Pediatric Dentistry

Helping Tiny Smiles Grow In Eastern North Carolina

At The Dental Care Center, we strive to create fun, positive pediatric dental care experiences for every child who walks through our doors. From our littlest patients to adolescents, we offer a relaxed, fear-free environment designed to help children feel safe and confident. Our compassionate pediatric dentists focus on building trust with your child while teaching the basics of proper brushing and chewing habits, as well as addressing and correcting any dental issues that may arise along the way.

Children receiving pediatric dental care at the dental care center serving zebulon, wake forest, fayetteville, greenville, smithfield, and wilson, north carolina.

Explore Our Pediatric Dental Services

Our pediatric dentists are experts in preventative care who take extra time to monitor the health and development of your child’s baby teeth while preparing their gums for the emergence of adult teeth. We help identify potential dental concerns early and work closely with your family to provide solutions that are comfortable for your child and supportive of their growing confidence.

Explore our pediatric dental services below to learn how we care for little smiles at every stage!

Pediatric Dental Cleanings

Routine pediatric dental cleanings are essential for keeping little smiles happy and healthy! In general, we recommend that your child be seen for a routine dental cleaning once every six months. During their visit, one of our pediatric dental hygienists will gently remove lingering plaque and tartar and polish their teeth so their smile sparkles.

Pediatric Dental Exams

When your child comes in for their routine dental cleaning, one of our pediatric dentists will also perform a gentle pediatric dental exam to monitor the health of their teeth and mouth. During this exam, we check for cavities and signs of decay, evaluate bite development and make sure baby teeth stay strong while adult teeth are properly supported as they come in.

Digital X-Rays

Sometimes, when your child comes in for their pediatric dental exam, we may take digital X-rays. These X-rays are a safe and effective way to monitor your child’s oral health by giving us an in-depth look at things like erupting teeth and developing jaw structure. This helps us determine whether teeth are growing in properly and if any early intervention may be needed to support a healthy smile.

Laughing Gas

If your little one feels anxious about visiting the dentist, laughing gas may be a great option to help them feel more comfortable. Administered through a small mask placed over the nose, laughing gas helps your child relax so they can enjoy a calm, anxiety-free dental experience. It works quickly, wears off fast and allows your child to return to normal activities shortly after their visit.

Fillings

Children’s teeth are especially susceptible to cavities, which is why practicing good daily oral hygiene is so important. Even with great habits, cavities can still happen—and that’s okay! When they do, our team is here to act efficiently and gently to restore your child’s tooth and protect their healthy smile. Our pediatric dentists use fillings to treat decay early and help prevent further damage, keeping little smiles comfortable and strong.

Sealants

Baby teeth and adult teeth with deep grooves are especially susceptible to cavities. To give your little one an extra line of defense, we offer pediatric dental sealants. Sealants are carefully painted onto the surface of the teeth, creating a protective barrier that helps shield enamel from cavity-causing acids and bacteria. This quick, comfortable treatment is a simple way to add long-lasting protection to your child’s smile.

Pulpotomy

Sometimes, decay can reach the inside of a baby tooth and infect the soft inner tissue known as the pulp. When this happens, your child’s pediatric dentist may recommend a pulpotomy. A pulpotomy is a gentle procedure that removes the damaged and infected pulp to stop the spread of infection and protect the developing adult tooth beneath. Treating the tooth early helps relieve discomfort and preserves your child’s healthy smile.

Stainless Steel Crowns

Whether your little one missed a spot while brushing or there was a lapse in dental care, we understand that cavities can happen. When they do, our team is here to support you and your child with efficient, proven treatment. Stainless steel crowns are a tried-and-true solution used to protect a damaged tooth from further decay while helping safeguard the surrounding teeth as well. These durable crowns restore strength and function so your child can smile, chew and speak comfortably.

SDF/Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver diamine fluoride, also called SDF, is a mixture of silver, fluoride and ammonia. Its antibacterial properties help stop decay in its tracks while strengthening the treated tooth. The application is simple and completely pain-free, making it a great treatment option for little ones who have cavities but struggle with dental anxiety. It is important to note that SDF does permanently darken the treated area. Because of this, it is most often used on baby teeth or areas that are not easily visible.

Extractions

Sometimes, removing a tooth is the best option for protecting your child’s comfort and long-term oral health. Your child’s pediatric dentist may recommend an extraction for reasons such as:

  • Advanced tooth decay that cannot be repaired
  • Injury or trauma to the mouth or tooth
  • Infection that may spread to surrounding teeth
  • Making room for adult teeth to grow in properly
  • Preventing future alignment issues

If an extraction is recommended, our team will do everything possible to keep your child comfortable, supported and at ease throughout the entire process.

 

Emergency Pediatric Dental Services

We know dental emergencies can be scary. When they happen, our friendly pediatric team at The Dental Care Center is here to help. Dental emergencies most often occur when your child experiences injury to the mouth, teeth or jaw.

If the damage is extensive or your child is bleeding heavily, please call 911 right away. Otherwise, you can call our office at (252) 674-1122 or text us at (252) 506–0110, and we will do our best to get your child seen as quickly as possible and back on track to wellness.

Child participating in pediatric dental care at the dental care center serving zebulon, wake forest, fayetteville, greenville, smithfield, and wilson, north carolina.

The Smile Club

We are proud to offer this exclusive dental savings program for families without dental insurance. The Smile Club makes it easier and more affordable for parents to keep their children’s smiles healthy year-round.

Members Enjoy:

  • No Maximums
  • No Deductibles
  • No Exclusions
  • No Waiting Periods

As Smile Club members, families receive great savings on the preventative and restorative care their children need to grow healthy, confident smiles. Visit our Smile Club page for more information and start saving today!

Schedule Your Child For Pediatric Dental Services

We can’t wait to meet you and your child and support their growing smile. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, you can easily request one online. You may also call our office at (252) 674-1122 or text us at (252) 506–0110.

We look forward to caring for your child’s smile now and as they continue to grow.

Dental Care For The Whole Family

At The Dental Care Center, we proudly provide exceptional family dentistry throughout Eastern North Carolina, with seven convenient locations designed to make high-quality care easy to access close to home. No matter which office you visit, you can expect the same trusted, personalized treatment from our experienced dentists and caring team. We’re committed to creating a welcoming, stress-free environment where patients of all ages feel comfortable and confident, because your comfort, health and smile are always our top priorities.