As a parent, you want to do everything possible to protect your child’s smile. While regular cleanings and check-ups are essential, X-rays are critical in catching dental issues before they become bigger problems. But when is the right time for your child’s first dental X-ray? Understanding when and why dentists recommend them can help ensure your little one gets the best possible care.

Newport Beach Dental Center provides gentle, high-quality care to ensure your child’s dental health is on the right track.  Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, brings her gentle approach and extensive pediatric experience to make dental visits comfortable for children of all ages. With advanced imaging technology and a kid-friendly approach, we focus on early detection to prevent future dental issues. Our experienced team takes every precaution to make X-rays safe and comfortable, giving you peace of mind about your child’s smile.

Why Are X-Rays Important for Kids’ Dental Health?

Dental X-rays play a vital role in diagnosing and preventing potential oral health problems that may not be visible during a routine check-up. They can help your dentist:

1. Identify cavities
2. Monitor the growth and development of permanent teeth
3. Detect issues like impacted teeth or extra teeth forming below the gumline
4. Evaluate jaw growth and alignment
5. Plan orthodontic treatment
6. Check for infections

When proper safety measures are taken, dental X-rays for kids are very safe and unlikely to cause harm. The benefits of X-rays far outweigh any risks, helping to spot and treat issues before they become more serious.

When Should Kids First Get Dental X-Rays?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) does not provide a set age a child should receive their first dental X-rays. However, they recommend taking a child’s first dental X-rays based on their individual risk for cavities and dental issues. In general, most children will get their first dental X-rays around age 4 or 5. This is when their back teeth begin touching, making it harder to spot cavities with a visual exam. If your child is at an increased risk of cavities, your dentist may even suggest X-rays as early as age 2 or 3. 

Once your child’s permanent teeth start coming in, around age 6, regular dental X-rays become more important for monitoring their teeth growth and detecting potential orthodontic issues. Kids with a low risk of cavities and other dental problems may only need dental X-rays every one to two years, while those with a higher risk may need them more frequently. A trusted dentist can be a valuable resource for determining the best time for your child’s first dental X-rays and how often they should get them based on their risk factors. 

What To Expect During a Child’s First X-Ray Appointment?

If your child has never had dental X-rays before, you may be curious about what the experience will be like. Here is what you can likely expect for their first imaging appointment:

1. Preparation: At Newport Beach Dental Center, we take pride in providing a safe and kid-friendly environment that makes your child feel comfortable during their treatment. Our dental team will explain the X-ray process to your child using age-appropriate language to make your child feel at ease.
2. Safety precautions: A lead apron will be placed over your child’s body to minimize radiation exposure. Rest assured, modern dental technology uses very low levels of radiation, making it safe for children.
3. Taking the X-rays: The X-ray process is quick and painless, usually lasting a few minutes.
4. Reviewing the images: Once the X-rays are taken, your dentist will review them and discuss their findings with you. If there are any concerns, they will recommend the best course of action and design a tailored treatment plan to keep your child’s smile healthy. 

Dental X-rays are valuable in ensuring your child’s teeth and gums stay healthy as they grow. If you have any concerns about your child’s dental X-rays, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to help make the experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible for your little one.

Protect Your Child’s Oral Health with Newport Beach Dental Center

At Newport Beach Dental Center, we understand that your child’s smile is a top priority. That’s why we use the latest technology and a gentle approach to make dental X-rays safe, quick, and comfortable. Early detection of cavities, misalignment, or other dental concerns allows us to provide proactive care, preventing more significant issues down the road. Whether it’s their first X-ray or a routine check-up, we’re here to ensure their oral health stays on track in a caring and kid-friendly environment.

Give your child the best chance for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Our experienced team is ready to guide you through every step and answer any questions you may have about X-rays and dental care. Schedule an appointment today by calling (949) 760-9212 or filling out our contact form.

A stray elbow during a game or a bite into something unexpectedly hard can turn into a dental emergency in seconds. These moments are stressful and time-sensitive, making quick action essential to saving your tooth and protecting your oral health. In many cases, a dentist can save a damaged or knocked-out tooth with advanced procedures like reimplantation or bonding, but only if treatment begins quickly.

At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, leads our team with extensive experience and advanced credentials. Whether it’s reimplanting a tooth or addressing complex injuries, she provides precise, compassionate care tailored to your needs. When emergencies strike, we’re here to help restore your smile and your confidence.

