After dental school, Dr. Kathleen Schuster started her professional career at a pediatric dentistry practice. Since starting her private practice, she has become a mom of two children and is even more passionate about caring for tiny teeth. When you entrust your child’s smile to our team, we strive to help your child build a foundation for a lifetime of healthy dental habits. But our scope of care for little ones goes beyond typical pediatric dentistry in Melissa, TX.
Dr. Schuster has extensive expertise in determining if a child’s jaw development has an impact on their breathing and sleep and may even be contributing to bedwetting and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Whether you’re here for routine pediatric dentistry care or a more complex issue, Dr. Schuster’s gentle approach and dedication to building trust ensures your child will feel safe and comfortable when they visit Magnolia Ridge Dentistry!
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit the dentist after the eruption of their first tooth (about six months) and then every six months after that. This proactive approach to pediatric dentistry creates a positive association with visiting the dentist and reinforces the importance of good oral hygiene habits at a young age.
At Magnolia Ridge Dentistry, we want every dental exam and cleaning to be a fun, stress-free, and interactive experience for your child. Instead of kids sitting passively in the dental chair, we use humor and a caring touch during dental exams and cleanings while teaching them (and you) how to effectively brush and floss their sweet little teeth to keep cavities away!
Fluoride is a mineral that acts as nature’s cavity fighter to protect tooth enamel from the inside out. Although it’s present in some drinking water and food, toothpastes with fluoride aren’t recommended in children before age 6. With that said fluoride gel/varnish can be safely applied in younger children’s pediatric dentistry setting (after cleaning) and is especially beneficial for kids at high risk of developing cavities.
Dental sealants can be applied to both baby (primary) and permanent teeth. Sealants applied to back molars with deep grooves, pits, or ridges create a protective shield to prevent cavity-causing bacteria. Studies show that sealants applied to primary molars around age six and permanent molars around age 12 can prevent up to 80% of cavities for two years and then continue to protect against 50% for four years.
If left untreated, some cavities (caries) in baby teeth can cause more significant problems such as dental infections, the need for root canals, and even affect overall oral health and permanent teeth. Dr. Schuster will determine if a filling is necessary based on its size and location and whether it’s due to fall out soon. If a filling is recommended, she numbs the area, cleans the tooth, and restores it with biocompatible, safe, tooth-colored composite material that blends with your child’s natural tooth color.
Removing a baby tooth is simpler and less painful than extracting a permanent tooth because it has shorter roots and is intended to fall out. A numbing gel is applied before giving your child local anesthesia; then, the tooth is gently extracted. Most children don’t even realize the tooth is out until we show it to them!
If your baby struggles to breastfeed or drink from a bottle, a restrictive lingual (tongue) or labial (lip) frenulum may prevent them from getting a deep latch and drinking enough milk. A short or thick lip frenulum can cause other issues, including pushing front teeth apart, while a tongue tie can lead to mouth breathing and disordered sleep.
A frenectomy is a procedure that involves releasing the frenulum, a band of fibrous tissue that connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth and your upper lips to your gums. Dr. Schuster performs noninvasive laser frenectomies in Melissa, TX, to release tongue- and lip-ties with little discomfort or damage to surrounding tissue.
Collaborating with an associate who is an expert in myofunctional therapy is another aspect that sets Magnolia Ridge Dentistry apart from other pediatric dentistry practices. If your child snores chronically, breathes through their mouth during sleep, frequently wakes during the night, suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness, and has morning headaches, they may have a sleep disorder. Disrupted sleep patterns that are often caused by obstructed airways can lead to symptoms that closely mimic those of ADHD, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
The adverse effects of disrupted sleep patterns can also lead to poor academic performance and difficulties with memory and concentration in older kids—symptoms that overlap with those of ADHD. Although ADHD medications are recommended in some cases, studies have shown treating the root cause can help parents avoid the need to medicate their children. If your child is struggling with any of the symptoms of disordered sleep and is facing an ADHD diagnosis, Dr. Schuster would love to be your first port of call!
Myofunctional therapy in Melissa, TX, is a safe, noninvasive approach involving a series of at-home exercises. If Dr. Schuster recommends myofunctional therapy, you and your child will be taught how to perform exercises, often with fun and engaging tools. These exercises can help strengthen the muscles of your child’s tongue and lips, improve oral posture, retrain proper swallowing patterns, and restore nasal breathing. While the length of treatment is based on your child’s individual needs and the severity of their problem, it typically takes several months of consistent practice to achieve results.
We know watching your child grow up is a magical experience filled with memorable milestones—from their first steps—to the moment they light up with a grin. As a holistic pediatric dentist, Dr. Schuster is passionate about helping parents understand that a healthy smile is integral to their child’s growth and development in more ways than they likely realize. She’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure excellent oral and general health accompanies all those splendid moments and milestones for you and your child.
Wiping your baby’s gums with a damp cloth can help remove bacteria and promote healthy tissue development before the eruption of their first tooth. While seeing little pearly whites start peeking through their gums is a milestone, we offer guidance to help soothe this journey and provide remedies to ease teething fussiness.
We hope you’ll entrust our dental practice with your little one’s oral health by the time they’ve reached their first birthday. This “happy” visit at Magnolia Ridge Dentistry is akin to a well-baby check at your pediatrician’s office, in which we examine their mouth, answer your questions, and offer tips for safely brushing their first baby teeth!
When your child’s baby teeth erupt between the ages of 1 and 3, we encourage you to establish a fun brushing routine twice daily using a soft-bristled, child-sized toothbrush. You can make it a playful experience with songs, silly faces, and plenty of positive reinforcement.
When your child turns 2, you can begin flossing, and we’ll demonstrate gentle flossing techniques during their check-up.
Preschoolers are curious explorers, and their mouths are no exception! From biting down on hard objects to sucking on thumbs, we’ll provide guidance on safe chewing options and gentle ways to break unwanted habits.
Although most children are in kindergarten by the time their first tooth falls out, this can happen as early as age 4. Once your child loses their first tooth, some parents continue the “Tooth Fairy” tradition from their childhood to make this transition fun, positive, and exciting.
The first permanent teeth to come in are generally a child’s “first molars,” which erupt in the space in the back of their gums between the ages of 5 and 7. Baby teeth continue to fall out, and permanent teeth replace them until a child is around 11 to 13 years old. Between the ages of 12 and 14, children typically grow an additional four permanent molars. In addition to encouraging your child to continue proper at-home oral hygiene and scheduling routine dental visits, we’ll monitor your child to assess their jaw and bite alignment.
In some cases, tooth extraction or interceptive orthodontic treatments may be necessary to ensure proper eruption of permanent teeth. Dr. Schuster offers Invisalign® clear aligners for kids and teens, as well as orthodontics for airway expansion.
Dr. Schuster loves bringing healthy smiles to children’s faces and always treats them like her own two precious kids. If you’re looking for pediatric dentistry near you in Melissa, TX, with a compassionate, holistic dentist, we look forward to accompanying you on every milestone of your child’s growth!
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