KiDDS Dental Mother's Day Facebook Contest

Mother's DAY? No way!

We'll be celebrating mothers ALL WEEK on Facebook
and one lucky winner will get a Fit Bit Flex just for playing along.

Look for a new way to enter to win each day

May 1st through May 7th.

Contest Rules:

By entering this promotion, participant agrees to a complete release of Facebook from any or all liability in connection with this contest. It is also acknowledgment that the contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

How to enter: Entries consist of following the directions (comment, "like," etc.) given in the official promotion posts on the KiDDS Dental Facebook page between May 1, 2016 at 9:00 AM and May 7, 2016 at 5:00 PM. One entry per promotion post per Facebook user is allowed. Multiple entries per promotion post will be disqualified.

Drawing: One random prize drawing will be held on or about May 8, 2016.  The winner will receive a FitBit Flex. This prize is valued at $99. Cash cannot be awarded in lieu of prize. Prize is not transferable. The winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying applicable state and federal taxes. If a winner is disqualified or if a prize is unclaimed, KiDDS Dental reserves the right to conduct another drawing to determine an alternate winner or to not award that winner's prize, at its sole discretion.

Odds: Actual odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries.

Eligibility: Legal residents of the United States are eligible to participate and win. Any person under the age of 18 must have a parent's or legal guardian's permission to participate and/or win.  Must be 13 years or older to enter. Employees of KiDDS Dental and their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, children, in-laws) are not eligible to enter. Winner must be available to pick up prize at KiDDS Dental in Liberty Lake, WA by May 16, 2016.

Decisions: By entering into the promotion, entrants and their parents or guardians (if the entrant is under the age of 18) agree to abide by and be bound by these official rules, and to accept the decision of KiDDS Dental as final.  Entrants and their parents or guardians (if entrant is under the age of 18) also agree to hold KiDDS Dental harmless from any liability arising from participation in this promotion. KiDDS Dental is not responsible for entries not received because of technical difficulties. KiDDS Dental reserves the right to disqualify any participant to a person who fails to follow these official rules or uses fraudulent means in participating. If for any reason this promotion is not able to be conducted as planned, KiDDS Dental reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this promotion and randomly draw from the entries received up to the cancellation/suspension date.

Liability Release: By participating, each participant and winner waives any and all claims against KiDDS Dental their employees and agents for any personal loss of any kind which may occur from the participation in the promotion.

Publicity: Each winner (and such winner's parent or guardian if any winner is under the age of 18) agrees to permit KiDDS Dental to use his/her name and likeness in promotional and other KiDDS Dental materials, without additional compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.

This promotion is void where prohibited.

By entering the contest, entrants grant KiDDS Dental license to display, distribute, reproduce contest entries. Winners must sign a media release and will be responsible for paying any taxes they may owe on a prize.

A “Crowning” Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry

A “Crowning” Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry

Crowns? On a baby tooth? Crowns are for adults—right? Actually, crowns, sometimes called caps, are used by people of all ages to prevent further decay or protect an already damaged tooth. These appliances can be instrumental in getting your child’s dental health back on track if he or she experiences premature tooth decay or an unforeseen dental injury.

In children, crowns are used to protect the primary teeth. Primary teeth—also known as baby teeth—are immensely important to a child’s oral development. Besides their obvious use for chewing, these teeth assist in developing normal speech patterns, maintaining space for the permanent teeth and acting as a “guide” for the time when permanent teeth grow in. Because the primary teeth are inherently smaller than the future permanent teeth, any evidence of decay or damage means considering the use of a crown; otherwise the tooth may become brittle and crack. This is especially important if a great deal of tooth structure has been destroyed or the enamel around the decayed area has been weakened.

To act as a barrier, a prefabricated covering—a crown—is placed over the tooth. The most common type of crown used on primary teeth is a stainless steel shell that comes in various sizes and can be fitted to any tooth. The simple procedure used to install a crown should not worry you as a parent. After applying a local topical anesthetic to the gum and cheek, we will remove any decay on the tooth as well as diminish its surface area so that the crown can fit snugly over it. Once we contour the crown to fit, we apply cement and push the crown onto the tooth. As a final step, we polish the crown. All this usually can be done in one office visit at KiDDS Dental.

Once the crown is in place, there will be no restrictions on your child’s daily activities. Encourage your child to keep his or her mouth clean by brushing so that the area will heal more quickly. And avoid hard and sticky foods—they can cause the crown to fracture or come off.

With a crown, your child has a new layer of protection against further decay or breakage. When that primary tooth makes way for its permanent replacement, the crown—still cemented to the tooth—will fall out with it.

The strength, durability and longevity of a crown depend on many factors. By following home care instructions and maintaining regular six-month checkups, you can ensure an attractive restoration that lasts as long as it’s needed.

Dr. Jared would love to answer any questions regarding pediatric crowns. Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule an appointment today.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Fluorosis

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Fluorosis   
    

Most of us think of fluoride as a champion in the fight against tooth decay. Indeed, decay rates have dropped in the United States since the introduction of fluoride to many public water supplies in the middle of the twentieth century. But while a little fluoride might be good for teeth, too much can cause a condition known as fluorosis.

Fluorosis occurs from exposure to high levels of fluoride. It can cause discoloration and defects such as pitting on the surface of the teeth.

Fluorosis develops before the teeth have erupted, which means that only younger children are affected. In many cases, the effects of fluorosis are so mild that no treatment is necessary. But when the discoloration or pitting is more severe, we may recommend bonding, veneers or tooth whitening procedures to improve the appearance of the affected teeth.

The good news is that fluorosis is merely a cosmetic problem; it does not affect the integrity or overall health of the affected teeth. Here are some tips to help your children avoid fluorosis:

• Keep fluoridated products such as mouthwash, toothpaste and supplements containing fluoride out of your child’s reach. Do not allow your child to use these without supervision.
• Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush—that is plenty to avoid decay.
• Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste and rinses thoroughly with water after brushing.
• To encourage spitting, avoid flavored toothpastes that your child may be more likely to swallow.
• Alternate between tap water and low-fluoride water—such as demineralized, purified, deionized or distilled—to mix with concentrated liquid or powdered formula.

To learn more about fluorosis, fluoride treatments and other tips to maintain your childrenʼs optimal dental health, call our office at 509-891-7070 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jared.