Charlotte pediatric dentist

Caring for your child’s mouth is important for their current health and long term tooth development. Keeping a clean mouth helps prevent cavities, infection and gum disease, and it also creates a healthy smile as they get older. However, your child’s oral care routine – and toothbrush – should change as over time as well. Below are some tips to help you clean their mouth as they age.

Babies 1 – 12 months

A baby’s first tooth doesn’t typically erupt until they are 8 months old, but it’s still important to keep their mouth clean. You can clean their gums by taking a damp cloth or gauze and gently rubbing it over their gums to remove any food debris. You may choose to use a very soft, baby toothbrush and lightly brush their gums using a very low amount of pressure to avoid upsetting their sensitive gums. However, a damp cloth works just as well.

Toddlers 13 – 24 months

After the first tooth emerges – usually around the 8 month mark – begin to use a toddler’s toothbrush to clean their mouth. When shopping for a toothbrush, look for one that has rounded bristles and a small head that can easily fit into their mouth. Find a toothbrush that has very soft bristles, without the hard rubber liners on the outside of the head (called burs). You can begin flossing their teeth once they have two teeth touching. Use flat, wide floss and apply very gentle pressure to clean all sides of the tooth.

Preschoolers 2 – 4 years

By now, they will be walking, talking and eager for a bit of independence. They should have most of their teeth, and be familiar with brushing and flossing. Now is the time to start letting them have some input into their oral care routine. Take them with you to pick out their next toothbrush. Children love to be included in making decisions, and by giving them a little bit of responsibility, you empower them to make a decision. Make sure that the head of the toothbrush easily fits inside of their mouth, and that it has soft bristles. Since children lack developed dexterity, look for a toothbrush with a large handle to help them grip it more easily and continue assisting them as they brush. At this stage, you should also still be helping them floss and using the flat, wide dental floss.

School-aged Children 5 – 8 years

Your child is a tooth-brushing master, and the only thing they need to keep making progress is the right toothbrush. Help them pick a toothbrush that has a longer neck, and a larger head than their preschool toothbrush, but still fits comfortably inside their mouth. See if you can help them find a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character or superhero to keep them engaged and entertained while they brush. If you think they are ready, you can begin to let them floss on their own, but under your supervision. As they approach 8 years of age, they should be ready to brush and floss by themselves.

Aim for Comfort and Consistency

It’s important to buy them a toothbrush that they are comfortable using. Monitor their mouths for any minor bleeding, and ask them about how it felt to use their new toothbrush for the first time. To establish the healthiest oral care routine, be sure that they are brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time. Try to only buy toothbrushes and tooth paste that has the ADA seal of approval, so that they are is getting the best product possible for their oral health.

Visit our office if you have any questions about brushing your child’s teeth, or buying them a toothbrush. We will work with you to help them establish a healthy brushing routine, and teach them about the lifelong benefits of a healthy mouth.

Baby teeth are meant to be lost so that the incoming adult teeth can erupt without issue. Most of the time, baby teeth are lost naturally, or due to an impactful force common in childhood. However, sometimes a baby tooth must be pulled to make room for the incoming adult tooth to avoid crowding and misalignment. If your child has a tooth extracted, they can experience pain and sensitivity in the following days. Follow these tips to keep your child’s mouth clean – and pain free – after they’ve had a tooth pulled.

The Day of the Extraction

Discourage Sipping from a Straw and Swishing

For up to 24 hours after the extraction, the newly exposed socket is incredibly sensitive. To avoid losing the healthy blood clot, make sure your child doesn’t use a straw during this period. The suction created when slurping can cause the clot to dislodge, and lead to more bleeding. Additionally, they should not vigorously swish any liquids as this can also cause the clot to come loose.

Stick to Soft Food

The day of the extraction, only serve your child soft foods that require little or no chewing. The socket and the area surrounding it will be very sensitive, and chewing firm foods can cause them pain and discomfort. Food that can be eaten with a spoon like mashed potatoes, soup, scrambled eggs, yogurt, apple sauce or pancakes are perfect to serve them in the 24 hours following their pulled tooth. Try to make sure their food isn’t too hot or cold, since their gums will be very sensitive to extreme temperatures.

2 – 7 Days after Tooth Extraction

Use Icepacks to Fight Swelling

Your child may have swollen cheeks in the days immediately following their tooth extraction. A good way to ease your child’s pain and fight swelling is by using an ice pack every 2 – 3 hours, or as needed. Have your child wrap an ice pack in a thin towel or cloth, and apply it to the affected area for 15 minutes at a time.

