Worrying about white spots on your child's teeth

Pediatric Dentist Michelle Kelman, DDS, shares advice for parents on the reasons behind white spots on your child's permanent teeth, and what they may indicate
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Worrying about white spots on your child's teeth

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White spots on permanent teeth are a common concern for parents when their children come into the office. There's a variety of reasons behind it. One reason could be that as the permanent tooth is developing, there was trauma to the primary tooth. For example, if your child bumped his tooth when he was on the scooter at the age of four, his permanent tooth may come out with a white spot on it because it hit at that point of development. Another reason might be hypoplastic enamel which is enamel that is a little bit weaker at certain points. Sometimes these white spots can lead to cavities, but other it's only a cosmetic concern which can be fixed in the future. There are many new therapies that can address these white spots, in particular, to make sure that they disappear later on. It used to be that tetracycline was considered a cause for spotting on teeth, however, tetracycline hasn't been used in years with either pregnant women or children under the age of twelve for this very reason.

Pediatric Dentist Michelle Kelman, DDS, shares advice for parents on the reasons behind white spots on your child's permanent teeth, and what they may indicate

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Michelle Kelman, DDS

Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Michelle M. Kelman is a specialist in pediatric and adolescent dentistry for healthy children and children with complex medical history. Dr. Michelle is on the Pediatric Surgical Team and Craniofacial Team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and on faculty at the UCLA School of Dentistry, Pediatrics. Dr. Michelle has lectured internationally and taught continuing education courses on topics including pediatric patient behavior management and advancements in pediatric dentistry. These advancements include everything from equipment technology to introducing complementary and alternative therapies for your child's health needs. Active in the community, Dr. Michelle has offered numerous pediatric oral healthcare presentations to community groups, professional organizations and various healthcare professionals around the country with a special emphasis on pediatric behavior management and dental treatment using both traditional and natural methods for children with various medical conditions.

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Transcription: 
White spots on permanent teeth are a common concern for parents when their children come into the office. There's a variety of reasons behind it. One reason could be that as the permanent tooth is developing, there was trauma to the primary tooth. For example, if your child bumped his tooth when he was on the scooter at the age of four, his permanent tooth may come out with a white spot on it because it hit at that point of development. Another reason might be hypoplastic enamel which is enamel that is a little bit weaker at certain points. Sometimes these white spots can lead to cavities, but other it's only a cosmetic concern which can be fixed in the future. There are many new therapies that can address these white spots, in particular, to make sure that they disappear later on. It used to be that tetracycline was considered a cause for spotting on teeth, however, tetracycline hasn't been used in years with either pregnant women or children under the age of twelve for this very reason.