangaroo Smiles in Lowell and Methuen, we focus on preventative care to ensure your child’s long-term oral health and are equipped to handle everything from routine check-ups to complex procedures with the utmost care.
Regular dental check-ups are crucial for maintaining your child’s oral health. Starting from their first year, we recommend a dental visit every six months. These regular visits allow us to monitor the growth and development of your child’s teeth and gums, catch potential issues early, and guide you on proper home care.
During each check-up, our pediatric dentists perform a thorough examination and discuss any concerns you might have about your child’s dental health.
Fluoride Treatments
To strengthen your child’s teeth and prevent cavities, we apply a safe and effective fluoride varnish. This treatment not only helps harden the tooth enamel but also reverses early signs of tooth decay.
Dental Sealants
Sealants are a quick, pain-free way to protect your child’s back teeth (molars) from decay. We apply a clear protective coating that seals the deep grooves in their molars, blocking out food particles and bacteria that are hard to reach with brushing alone.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
When cavities occur, our tooth-colored fillings restore the health and aesthetics of your child’s teeth. Made from durable composite materials, these fillings blend seamlessly with the natural tooth, ensuring that your child’s smile remains beautiful.
Baby Tooth Root Canals (Pulpotomy/Pulpectomy)
For teeth severely affected by decay, we may recommend a baby tooth root canal to save the tooth and prevent further issues. This procedure involves removing damaged pulp and sealing the tooth, which is then covered with a protective crown.
Stainless Steel Crowns
For teeth that cannot be repaired with fillings, we use stainless steel crowns to cover and protect the tooth. These crowns are durable, cost-effective, and are especially useful for preserving a tooth until it naturally falls out.
In cases where a tooth is too damaged to save, extraction might be necessary. At Kangaroo Smiles, we consider extraction a last resort. Our pediatric dentists ensure that the procedure is as pain-free as possible, using gentle techniques and the latest anesthesia options to minimize discomfort and anxiety for your child.
When Extractions Become Necessary
For young athletes, protection is key—not just for their bodies but also for their smiles. Participating in sports, especially contact sports, increases the risk of dental injuries. To mitigate this, we provide custom-made athletic mouthguards.
Our mouthguards are designed to fit snugly over your child’s teeth, providing optimal protection against impacts that could cause tooth damage, such as chipping, fracturing, or knocking out a tooth. Beyond protecting the teeth, our mouthguards also help reduce the risk of concussions and other head and neck injuries by absorbing and dispersing impact forces.
Losing baby teeth early can lead to dental alignment issues when permanent teeth start to erupt. To prevent such complications, we recommend space maintainers. These devices are essential in preserving the space left by a prematurely lost tooth until the permanent tooth is ready to emerge.
Custom-made from durable materials like stainless steel and acrylic, space maintainers fit discreetly in your child’s mouth, ensuring that surrounding teeth do not shift into the gap and disrupt the natural growth pattern of their permanent teeth. This proactive approach helps avoid more extensive orthodontic treatments in the future.
To ensure comprehensive dental care, we employ the latest in digital X-ray technology. This advanced tool is crucial for diagnosing underlying issues that aren’t visible during a regular dental exam.
Digital X-rays are not only faster and more comfortable but also use significantly less radiation compared to traditional X-rays, making them a safer choice for children. The immediate availability of images helps our pediatric dentists to explain the dental conditions clearly to both parents and children, enhancing understanding and easing any anxieties.
We encourage parents to contact us immediately if a dental emergency arises. We offer guidance over the phone to manage the situation until you can reach our office for an emergency appointment. For after-hours emergencies, we provide instructions on how to obtain urgent care.
Although they will all eventually fall out, primary (baby) teeth are important for:
Cavities in baby teeth can cause sensitivity, pain, and sometimes even serious infections. In some situations, they can also directly affect the development of your child’s permanent teeth.
Often times, cavities develop without any pain or other symptoms. That is why it is so important to schedule your child for regular, routine visits with our office. Small cavities that are not painful are always easier to fix than large cavities.
Left untreated, cavities can lead to more serious problems for your child, such as infections in the nerve of the tooth, swellings, and possibly needing to have the tooth removed. Some common symptoms of a larger cavity may include:
1) A painful toothache or swollen gums
2) Pain when chewing or eating hot or cold foods
3) The presence of white spots, tooth discolorations, or holes in teeth
We use dental radiographs, or X-rays, in the dental exams of children of all ages, because many problems with the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen by the naked eye.
X-rays can reveal:
At Kangaroo Smiles, we use digital X-rays. Digital X-rays are not only more comfortable and accurate than traditional X-rays, but also faster and better for the environment. With no sharp X-ray film and no lengthy chemical processing required, the images can be seen on our computer screen within seconds. Studies have also found that digital X-rays emit up to 90% less radiation than conventional X-rays!
Dr. Mona is very familiar with the phrase “accidents happen.”
If your child experiences a dental accident that causes him or her any amount of dental pain, call us immediately. We can talk you through the situation and help relieve your stress. If needed, we will schedule a same-day emergency appointment.
To make an emergency appointment, please click the button below. You can also make an appointment by calling us at (978) 425-1496.