Incorporate a Saltwater Rinse

After 24 hours, it’s ok to begin using a warm saltwater rinse to clean their exposed socket. You can make a saltwater rinse by combining 8 oz of warm water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Have your child gently swish the saltwater in their mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out. Saltwater rinses clean their mouth and help ease pain in the affected area.

Encourage a “Hands Free” Policy

It’s important that your child does not touch the newly exposed area so that it can remain clean. They should avoid touching or picking at the extraction area so that don’t introduce any germs into the area and prolong the healing process.

Continue Brushing

Your child’s mouth will be very sensitive for a few days after the extraction, but they should continue brushing their teeth twice a day for 2 minutes at a time. They should be more gentle than usual, and avoid brushing the extraction site all together to prevent unnecessary bleeding. They should also continue flossing normally while being careful around the extraction site.

Does Your Child Need a Tooth Pulled?

As pediatric dentists, we understand the importance of proper tooth spacing for incoming adult teeth. If your child has adult teeth arriving directly behind their baby teeth, then visit our office. We will assess their mouth and determine whether or not a tooth extraction would benefit their overall oral health. We aim to make the process as friendly and painless as possible. We’ll guide you through the days and weeks following the extraction and monitor the health of the newly pulled tooth in a series of checkups.

Piercings are a trendy way for teenagers to fit in with their friends and express themselves. Teens can pierce just about any part of their body, but it can be particularly concerning when your child gets an oral piercing. Tongue, lip and cheek piercings can damage teeth, gums and cause infections that can lead to more serious illnesses. The bottom line is that oral piercings may look cool, but they can cause a lot of issues down the road.

Common Ailments Caused by Oral Piercings

Infection, Pain and Swelling

Mouths are full of millions of types of bacteria, and by exposing an open wound like an oral piercing to bacteria can lead to infection and pain. If not treated, an infection can spread and cause major illnesses down the road.

Nerve Damage

If your child gets their tongue pierced, they may get minor nerve damage. Simple nerve damage to the tongue will make their tongue feel numb for a few hours after the piercing. Sometimes, the numbness can last much longer and require an appointment with a doctor or dentist. Nerve damage can even affect their sense of taste.

Excessive Drooling

A tongue piercing can increase saliva production and cause excessive drooling. There’s nothing cooler than a constant stream of spittle on your shirt.

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

Hard metal oral piercings often clack against nearby teeth, and can cause serious damage. It is common for those with oral piercings to play with their piercing by moving it around with their tongue or clicking it against their teeth. This can cause them to chip, scratch or lose their teeth. Oral piercings can also damage dental filling and sealants.

Blood-borne Disease

The National Institutes of Health have identified oral piercings as a possible factor in transmitting hepatitis B, C, D and G.

Make Sure They Keep it Clean

To lower their risk of infection, have your child clean their oral piercing once per day. Make sure that before they clean it, they thoroughly wash their hands to avoid introducing any germs into their mouth. Unclean piercings can collect food debris and begin to smell, and taste awful.

Take it out before Sports

If they play sports make sure that they remove their piercing before hitting the field or court. Dental injuries are one of the most common injury in youth sports, and they can lower their risk of losing teeth by removing the metal clacking around in their mouth before participating.

Is Your Child Experiencing Pain Related to an Oral Piercing?

If your child has prolonged bleeding or pain related to their oral piercing, then make an appointment with our office immediately. They may have an infection, and it must be treated by a pediatric dentist.

Bad breath is something that everyone has had to deal with at some point in their lives. Medically called Halitosis, children and adults can get bad breath from a variety of causes, most of which are minor and easily fixed. However, bad breath can also indicate more serious issues that require a trip to the dentist. Below are some of the causes – and remedies – for bad breath.

Causes

Certain Foods

Some foods are notorious for causing temporary bad breath. Garlic, onions, fish and spicy foods can turn even the best breath sour. The best way to get rid of bad breath caused by food is to swish cool water around your mouth for 30 seconds, 15 minutes after a meal. Make sure to always brush your teeth after eating a spicy meal, but wait an hour between finishing the meal and brushing so that you don’t damage your enamel.

Medications

Certain medications can cause bad breath. If you have just started taking a new medication recently, then this may be causing bad breath. The way that medications are processed by our bodies may result in bad breath. Continue to brush your teeth twice per day, and consider adding a minty mouthwash to your routine to help mask bad breath.