How Your Dentist Can Help Preserve Your Injured Tooth

When a dental emergency strikes, professional care can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Here’s how our dentist can help in the following situations:

Knocked-Out Tooth

If a tooth is knocked out, time is of the essence. The sooner you see a dentist, the better the chances of saving the tooth. Ideally, the tooth should be gently placed back into its socket or stored in milk or saliva until you can get professional care. Dr. Laura Sharbash can carefully clean and reimplant the tooth, stabilizing it to help it reintegrate naturally into your mouth.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

A cracked or broken tooth requires swift evaluation to determine the extent of the damage. For minor cracks, composite bonding can restore the tooth’s function and appearance. More significant breaks might require a crown to protect the tooth, while severe cases could involve root canal therapy to preserve the tooth’s inner structure.

Regardless of the type of dental emergency, acting quickly is crucial. Immediate professional care not only increases the likelihood of saving the tooth but also helps alleviate pain and prevent further complications.

Steps to Take Before You Reach Your Dentist

Dental emergencies can feel overwhelming, but taking the right steps before reaching your dentist can help minimize damage and improve the chances of saving your tooth. Whether it’s a knocked-out tooth, a crack, or severe pain, quick and careful action is essential. Follow these general guidelines to handle most dental emergencies effectively:

• Handle with Care: If a tooth is knocked out or broken, avoid touching the root or applying pressure to damaged areas. Preserve any pieces you can recover.
• Rinse and Protect: Use warm water to gently clean the injured area or the tooth itself. For knocked-out teeth, keep them moist by reinserting them into their socket or storing them in milk or saliva.
• Control Pain and Swelling: Use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth to reduce swelling and discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help, but avoid aspirin, as it may increase bleeding.
• Avoid Further Damage: Stick to soft foods, avoid chewing near the injury, and never use sharp objects to dislodge anything stuck between teeth.
• Contact Your Dentist Immediately: Reach out to your dentist as soon as possible to explain your situation and schedule care. Timely treatment is critical for saving your tooth and preventing complications.

Taking these steps can make a big difference in the success of your treatment and recovery. If you’re unsure what to do, contact Newport Beach Dental Center for advice as you prepare for your appointment. Our team is here to guide you through every step of your dental emergency.

Restoring Your Smile When It Matters Most

Dental emergencies are stressful, but they don’t have to result in losing a tooth. At Newport Beach Dental Center, we’re committed to providing the swift, personalized care you need when the unexpected happens. Led by Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, our team combines advanced skills with a compassionate approach to help save your natural teeth and restore your smile.

From knocked-out teeth to complex injuries, we focus on preserving your oral health with precision and care. Don’t wait – call us today at (949) 760-9212 or use our contact form to schedule your appointment. Your smile deserves nothing less.

Dental care doesn’t always need to be invasive to be effective. Biomimetic dentistry offers a more natural approach for those dealing with a cavity or a minor fracture, allowing the tooth to be carefully repaired without sacrificing healthy structure. This method uses advanced materials that bond with your natural tooth, reinforcing its existing strength rather than removing unnecessary portions. The result is a repair that aligns with the tooth’s original function and form, reducing the risk of future complications.

At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, leads our team with a commitment to precision and patient comfort. With her extensive training and recognition in both general and advanced biomimetic techniques, Dr. Sharbash prioritizes dental solutions that preserve and strengthen natural teeth. Her dedication to minimally invasive care ensures each patient receives treatment tailored to protect their unique smile, combining innovative biomimetic methods with a deep understanding of patient needs.

How Does Biomimetic Dentistry Preserve Your Tooth Structure?

Biomimetic dentistry takes a preservation-first approach, prioritizing the natural tooth structure over invasive procedures. The practice mimics natural biological processes to maintain and protect your tooth’s integrity. Here’s how it works:

• Minimizing Drilling and Invasive Techniques: Biomimetic dentistry limits drilling, focusing on repairing only damaged areas. This approach preserves more of your original tooth, often avoiding the need for full crowns.
• Using Natural-Like Materials: Materials in biomimetic dentistry flex like natural teeth, adapting to pressure without breaking. This helps maintain your tooth’s structure and reduces potential fractures.
• Protecting Against Bacteria and Decay: Biomimetic techniques strengthen the tooth’s outer layer, creating a robust barrier that reduces decay and damage over time.
• Long-Term Preservation: By closely mimicking natural tooth function, biomimetic dentistry minimizes immediate treatment needs and supports long-term health, potentially reducing future dental work.

