Pediatric Dentistry

Seeing your child in pain is never easy. At Rincon Family Dentistry, we make sure young patients receive the gentle, attentive care they deserve. Our pediatric dentistry services in Tucson focus on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatments that keep smiles healthy from baby teeth to adolescence.

We combine advanced technology with a calm, child-friendly approach so every visit feels positive and reassuring. Families across Tucson and Oro Valley trust our pediatric dental team for complete children’s dental care, from first checkups to more complex procedures.

Why Every Child Should Visit a Pediatric Dentist

All children should visit pediatric dentists starting from soon after the moment their baby teeth first erupt. Failing to provide proper dental care to kids can leave them facing cavities, gum disease, and other serious dental issues that can go on to cause pain and complications long into adulthood.

There are plenty of family dentists who treat children. However, not all family dentists are board-certified, and most don’t provide specialized care. Instead of specializing in treating kids, they take patients of all ages, from childhood through old age. When taking a child to a family dental clinic, make sure at least one of the dentists on staff is a pedodontist.

Our Pediatric Dentistry Services

We use advanced technology such as digital imaging, dental lasers, and safe sedation to make every procedure detail-focused and stress-free. Our experienced dentists handle even complex cases with care, always focusing on your child’s comfort.

Emergency Pediatric Dentistry

Dental pain or injury can happen when you least expect it. Our team is trained to respond quickly to urgent situations such as broken teeth, swelling, or severe toothaches. We keep our young patients calm, address pain immediately, and restore their oral health as quickly as possible.

Parents and families find comfort knowing our office provides fast, compassionate care in a welcoming environment. We also guide them on how to manage dental emergencies at home until they reach us for treatment.

If a parent’s own toothache becomes urgent, our same team provides trusted emergency dental care for adults too, keeping every family member protected.

Preventive Pediatric Dentistry

Healthy habits begin early. Our preventive care program includes professional cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants to protect against decay. Digital X-rays and routine exams help us monitor your child’s developing teeth and catch small issues before they turn into major problems.

We believe prevention is the foundation of pediatric dentistry. Parents appreciate that we make each cleaning or fluoride treatment fun and educational, helping kids feel proud of caring for their smiles.

Restorative Dental Treatments for Kids

Even with good brushing, cavities and small injuries can still happen. Our dentists restore damaged teeth using safe, biocompatible materials that blend naturally with your child’s smile. Treatments include composite fillings, stainless steel crowns, and pulpotomy for baby teeth that can still be saved.

By restoring teeth early, we protect the space for permanent teeth to grow properly. Families from Rita Ranch to Oro Valley know our pediatric dental team for results that look natural and help kids stay confident.

If your child’s treatment requires extra comfort, our team can coordinate sedation dentistry options to keep the experience calm and stress-free.

Pediatric Oral Surgery

Sometimes a simple extraction or minor oral surgery is the best way to relieve pain or protect developing teeth. Our surgeon performs gentle procedures such as baby tooth removal, frenectomy, and soft tissue corrections with precision and care.

Using 3D cone beam imaging and pediatric dental laser technology, we minimize discomfort and speed up healing. Every procedure is discussed in detail beforehand, so parents understand exactly what to expect and how to care for their child afterward.

We also perform other assessments that allow us to identify potential general health problems that are likely to develop during childhood, such as:

• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Hay fever
• Congenital heart defects
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Sedation for Children

Many children feel anxious when visiting the dentist. We make those visits easier with mild sedation options that help them stay calm and relaxed. For routine procedures, we use nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. For longer or more complex treatments, our qualified anesthesiologist provides deeper sedation when needed.

Each option is carefully monitored, making it safe and effective for every age group. Parents often tell us their child’s confidence grows with every visit once they realize dentistry can feel comfortable and stress-free.

Early Orthodontic Evaluation

We follow the American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Early monitoring allows our team to identify crowding, bite misalignment, or jaw development issues before they require complex correction later.

Using CBCT scans and digital imaging, we track how teeth and bone are developing. If needed, we may suggest space maintainers or early orthodontic appliances to guide proper alignment. This proactive care helps prevent the need for extensive braces in the future and supports long-term oral health.

Other Common Types of Procedures Performed by Our Pediatric Dentists

Pediatric dentists receive all the same training as ordinary family dentists, so they can provide a full range of oral health care. There are, however, a few areas where pediatric dentists truly excel over their less specialized peers. Parents often take their kids to pediatric dentists for:

Infant Oral Health Exams
Infant oral health exams should occur as soon as a baby begins to develop his or her first tooth. During this initial visit, the dentist will perform a risk assessment for both the infant and his or her mother.