Leftover Food

Sometimes, food debris can get left in your mouth and will result in bad breath. If this is the case, rinse out your mouth with clean, cool water for 30 seconds to remove any excess debris. If that doesn’t remove leftover food, brush and thoroughly floss to reach any food lodged between your teeth.

Dry Mouth

Saliva naturally cleans the mouth, so when you have  a dry mouth your breath will likely suffer. While there are multiple causes for dry mouth such as stress, anxiety and certain medications, you can usually fix it by eating foods that increase saliva production like cheese, apples or carrots. Make sure to drink enough water – 8 to 10 cups per day- and if that doesn’t help, then try chewing gum sweetened with xylitol – a healthy sugar substitute – to increase your saliva flow.

Poor Oral Hygiene

If you are not brushing twice daily or flossing once per day, then you might get bad breath. To make the most of your oral hygiene routine, make sure that you are brushing for at least two minutes each session. Additionally, check your toothbrush to see if it is still in working order. If the bristles are frayed and it is older than 3 months, then it’s time to replace it.

Infections or Mouth Sores

Bad breath can be the result of oral surgery, open sores or plaque buildup. If you have a mouth sore, you can help treat it and keep it clean by swishing warm salt water in your mouth for 30 seconds. If your bad breath still persists, then see your dentist to help remedy it.

The Best Remedy is Prevention

Most bad breath is the result of poor oral hygiene. If you or your child is maintaining a good dental cleaning regiment – brushing twice per day for 2 minutes at a time and flossing once per day – then you will most likely have fresh breath. However, if your child has a good oral health routine and still suffers from bad breath, then bring them into our office so that we can evaluate their mouth and find the underlying cause.

It’s no secret that water is one of the healthiest things for your body. Aside from providing proper hydration, water contributes to healthy internal organs, and helps regulate your body temperature through sweat production. But, did you know that water is also one of the best tools for a healthy mouth? Let’s discuss some of the ways that water contributes to oral health.

Improves Saliva Production

Did you know that saliva is 99% water? Or that saliva is critical in the fight against cavities? This makes it imperative that you drink plenty of water so that you can keep your enamel strong, and stay cavity-free. When you are low on saliva, you will most likely experience dry mouth – a condition that makes it hard to swallow and chew because of a lack of saliva. By drinking enough water, you help prevent dry mouth and ensure that your saliva is produced at an optimal rate.

Clears Teeth of Sugar

After you’re done eating, there can be leftover food particles between your teeth, and sugar residue left on tooth surfaces that can lead to cavities. You can clear your teeth of unwanted sugar buildup by rinsing your mouth with water immediately after you eat. Simply swish water around for 30 seconds after you eat to clear your teeth of any sugary or food debris leftover from you previous meal.

Water has No Calories

Rising consumption in sugary beverages has been a major contributor to the increasing rate of obesity in the United States. In fact, people who consume 1 – 2 sugary beverages per day are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This can be avoided by substituting colas, sugary juices and sports drinks with a glass of water. Water doesn’t have any calories, and it contains no sugar, which makes it incredibly healthy.

Is Your Child Drinking Enough Water?

Does your child suffer from dry mouth, or have trouble swallowing? Do they drink a lot of colas, juice or sports drinks? If they drink a lot o sugary drinks and find it tough to swallow, then your child may not be drinking enough water, and their teeth could suffer because of it. If you’re worried that your child may not be drinking enough water, then bring them into our office for a consultation. We will thoroughly evaluate your child’s teeth, and provide you with flexible treatment options that are right for them.

People use their teeth in surprising – and sometimes destructive – ways. We’ve all used our teeth as tools at some point in our lives, but did you know that you can crack or fracture your teeth if you use them improperly? In fact, cracked and fractured teeth are the third leading cause of tooth loss. This is why it’s important that you instruct your child not to hold things (other than food) in their teeth. Below, we discuss some ways that you can help you child avoid cracking their teeth.

Teeth Are Not…

Nutcrackers

Surprisingly enough, teeth are not designed to crush the hard outer shell of nuts. Pecans, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts all have a protective shell encasing the edible nut. Trying to break open a shell is a great way to crack a tooth.

Our tip: Buy a metal nutcracker, or shelled nuts so that you can avoid shells altogether. And crack any unshelled nuts for your child so that they don’t try to open them with their teeth.

Scissors

Using teeth to try to tear or cut something is another process that can lead to a cracked tooth. When you try to cut something with your teeth, you are often exposing your teeth to harder surfaces than you would encounter when eating. In addition to chewing on something that’s harder than food, you’ll also be applying an unnatural amount of pressure on your teeth that can cause them to crack or break.

