Dental West is offering a minimally invasive, growth-focused, and holistic approach to dentistry for teens in NYC, designed to give them the confidence to smile and put their best foot forward.
Dentistry for adolescents is not the same as it is for adults. For adolescents, we must take an approach that is mindful of their ongoing growth. Meanwhile, we appreciate the essential role of confidence in a teen’s life, both in and out of school. When a teenager’s teeth are misshapen, discolored, or missing, it can have a lifelong impact on their psyche. For this reason, we pursue treatments with our teen patients that are also cosmetic in nature.
Common Dental Treatments for Teens
Adolescents should see a dentist at least twice a year to make sure their dentition and jaw are growing as they should, prevent and treat cavities, and keep their gums healthy. It’s not unusual, however, for your teen to require dental treatment that falls outside the realm of routine care. Dental West is here for all of your teen’s dental needs.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers are a minimally invasive treatment that allows teens and their families to test drive new smiles without necessarily committing to a lifetime of dentistry, as with porcelain veneers. Composite veneers offer the following benefits:
- can give teens and their caregivers the esthetics they want
- minimally adjust the tooth surface, if at all
- allow the teen the flexibility to change their look a few years later
- much more affordable than porcelain veneers
Adolescents may need or want composite veneers for any the following reasons:
- traumatic injury
- severely discolored tooth/teeth that can’t be repaired with whitening
- broken or misshapen tooth/teeth
- teeth that are too small
- dentition that doesn’t fit with their facial esthetic
Etched Cast Restoration
For teens, missing teeth present a special challenge. In adult patients, we usually place an implant and crown to replace a missing tooth, but we cannot place implants in a jaw that is not fully developed. If we did, as development continues, the location of the implant would remain while the bone around the implant continues to grow, leaving the final restoration in a compromised position and creating a deformity of bone and disfiguration. This is where etched cast restorations become an excellent treatment option. When your teen has fully matured and is ready for implants, we can easily remove the restoration and place an implant. Or, if an implant is not desired, the etched cast restoration can act as a definitive restoration.
Laser Dental Treatments for Teens
Cold sores are also common in teens. Our Nd:YAG laser is specifically set at a wavelength which allows us to treat cold sores and minimize their duration.
We also use our laser for cleanings for those teens who have braces and inflamed gums. The laser selectively kills gingival bacteria and helps get to those hard-to-reach places that a toothbrush can’t.
If you or your teen has dental concerns, please get in touch with us. We’ll be sure to give them the attention they need to feel their most confident.
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