Kids dentistry
At Northern Orthodontics, we have extensive experience with paediatric dentistry. We offer a number of smile solutions for children that are as gentle as they are efficient.
What is paediatric dentistry?
Paediatric dentistry is a specialist branch of dentistry that concerns the preventative and therapeutic oral health care of infants and children through their adolescent years. At Northern Orthodontics, we provide both dental and orthodontic treatments specifically for children.
Meet our paediatric dentist
Mamdouh Al Chihabi
GDC Number: 249908
BDS MFDS (RCS, Edi) MSc (Paediatric Dentistry)
- Qualified in 2004 from Beirut University
- Worked with children with special needs at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Scotland
- MSc in Paediatric Dentistry (MClinDent in Paediatric Dentistry) in 2008 from the Eastman Dental Institute in London, where he was presented with the 3M Winter Prize for the Best Postgraduate Student over the 2 year course
- Further experience in oral & maxillofacial surgery, sedation and paediatric dentistry at Nottingham University Hospital, Birmingham Dental Hospital and Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield
- Gained the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Currently holds a post as a Specialty Dentist in Paediatric Dentistry at Manchester Dental Hospital, where he is involved in completing complex treatment on anxious paediatric patients
- Published in national and international peer-reviewed journals, invited to review papers and complete research audits and he has attended and presented at many national and international conferences
- Clinically, his particular interests lie in the management of anxious and dental phobic children, dental trauma, providing high-quality restorative care for children, medically compromised children and the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological behaviour techniques, to provide dental treatment for anxious children such as inhalation sedation
- Outside of dentistry he enjoys swimming, travelling and photography.
Fissure sealants
A fissure sealant is a plastic coating that is painted on the biting surfaces of molar teeth. These areas are difficult to keep clean with tooth brushing alone. The sealant acts as a barrier between the tooth and the oral environment preventing the build-up of plaque that can lead to a cavity. Fissure sealants reduce dental decay on first permanent molar teeth and should be placed as soon as the tooth erupts. The sealant will wear over time and will need to be replaced or repaired during routine check-ups.
White fillings
Small cavities in children’s baby teeth can be restored with a white coloured material that can be used to restore teeth at the front and the back of the mouth.
Pulp therapy
When decay in a baby tooth causes inflammation inside the tooth where the nerve and blood supply exist, the inflamed tissue must be removed before the tooth can be restored with a silver crown. This treatment is known as a pulpotomy. Sometimes the nerve inside the decayed tooth dies and becomes infected and a pulpectomy (root canal treatment) is required to remove the infected tissue in the root canal before the tooth can be restored. This is often needed as a result of a large cavity or if the tooth has experienced trauma.
Stainless steel crowns
Used for large cavities or patients who have undergone pulp therapy. A silver crown is the gold standard treatment for extensively decayed baby molar teeth.
Removal of teeth
Orthodontic treatment (braces) is a method of lining up teeth to improve their appearance and function. This is needed if there are too many teeth for the size of the child’s mouth and extraction by a specialist paediatric dentist may be necessary in order to begin orthodontic treatment.
Protect the health of your child’s smile
Regular dental cleanings are important for healthy smiles - and this is especially true if your child is undergoing orthodontic treatment! In fact, the majority of child tooth extractions can be avoided with proper oral hygiene.
Dental cleanings and check-ups can remove plaque from your child’s smile and help them learn the correct brushing and flossing techniques to protect their teeth well into adulthood.
Prevent dental decay with fluoride therapy
One of our preventative dental treatments at Northern Orthodontics is fluoride therapy. Fluoride can protect teeth by making them stronger and more resistant to bacteria and acids. Using a fluoride varnish, we can help to remineralise your child’s teeth and protect them against cavities.
Some children are more likely to develop cavities than others, due to genetics, saliva, or hygiene practices. If your child is more at risk of dental decay, a fluoride varnish can be a great way to protect the integrity of their teeth.
Enamel discolouration treatment for children
Keep those teeth pearly white with our aesthetic treatment options for children. Tooth discolouration can happen at any age from staining foods or even genetics. Luckily, we have a gentle and effective treatment to reverse enamel discolouration in children.
Reduce anxiety through inhalation sedation
Some children live with daily anxiety, and others are anxious about dentists in particular! If this sounds like your child, we’re here to help ease their mind. At Northern Orthodontics, we provide inhalation sedation, which is an effective way to reduce anxiety in nervous patients.
Inhalation sedation is often referred to as ‘laughing gas’. It is safe to administer, and your child will be awake and able to communicate throughout the process. They will simply feel relaxed, warm, and sleepy during the experience.
Our team is sedation-trained and highly-skilled at administering inhalation sedation, so you can rest assured that your child is in safe hands with us.
The Wand
The wand is a computer controlled anaesthetic delivery system, which replaces the traditional syringe in dentistry. It delivers anaesthesia at a slow rate and helps to alleviate dental anxiety. The process: Your child may have been referred for specialist care, either by their general dentist or orthodontist. The child’s parent or guardian may have also contacted the practice for an appointment following a recommendation. The first visit is for a short examination. Depending on the nature of the case and treatment needed, and also the child’s co-operation. Dr Al Chihabi may propose that treatment is also carried out at this visit, time permitting. This is particularly the case if the referral is for simpler treatments (eg fissure sealants).
Start early on a straight smile
Orthodontics isn’t only for the teenage years. The British Orthodontic Society actually recommends children go to an orthodontic consultation around the age of 7 or 8. That’s because we can catch orthodontic issues early and intercept them before they worsen.
Early orthodontic treatment is an investment in your child’s health - and it’s a good investment too! Early intervention can reduce the length, cost and even need for orthodontic treatment in your child’s teenage years.
Invisalign First - a special treatment for small smiles
Did you know there is an Invisalign treatment designed especially for kids? It’s called Invisalign First, and it’s specially made to guide the growth of your child’s jaws. This helps to make room for current and incoming teeth, and can reduce the need for tooth extractions.
Invisalign First is gentle and removable - so it won’t get in the way of your child’s lifestyle. They can take their aligners out for meals and tooth brushing, so they don’t have to change their diet or oral hygiene routine during treatment.
Fees
We aim to keep you fully informed of any proposed treatment and associated fees throughout the process. The practice may offset part of the examination fee against further treatment costs. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is under the complete discretion of Dr Al Chihabi. Treatment fees largely depend on time needed, complexity of the case and the co-operation of the child.
Bring your child in for a visit!
We’d love to meet you and your child and see how we can assist in protecting the health of their smile. Sign up for your first consultation at our location nearest you.
Book a fullOrthodontic consultation
Dr Mojtaba will undertake a thorough assessment and determine the best treatment for you.
No time to come in? Why not book a free video consultation instead?