Our tip: Instruct your child on how to safely use scissors, and teach them not to tear anything with their teeth.

Hands

Ok, your hands are full and you just need to hold that one final item in your mouth for a few steps before you can release it and get on with your day, that’s not so bad, right? Wrong. Carrying items in your mouth can lead to cracked teeth or worse – serious oral and facial injuries. This is unsafe because if  trip or stumble while your hands and mouth are full, you have no way to brace yourself and you risk suffering a serious facial injury.

Our tip: Tell your kid to practice patience and teach them not to carry things in their mouths.

Bottle Openers

This should be an obvious no-no, yet people continue to use their teeth to pry off metal bottle caps. You should never bite metal, or chew on metallic objects because they are much harder than your teeth and can seriously damage them.

Our tip: Teach your child how to open bottles with a bottle opener. Better yet, open the bottle before serving your child that mineral water or soda.

Remind Your Children that Teeth Aren’t Tools

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that our teeth are meant for chewing, and not to lend us an extra hand or tool in a given situation. It’s especially easy for children to forget this. Talk to your children about why it is unsafe to use their teeth as tools, and remind them that cracking a tooth can hurt! If your child has fractured or chipped a tooth, then bring them into our office as soon as possible. If you can, retrieve the broken piece of tooth and store it in a cup of milk and bring it along for your visit. Oftentimes, we’ll be able to fix their tooth using the broken piece.

It’s never too early to begin a healthy oral care routine. In fact, you should begin caring for your child’s gums long before their first tooth emerges, which is usually around the six-month mark of their life. Healthy gums are an important predicator of healthy teeth, and maintaining clean gums will help ensure that your child has healthy, cavity-free baby teeth. But how can you keep your infant’s mouth clean? Below are some tips that will you keep your new child’s mouth clean, and set them up for a healthy smile later in life.

Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay is one of the most common ailments that young children encounter. It usually occurs when infants drink milk or other sugary beverages in their bottle without cleaning their mouths afterwards. You can avoid baby bottle tooth decay by giving your child water after they’ve had milk, and by limiting or eliminating sugary beverages in their bottles. If your child requires a bedtime bottle, then make sure that it is filled with only water so that you’re not exposing their teeth to sugar for long periods.

Use a Washcloth

You can clean your infant’s gums – or their first teeth – by simply using a cold, clean wash cloth. Simply rinse a clean, soft wash cloth with cool water and wring it out. After your child has finished eating, or drinking a sugary drink, use the damp wash cloth to gently wipe out their mouth. This will remove any sugar or acid that’s left by their food, and help prevent early cavities.

Find the Right toothbrush

Once your child has a few more baby teeth – usually between 8 and 12 months – then you can graduate from a wash cloth to a toothbrush designed for toddlers. There are a lot of toothbrushes designed for babies and toddlers from which to choose. Generally speaking, toothbrushes designed for babies have much softer bristles and a smaller head than those meant for older children.

After finding the right toothbrush, begin brushing your child’s teeth and gums twice per day. Make sure to be extra gentle, since their teeth and gums are still developing and are quite sensitive. Use toothpaste with fluoride that is made for very young children, and not as spicy as adult’s toothpaste. Use only a smear of toothpaste – about the size of a grain of rice – to brush their teeth. When they’ve gotten older and have more teeth, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Always be sure to rinse their mouth out with cool water after you’re done brushing, and try to keep them from swallowing any toothpaste.

Visit Our Office

If you’ve just had a baby, and are unsure about how to properly care for their mouth, then visit our office. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises new parents that their child should establish a dental home by their first birthday. By doing so, you can help your child avoid cavities, and become more comfortable visiting the dentist as they age. Our office is designed to cater to children, and create a relaxing and unintimidating atmosphere which they look forward to visiting.

The school year demands a lot of time commitments from both students and parents. Between altering morning commutes, trucking kids to and from extracurricular activities and unexpected overnights, schedules change and time seems to slip away. Sometimes, a jam-packed schedule can leave us with less time to take care of our teeth at home, which is why we’ve decided to create the tooth travel kit for those kids (and parents) with demanding schedules.

Toothbrush

This one is a no-brainer, but everyone should be brushing their teeth twice per day for two minutes at a time. Buy your child a new toothbrush with the ADA seal of approval on the package. Additionally, buy a small travel case or cover for the toothbrush to keep the head clean and the bristles in good shape.

