Share your Fourth of July plans with Dr. Clark and team!

This Sunday, Dr. Pamela Clark and our staff at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry will celebrate America's 234th birthday. For most people, Independence Day is a time to celebrate, as well as commemorate, the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for most Americans to pay homage to all our soldiers, past, present and future - who lost their lives in battle - and soldiers who continue to place themselves in danger every day so that Americans everywhere may celebrate our freedom.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are your Fourth of July weekend plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the great American open road with family?

If you're planning on being around fireworks this weekend, Dr. Clark and team want you to be extra careful! We also want you to exercise caution if you'll be out swimming and remind you to wear sunscreen if you're heading out: wearing SPF 15 helps, but you should reapply it every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating in the sun.

Whatever you end up doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff hope you have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! We encourage you to give us a call for more summer safety tips.

Enjoy!

Ask Dr. Clark: How often should my child visit your office?

Pearland Pediatric Dentistry is based on preventive care, and we strive to teach good oral care that will enable your child to have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Establishing lasting relationships with our patient families, based upon mutual trust and open communication, is very important to us.

Your child should visit Dr. Pamela Clark and our team every six months for regular dental cleanings, tooth exams, as well as growth and development exams. We recommend professional fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest. At each recare visit your child will have their medical history updated, radiographs taken as needed, and a dental prophylaxis (cleaning) performed by our Dental Hygienist. Dr. Clark then performs a complete dental exam including caries screening, soft tissue exam, and evaluation of growth and development.

As part of our caries screening process, our office utilizes Caries I.D. technology. Caries I.D. is a pen-sized hand held device that utilizes LED technology to detect cavities in the earliest stages that can often be missed by traditional methods. Early detection means more conservative treatment for your child.

We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions!

Tell Pearland Pediatric Dentistry what's on your child's reading list this summer!

With summer only days away, we've been thinking more and more about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easier for kids to go play with their friends or sit back and watch television, but Dr. Pamela Clark and team know that reading during the summer is a vital step for children to ensure they are prepared for school.

So here's the question: is your child reading a book this summer? If so, what's on their reading list? Tell us about it!

If you happen to be out of ideas for great summer reads, we encourage you to ask us for suggestions, and our staff at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry would be happy to provide a few titles. You may also ask a local librarian for some suggestions or check out various summer reading ideas that we came across recently.

Happy reading!

Ask Dr. Pamela Clark: who gets cavities and why?

Pearland dentist Dr. Pamela Clark and our team have discussed cavities before, but how exactly does one get a cavity? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by Dr. Clark and team, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit Drs. Clark or Reddy every six months for a check-up

We hope that helps! We encourage you to contact us at 713.436.4080 if you have additional questions about cavities or your child's treatment at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, helping your child save face this summer

Wouldn’t you believe it, the long, hot days of summer are just around the corner! At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, our team knows that the summer months bring with them an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of our young athletes damaging their teeth.

If you're playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Drs. Pamela Clark or Suha Reddy for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards are advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, kickball and many, many other summer sports.

We were reminded about the need to wear mouth guards after reading an article recently about hockey player Keith Tkachuk needing reconstructive surgery after taking a puck right to the mouth. Tkachuk’s gruesome injury underscores the need for all of our patients to use facial protection at all times when out on the field.

In case of any accident involving the face, we want you to check your mouth immediately. If teeth are loosened or damaged, please schedule an appointment to see Dr. Clark immediately. And don’t forget to ask us—Drs. Clark or Reddy will be more than happy to provide a mouth guard!

Our team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry will tell you that only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call at 713.436.4080 if you have any questions about mouth guards or your child's treatment at our office.