Welcome to Greenville Pediatric Dentistry, located in Greenville, South Carolina. Drs. Wilson, Uprichard, and Czarsty's top priority is helping your child achieve and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile. We are committed to providing our patients with the highest standard of dental care in a pleasant and comfortable environment. We believe in the importance of patient education and will work with your chil individually to ensure they understand how to practice good oral hygiene from home. The pediatric dentist has an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school, and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet these needs. We are here to help your infant, child, or teen with any dental emergencies such as: toothaches, cut or bitten tongue, lip, or cheek, knocked out permanent tooth, knocked out baby tooth, chipped or fractured permanent tooth, chipped or fractured baby tooth, and other emergency situations related to the mouth, teeth, tongue, etc. Greenville Pediatric Dentistry provides your child with exceptional dental care from birth through high school. We make sure you have all the tools and resources to help your child have the happiest smile possible including early infant oral care, dental radiographs (X-Rays), cleanings, fluoride treatments, mouth guards, Xylitol to reduce cavities, other cavity prevention, brushing and flossing tips, food and beverage recommendations for the healthiest teeth and more.
We will record the child's dental and medical history, complete a comprehensive examination and discuss any findings with you. We will also review the importance of maintaining a good dental health program with you and your child to ensure a healthy and beautiful smile for life!
Your pediatric dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces.
Dental Sealants
By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque and food, thus decreasing the risk of decay. Since, the covering is only over the biting surface of the tooth, areas on the side and between teeth cannot be coated with the sealant. Good oral hygiene and nutrition are still very important in preventing decay next to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth: If possible, find the tooth. Handle it by the crown, not by the root. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT clean with soap, scrub or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk, NOT water. If the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek). The patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injury are the main reasons for a tooth to require pulp therapy. Pulp therapy is often referred to as a "nerve treatment", "children's root canal", "pulpectomy" or "pulpotomy". The two common forms of pulp therapy in children's teeth are the pulpotomy and pulpectomy.
Root Canal Treatment
A pulpectomy is required when the entire pulp is involved (into the root canal(s) of the tooth). During this treatment, the diseased pulp tissue is completely removed from both the crown and root. The canals are cleansed, disinfected and, in the case of primary teeth, filled with a resorbable material. Then, a final restoration is placed. A permanent tooth would be filled with a non-resorbing material.
Frances Griffith Hartley, DDS received her B.S. degree from Baylor University and her doctorate from The University of Texas Health Science Center Dental Branch in Houston, Texas. Dr. Hartley started practicing general dentistry in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her family moved to South Carolina where she has been practicing general dentistry with our office for over twenty years. Away from the office, Dr. Hartley enjoys spending her time gardening, reading, participating in bible studies, playing with her dogs, and exercising. Dr. Hartley’s husband, Larry, is a physician in Greenville, and they have two daughters and one son.