Tooth Paste

You can’t really brush your teeth without toothpaste, so toothpaste is a must for any oral health care kit! Look for a travel-sized tube that can easily fit in a small storage bag, and check to make sure that the toothpaste contains fluoride to enhance its cleaning power. Again, look for the ADA seal of approval to ensure that it has been thoroughly evaluated, and find a flavor that your child likes.

Floss

Brushing only cleans about 1/3 of the total surface area of teeth which leaves most of the teeth unclean! Your child should floss once per day, and clean between every space in their teeth. Your tooth travel kit should contain a small pack of travel floss for them, or a set of floss picks to encourage them to regularly floss.

Xylitol Gum

Chewing gum that is sweetened with Xylitol is a great way for your child to freshen their breath and help protect their enamel after a meal. Gum sweetened with Xylitol can help protect enamel by stimulating saliva production that can clear teeth of residual acid from a recent meal.

Bottled Water

Water is one of the best tools we have in keeping our mouths clean, especially fluoridated water, which helps make teeth more resistant to acidic foods. When packing your child’s tooth travel kit, pack a bottle of water, and encourage your kids to drink water instead of juice or soda. Also, swishing water helps remove debris caught in teeth that can lead to enamel loss and acid buildup.

Visit Our Office

We love helping busy parents find solutions that keep their families’ oral health in focus. Schedule an appointment in our office so that we can thoroughly evaluate your child’s smile, and provide them with oral health tips and treatment options that work.

As your child begins brushing their own teeth, it can be difficult to choose the right toothbrush for their overall oral health. The market is flooded with products all claiming to clean teeth better than the rest. But, what about an electric toothbrush? Is it really better than a standard toothbrush? The answer may surprise you.

Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes are the most popular type of toothbrush for children because they are reliable, and come in a variety of shapes, colors and designs that many kids find appealing. They are also much more inexpensive than electric toothbrushes, which make them a great option for a cost-conscious family. However, manual toothbrushes can be difficult for young children that are just learning to brush their teeth, since they lack the dexterity needed to adequately clean their teeth. If you decide to buy your child a standard toothbrush, invite them along so that they can help you choose it. This makes them more likely to find a toothbrush that they will actually want to use.

Electric Toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes are handy tools for teeth of all ages, and can make brushing fun for young children. Most electric toothbrushes also feature timers, which can help ensure that children brush for the recommended two minutes per session. Additionally, many electric toothbrushes feature a pressure sensor which helps kids limit how hard they are brushing to prevent upsetting or damaging their gums. Electric toothbrushes are perfect for very young children that don’t have the dexterity to adequately brush their own teeth. However, electric toothbrushes are typically more expensive than manual ones.

Just Brush

Regardless of the toothbrush, the most important thing is that your child brushes their teeth for two minutes, twice per day. When you do purchase a toothbrush for your child, make sure that it has the ADA seal of approval on the package somewhere, which ensures that it has been thoroughly vetted by a team of oral healthcare experts.

Visit our Office

If your child has sensitive teeth, then visit our office. Sensitive teeth could indicate tooth decay or cavities. We will perform an extensive oral exam to assess the state of their overall mouth-health, and provide a treatment plan that works for their specific case. Schedule an appointment with our office today!

Whether you bring your child to the dentist for his or her very first appointment or your child is older and needs special attention, you should consider the value of a pediatric dentist. Although a family dentist has the education to treat patients of all ages, a pediatric dentist receives additional training that is often required for kids. Children are not small adults, so their oral health care needs are different—just like their general health care needs are. Charlotte pediatric dentist Dr. Marcela Mujica is loved by parents and kids alike for her training, experience and gentle disposition.

Special Attention

As a Charlotte pediatric dentist, Dr. Mujica knows exactly how to care for children’s developing smiles. She understands the dental concerns that you may have about your children’s teeth, including tooth decay, pediatric gum disease and teeth alignment. And because she watches your children grow and see how their smiles develop, she is able to notice problems quickly and treat accordingly. Finally, a pediatric dentist is able to assuage the fears that are unique to a child visiting the dentist. She and her team can help your son or daughter feel comfortable so they can have the dental care they need.

A Children’s Space

There are many ways in which our practice is specially designed just for kids. The difference between a pediatric dental office and a general dentist’s office are obvious when you and your children come through the door. Our office is bright, cheery and colorful. We have age appropriate toys and games in the waiting area, so your children feel comfortable and home.

Also, in our office your children will see others their age allowing Charlotte pediatric dentist to work on their teeth. This paints a positive picture that gives each child added confidence and comfort.