Biomimetic dentistry helps keep your smile as close to its natural state as possible, benefiting both functionality and aesthetics while reducing the chance of additional treatments.

How Biomimetic Dentistry Prevents Future Oral Health Issues

Biomimetic dentistry goes beyond immediate repair by actively working to prevent future oral health issues. Its core principle is to treat the tooth in a way that maintains its natural resilience and strength, which significantly reduces the likelihood of additional complications over time. Here’s how biomimetic techniques help safeguard your long-term oral health:

Reducing the Risk of Cracks and Fractures

Biomimetic methods avoid overcutting and instead use natural-like materials that mimic the flexibility of your real teeth. These materials move with the tooth under pressure, which prevents the formation of cracks and fractures commonly seen with more rigid dental materials.

Minimizing Bacterial Invasion

By restoring damaged areas without extensive drilling, biomimetic dentistry preserves more of the natural tooth structure, creating fewer entry points for bacteria. This approach reduces the risk of decay reoccurring, as the sealed restorations are designed to closely bond with the tooth and prevent bacterial infiltration.

Avoiding Root Canal Treatments

Traditional fillings and crowns sometimes involve extensive drilling that can expose the tooth’s inner layers, increasing the risk of infection and the need for root canals. Biomimetic dentistry’s conservative techniques focus on protecting the tooth pulp, reducing the chances of infections that lead to root canals.

Supporting Gum Health

Biomimetic restorations are designed to blend seamlessly with the tooth, reducing the risk of irritation or inflammation in the surrounding gum tissue. This alignment helps protect your gums and minimizes issues like gingivitis, which can develop around poorly fitted traditional restorations.

Discover the Benefits of Biomimetic Dentistry at Newport Beach Dental

At Newport Beach Dental Center, we believe in a more natural approach to dental care that prioritizes preserving the structure and function of your teeth. Biomimetic dentistry provides an effective alternative to traditional invasive methods, focusing on minimally invasive techniques that help your smile stay healthy and strong. By using advanced, flexible materials that mimic your tooth’s natural resilience, we help reduce the need for future treatments, protect against decay, and prevent common dental complications.

Our team is committed to combining patient comfort with cutting-edge techniques. Dr. Sharbash’s extensive experience in biomimetic dentistry ensures each treatment is designed to preserve the strength and integrity of your natural teeth. Reach out to us today at (949) 760-9212 or fill out our contact form to learn more about how biomimetic dentistry can benefit your smile.

As a new parent, you want to do everything you can to provide your baby with a happy and healthy future. One thing many parents of infants feel uncertain about is how to care for your child’s newly emerging teeth. Your baby’s oral health requires care and dedication, but that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult or tedious. Once you understand the basics, you can provide better care and catch developing issues quickly, making things better for you and your baby.

How Much Do Baby Teeth Matter?

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they establish a template for your child’s future oral health development. Taking care of your baby’s dental health begins in the womb. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry officially advises all pregnant women to receive consistent cleanings and exams during their pregnancy to prevent against periodontal diseases such as gingivitis which can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Good dental care for mom shouldn’t end once your baby is born, either — moms with poor oral health who are breastfeeding risk transferring harmful bacteria to their babies. Mothers need to be extra diligent about their teeth and gums by following these simple guidelines.

• Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or food
• Brush twice a day, and floss at least once a day
• Use a good mouthwash
• Use a sugar-free chewing gum
• Use a fluoride toothpaste
• Eat a healthy diet with less sugar
• Keep up with your regular dental cleanings and

Establish a Healthy Relationship with the Dentist Early On

The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend establishing a family dentist for your child sometime during their first year. Preventive dental care and regular checkups lower the risk of developing dental problems when they are older, plus they get used to the routine and have better oral health habits.

Try to make your child’s first visit to the dentist a positive and enjoyable experience. If your child can understand what is going on, explain everything you can, so they understand what’s going on reduce the chances of developing dental anxiety.

