As a Naperville dentist for kids, a lot of parents seek us out because they’re worried about their child using a pacifier or sucking their thumb and they’ve heard about getting a habit-breaking appliance for thumb sucking.
First, we have to say, these habits are completely normal in infants and sucking is a natural instinct. In fact, some babies even suck their fingers and thumbs in the womb!
However, when oral habits continue past the first few years of life, severe malocclusion (an improper bite) can occur. For kiddos who have a really difficult time kicking the habit, when all else fails, a habit-breaking appliance for thumb sucking or tongue thrust may be indicated.
Preventive dentistry really is the best dentistry. By intercepting problems before they even start, you can avoid extensive, costly dental treatment for kids.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to do that is with protective dental sealants. But what are dental sealants? That’s what our Naperville pediatric dentist is covering in this post.
Sealants for Kids’ Teeth
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If you have children, you know how difficult it can be to get them excited about taking care of their teeth. If you have kids with special needs, getting them to brush and floss every day, or visit the dentist, can feel nearly impossible.
Children with cognitive, developmental, emotional, physical or medical conditions may experience heightened anxiety or discomfort when it comes to dental care (both at home and at the dentist). Visiting a dentist well-versed in dental care for kids with special needs will go a long way in making the experience positive.
Can you believe there’s only one month left of summer? Neither can we! That’s why the team at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry is soaking up everything summer has to offer before the colder weather begins to set in, including our favorite summer foods and drinks.
We’re sure your kids are enjoying all the popsicles and ice cream too. But did you know that some of these summer foods with lots of sugar have healthier, equally delicious alternatives?
But while we love the warmer months as much as the patients at our Naperville pediatric dentistry office, the summer season also typically means a break from routine. Maybe you let your kids stay up a little later than usual or maybe you give them the OK to have that second scoop of ice cream.
While this is no big deal in moderation, many summer treats contain a lot more sugar than you might think and can be harmful for your kids’ teeth.
Foods With Added Sugar
UPDATED 06/06/2025
Can you feel it? The temperature is rising and we’re finally approaching summer. As the weather gets warmer, it also means your kids will soon be out of school. Without lessons to keep them busy, it’s important to find fun things to keep your little ones’ minds and bodies active throughout the summer.
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Often times, especially since our Naperville dentists for kids focus on prevention, we can avoid more extensive treatments like root canals on baby teeth.
However, there are occasions when a primary tooth is damaged to the point that a root canal is recommended. This can be pretty surprising for parents. After all, the baby teeth are going to fall out anyway, so what’s the point in saving them?
Well, those adorable little pearly whites serve a number of important purposes, including helping with chewing and speaking and saving room for the permanent teeth to erupt properly.
That’s why if it isn’t close to the time when the tooth would fall out naturally, it can be beneficial to try and save it and opt for a baby root canal over an extraction.
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Considering we offer Naperville dental treatment for kids here at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we’ve pretty much seen it all. Yet, there are common kids’ dental problems that tend to crop up more often than others, ranging from prolonged thumb sucking to childhood tooth decay.
Sometimes, in spite of your very best oral hygiene efforts, issues occur. Hey, it happens. The good news is, we have the training, expertise and technology to treat dental problems in kids quickly, comfortably and effectively, so you can preserve their adorable little smile and let the primary teeth continue to play important roles in their oral development.
In this post, we’ll cover what types of dental issues we see the most and how we treat them.
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Happy 2019! Now that a brand new year is underway and resolution season is in full swing, why not make some resolutions related to kids’ healthy teeth and gums?
By prioritizing your child’s smile, you can set the stage for a lifetime of awesome oral health! Not sure where to start? Well, being the super helpful Naperville pediatric dentists we are, we’re sharing some great New Year’s resolutions for your kiddo’s pearly whites.
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There are a lot of things to love about winter: the holidays, building snowmen, winter break and hot chocolate to name a few.
However, with all of the fun stuff, sometimes, the cold weather can mean being stuck indoors, which tends to lead to stir crazy kids. It can be hard to consistently find things to do with kids in Naperville all winter long. Well, Innovative Pediatric Dentistry is here to the rescue!
We’ve rounded up some of the best Naperville kids’ activities to help you keep the little ones entertained this winter.
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