Finally, the equipment we use is kid-size. Standard-sized equipment is certainly fine to use on children, however, smaller equipment is designed just for a child’s mouth. In addition, Dr. Mujica or the hygienist often introduces each piece of equipment one at a time, so the sights and sounds do not overwhelm children.

Preventive Dentistry with Your Charlotte Pediatric Dentist

The earlier you begin bringing your children to the dentist, the sooner they can begin a lifetime of good dental and oral health. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises parents to schedule that first appointment when the first tooth erupts or when your child is one year old—whichever comes first. As you child matures, we can assist you in explaining the importance of proper brushing and flossing, and we’ll show your children how best to care for their teeth as they grow.

Call Our Office Today

To make an appointment for pediatric dentistry in Charlotte, contact All Kids Pediatric Dentistry today.

If you counted all things that you make your kids do—for their own good!—you’d be busy all day. And you’re busy enough. So, Charlotte children’s dentist Dr. Mujica at All Kids Pediatric Dentistry would like to help you convince your kids to floss. Here are five tips that will make any kid a flossing fan!

Give ‘Em a Gold Star

You have a chart for when they clean their rooms and when they finish their homework, so why not a chart for when they floss, too? You can draw a chart together with your child, or there are many options online that you can download. To track the days they floss, let your son or daughter affix a sticker. You decide how many days in row they need to floss in order to receive a reward—maybe a later bedtime one night on the weekend.

Let’s Do the Floss!

Make flossing a fun activity for children. Find a song they like and let your kids floss to the music. Something with a slow and steady beat works best so they don’t get too aggressive with flossing, which can hurt delicate gum tissue.

Flossing and Math

Most people don’t think to put flossing and math together, but this is a great opportunity to help young children learn how to count. You little one has 20 teeth in his or her mouth. While you floss for them or when they attempt to do it themselves, the two of you can count teeth as you progress from one to the next.

Once Upon a Time…

Use your imagination to create a magical story about those naughty bacteria that try to hurt your child’s teeth and the hero that comes to the rescue. Floss! While you capture their attention, the time it takes to floss will go by more quickly.

Make Flossing Easy

Sometimes a long string of floss can be difficult for little hands to manage. Instead, buy a package of floss sticks, which are available in many colors. They’re small and have a short piece of floss anchored between two plastic tips. Have your child use one for their upper teeth and one for the lower.

Good Job!

Every time you child flosses, be sure to pile on the praise. With your approval and encouragement, good oral hygiene that includes flossing will become a lifelong habit.

Contact Our Office Today

For more advice on you can help your children enjoy healthy and beautiful smiles, call All Kids Pediatric Dentistry today.

Hopefully, you have a family dentist that you see regularly for dental checkups. You should also have a Charlotte pediatric dentist to care for the littlest smiles in your house. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Mujica completed four years of schooling at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine as well as the Pediatric Dental Residency program at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. She received a Certificate of Residency in Pediatric Dentistry along with a Master of Science degree in Dentistry, and is now a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentists.

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist?

The difference between a general dentist and a pediatric dentist is usually noticeable the moment you walk in the door. Our office is filled with décor and amenities that are intended to make children feel welcome and relaxed. But of course the advantages go much further than just what meets the eye. Dr. Mujica and her team of dental hygienists and dental assistants have received special training to treat child of all ages appropriately. Whether your child is barely walking or is almost ready to borrow the car keys, he or she will feel completely comfortable with our care. Even children who are anxious or fearful of seeing the dentist are put at ease. And if you child has significant dental concerns, then Dr. Mujica’s additional training in pediatric dentistry is especially important.

Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry and the Special Needs Child

In addition to her education and training in pediatric dentistry, Charlotte dentist Dr. Mujica has the heart for treating children with special needs. All of the protocols that apply to typically developing children also apply to special needs children. We can create a treatment plan that includes consideration of issues with strength, mobility, motor coordination and cognition. And with the approval of your child’s primary care physician, we can use one of three kinds of sedation dentistry—nitrous oxide, conscious oral sedation and IV sedation—to help allay a child’s fears.

Educating You and Your Child

Dr. Mujica and her team genuinely love spending time with you and your child. We also value the opportunity this gives us to help you take better care of your children’s teeth and to instruct kids on how best to brush and floss. We know that if good oral health care habits start at a young age then they are more likely to stick for long into the future.

Call Our Office Today

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Charlotte pediatric dentist Dr. Mujica, contact All Kids Pediatric Dentistry today.