Gainesville General Dentistry

Protect Gainesville’s Precious Teeth!

Protecting young teeth from the rigors of life is what we enjoy doing most.

We call it Total Care, and it begins with regular hygiene visits, checkups, and a great oral care routine at home.

Dr. Thomas Weyrich also likes to make parents a part of their children’s smile care team, educating them to know their children’s teeth so they can detect some of the common problems children face.

Including:

  • Thumb sucking
  • Bruxism (grinding and clenching, especially during sleep)
  • Baby-bottle tooth decay
  • And more

Understanding these problems and knowing the symptoms allows us to treat issues early before they turn into major health concerns. You can start by cleaning your infant’s gums with a soft cloth while examining them for the first signs of a tooth such as minor redness or swelling. Once your little one’s teeth have finally appeared, try making brushing and flossing time something to look forward to with songs, games, or musical toothbrushes.

Parent participation and involvement doesn’t stop at home.

Not only can you have some fun playing with your kids while you wait for your appointment, you can also sit alongside your child for any cleanings or treatments they may be getting. We understand that this helps you both feel more comfortable.

We also encourage sibling participation in the sense that infants and toddlers are welcome to join in on the fun of their older brother’s or sister’s visits. This helps acclimate little ones to the sights, sounds, and smells of the dental office and keeps them from associating them with something unpleasant or surprising.

Check out our preventive services below, then give us a call to schedule your appointment. Your little ones’ smiles are worth protecting!

Stop dental problems before they even develop with our outstanding preventive dentistry, and keep those little smiles confident and functional for life.

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Exams

Our dental exams are always comprehensive in the sense that we look at all areas of your child’s smile and measure changes against the last visit’s discoveries. We examine teeth for cavities and other damage, gums for any indication of infection, oral soft tissue for any irregularities or irritation, and jaws and bite for balance and function. Of course, we use the tell, show, and do method, so no exam is ever scary or uncomfortable.

Low-Radiation Digital X-Rays

X-rays are a great way for us to detect even the tiniest cavities and other problems hidden under your child’s tooth enamel. But did you know that modern x-rays also limit exposure to radiation? We have invested in digital x-ray equipment for exactly that reason… but also because the images are sharper and clearer, can be seen immediately, and enable easy storage and retrieval in our computerized treatment rooms.

Hygiene

Dental hygiene is important for even the tiniest teeth – and that doesn’t just mean brushing well at home. Professional cleanings keep the cavity bugs away by removing all the built-up plaque and tartar around and between the teeth and below the gums. Little hands can’t always do the job perfectly, and it can be awkward for adults to reach all the areas of the mouth and teeth that need to be cleaned as well. And while adults and children alike need professional hygiene visits regularly, children’s hygiene visits are especially important for maintenance, education, and building a solid foundation for a lifetime of health.

Fluoride and Sealants

You do everything to protect your kid’s teeth. You never gave him/her a bottle of juice. You started oral hygiene early. You get the right toothbrush, give them the proper amount of paste and even help them floss. And yet, they still get cavities! It isn’t really your fault. Many children just have deep grooves and fissures in their teeth and have a hard time getting them clean. That’s why we offer fluoride and dental sealants.

Sealants

Sealants are simply painted onto the rough and textural exterior of a child’s tooth, to create a smooth and easy-to-clean surface. The protective sealant also makes it much harder for bacteria to get a foothold and helps protect and prevent childhood cavities.

Fluoride

Fluoride, on the other hand, helps repair and remineralize damage that has already been done by acid and sugar attacks. It also helps strengthen enamel to ward off future attacks from those insidious cavity bugs. Imagine! No more fillings! It’s also worth noting that kids under the age of three should not use fluoride enhanced toothpaste. Water or a toothbrush dipped in a pediatric oral rinse works just fine.

Sports Mouthguards

Every year, more than 3.5 million children 14 and under are injured while playing sports. That is why the American Dental Association recommends that all kids participating in sports wear a protective mouthguard. Mouthguards help cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth, and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw. They also may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions. Protect your child’s mouth and let yourself relax knowing that your child is safer than ever — ask for a custom sports mouthguard custom-made by Dr. Tom today.

Early Dental Care

Baby teeth are so important! Sure they will be replaced by adult teeth, but until then, they help your youngster chew food properly and learn to speak clearly. Those primary teeth are also vital to the development of the jaw and for guiding the permanent teeth into place and helping them stay straight and strong for the future. Healthy, undamaged teeth are also important to your child’s confidence and self-image. If your child has lost a tooth before age four, please notify us right away.

Home care is crucial in infancy, so start cleaning little gums with a soft cloth before teeth even appear. This helps your baby get used to a hygiene routine, soothes gums during teething, and may even lower the gag reflex.

Brushing

Do not use fluoride paste until age three. Instead, use water or dip the toothbrush in a pediatric oral rinse. After three, carefully supervise toothpaste application and brushing. A good rule of thumb is to help your child brush until he or she can tie a shoe. Once they have mastered shoelace tying, they are likely to have the dexterity to brush their own teeth.

Flossing

Flossing can be difficult for parents or little fingers to manage, so let us show you a couple of tips and techniques for a proper, thorough clean. Once you learn our tricks and get the hang of it, you might even enjoy flossing your own teeth more!

Teething

If your baby is teething (this usually begins between 6 and 12 months), offer a wet or frozen cloth or teething ring. Teething biscuits should be avoided because the sugar and starch they contain can lead to early tooth decay. Even gently rubbing those sore little gums with a clean finger or the cold back of the spoon can bring relief.

Beware of the Bottle

Never let your child carry around or fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. Juice and other beverages contain sugar, and when left in the mouth for a prolonged period of time, the sugar is constantly attacking little teeth. This can be even worse during sleep when saliva flow is reduced allowing liquids to pool up around teeth for longer periods of time.

Thomas J. Weyrich, DDS, PC Thomas J. Weyrich, DDS, PC Thomas J. Weyrich, DDS, PC
Thomas J. Weyrich, DDS, PC Thomas J. Weyrich, DDS, PC