Preventive Dental Care
Preventive dental care for children involves more than just routine dental cleanings. Pedodontists also provide fluoride treatments and nutrition recommendations that target children’s unique dental needs.

Habit Counseling
Developing good dental habits is about more than just teaching kids how to brush and floss. Pediatric dentists often counsel parents about issues like excessive thumb sucking and pacifier use, as well.

Basic Tooth Repairs
Cavities are extremely common in children, and parents should always take them seriously. Don’t assume that cavities and other defects don’t matter because they’re forming in primary teeth. Tooth decay and damage can still be quite painful if left unaddressed and it can contribute to other potentially serious oral health issues. Pediatric dentists are experts at filling cavities even in the tiniest primary teeth.

Management of Gum Conditions
Pediatric dentists don’t just care for children’s teeth. They also focus on gum health. These experts can identify and treat many oral health conditions that extend beyond the teeth, including ulcers, mucoceles, short frenulum, and periodontal disease.

Care for Dental Injuries
Children are more prone to dental injuries than their parents. Issues like fractured, displaced, or even completely knocked-out teeth are surprisingly common. Pediatric dentists can provide care for all of these issues, and more.

Common Pediatric Dental Problems
Many common dental problems begin earlier in people’s lives than parents think, and some are unique to childhood. There’s a reason experts recommend taking infants to visit pediatric dentists as soon as they start developing teeth. It allows dentists to provide education to parents and identify potential problems such as:

• Baby bottle decay
• Pediatric gum disease
• Oral habits like thumb sucking that could cause problems later down the line

Parents should never assume that baby teeth are less important than adult teeth. Children’s primary teeth allow them to chew, learn proper speech patterns, and develop healthy jawbones and muscles. If children lose their primary teeth early, it can leave permanent teeth coming in crooked or crowded, and primary tooth decay can spread to new, permanent teeth.

How to Prepare for a Pediatric Dentist Appointment
Some kids, and some parents, worry more about dental appointments than others. Parents who want to encourage their children to feel comfortable with visits to the dentist should take the time to prepare them in advance. Follow these tips to maximize the child’s comfort before and during the appointment:

• Stay positive
• Read books about dental visits
• Play dentist-related games
• Use positive reinforcement
• Bring the child’s favorite toy to the appointment

Why Trust Rincon Family Dentistry?
Rincon Family Dentistry is a family dental practice that provides a child- and family-friendly environment for patients of all ages. Dr. Brock Boudreaux, the clinic’s primary dentist, has plenty of experience working with children. In fact, he has two beautiful daughters of his own, and Dr. Boudreaux gives every pediatric patient the same care and attention he would want for his own daughters.

Rincon Family Dentistry’s pediatric team is committed to helping children learn and implement healthy oral hygiene habits. They don’t stop at offering preventive and restorative care. At each visit, parents will also be encouraged to explore the clinic’s many educational resources for improving oral hygiene and nutritional habits at home and to ask any questions they may have.

When parents take their children to Rincon Family Dentistry, they can rest easy knowing their kids’ dental health will be in good hands. Plus, patients who age out of the pediatric program can continue to receive family dentistry services at the same clinic they have grown to know and love.

Schedule an Appointment Today
Whether parents have questions about how to care for their infants’ gums before tooth eruption or they need to find new dentists for their teenage kids after moving in from out of town, Rincon Family Dentistry has them covered. Browse the website to find out more about this unique family and pediatric dentistry clinic or call (520) 297-7263 to schedule an appointment today. Rincon Family Dentistry takes most insurance plans and offers savings and financing plans for qualified patients, so don’t delay. Call today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer preventive treatments like sealants and fluoride for children?

Yes, in our general dentistry treatments for kids, we provide fluoride treatments and dental sealants to prevent cavities and promote oral hygiene.

Can you help kids who are afraid of the dentist?

Yes, we use a child-centric approach in our clinic, where our paedodontist applies behavioural management and gentle communication techniques along with safe sedation options if needed, to calm kids with dentophobia.

Do you provide sedation or anesthesia for children’s dental surgery?

Yes, we offer local anesthesia and sedation, even for baby tooth removal surgery, to ensure they are not stressed during the treatment.

Do you provide dental care for babies, toddlers, and teens in Tucson?

Yes, our children’s dentists in Tucson provide complete oral care for kids.