Be careful about the words you use when talking about the dentist, and try avoiding words like “scary,” “needle,” “drill,” “pain,” “hurt,” or other words that your child will associate with negative emotions. It’s important to create positive memories and associations early on in your child’s life.

Pediatric dental offices treat a lot of small children and infants, and so they understand how important a good first impression is for young children. They establish trusting relationships with their young patients and provide education and encouragement.

When Does Teething Usually Start?

Dental development is different for each child. Some babies are very late teethers, and others are very early. You can usually expect the front teeth to appear first at some point between the ages of 6 to 8 months.

What You Should Know About Nighttime Bottle Feeding

One of the biggest causes of cavities in infants is the use of a baby bottle with sugary drinks when putting them down to sleep. Fruit juice and other sweetened drinks are well-known promoters of tooth decay, but even milk (including breast milk) contains enough sugar to allow the development of excess bacteria and cavities. Use an empty bottle or pacifier, rather than milk or some other sweetened drink.

How to Clean Your Baby’s Teeth at Home

Use a damp washcloth or pad of gauze to carefully remove plaque from the baby’s gums and teeth after feeding. This is usually done by sitting down with the baby’s head in your lap or with the baby lying comfortably on a secure, flat surface. Make sure that you can see into your baby’s mouth to remove all of the plaque.

Are Sippy Cups Safe?

After the bottle, they will transition to a sippy cup until they’re ready to drink from normal cups. Keep in mind that a sippy cup is only a temporary training tool and not a long-term solution. Sippy cups should be discontinued by the time your child reaches their first birthday. What goes in the sippy cup is what’s important. If you give your child sugary liquids throughout the day, coating the mouth with a sticky, syrupy substance, which provides a rich breeding ground for the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Instead, take the time to transition your child to drink water as often as possible. Offer milk and juice as an occasional treat given in small amounts

Overall, good dental health is essential at any age. By paying close attention to your child’s oral health and setting a good example with your dental care, you’ll ensure you and your baby can share healthy smiles and laughs for years to come.

Laser dentistry is a fairly new dental field that offers more comfortable treatment options for many dental procedures. LASER stands for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation” and uses a narrow-focused beam of light energy. Lasers make many treatments less invasive, more efficient, and more economical. Issues that are treatable with laser dentistry include:

• Cavity detection
• Fillings and other restoration prep
• Tooth sensitivity
• Teeth Whitening
• Canker sores and cold sores
• Removing infected gum tissue
• Excising a benign (non-cancerous) oral tumor
• Sleep apnea-related throat tissue removal to fix breathing or snoring issues
• Nerve regeneration
• Treating tongue frenulum attachment

Dentists use lasers in myriad different procedures that take place on the inside of the mouth, whether to eliminate some slightly excessive gum tissue, to reshape gums, or to brighten teeth that have become yellowed or stained by food, drink, or tobacco habits.

In some cases, laser dentistry can be helpful for kids who get anxious or scared when having dental procedures completed. Lasers are not loud like a traditional drill, and they promote blood clotting, which can minimize bleeding and speed up healing.

Types of Lasers

There are different types of lasers, each of which interacts with the tissue in the mouth differently. For this reason, dentists must use a couple of different types of laser beams to perform a laser dentistry procedure. Laser beams operate at different wavelengths, and these wavelengths affect the gum tissue in different ways. The two main categories are soft tissue lasers and hard tissue lasers. By changing the wavelengths of light used, dentists can be very precise with treatment.

Soft Tissue Lasers

Soft tissue lasers are designed to be absorbed by hemoglobin (blood cells) and water. The gums are filled with blood, which contains a lot of hemoglobin molecules. This makes soft tissue laser beams the tool of choice for operations where the gums are involved rather than the teeth or bones. A nice side benefit of this type of laser is that when they cut through a blood vessel, they also seal it up right away to prevent bleeding or infection.

Hard Tissue Lasers

Hard tissue lasers are used when a dentist is working with the teeth rather than with the gums. These lasers are optimized to slice through bone or more specifically through the calcium phosphate that is the main ingredient in bones and teeth.

Regardless of which type of laser dentistry procedure you are thinking of having performed, you can expect less pain, reduced risk of infection, and faster recovery times from this advancement in dental procedure technology. Be sure to ask your dentist about laser dentistry options the next time you have an exam or cleaning.