Dr. Cantu is a proud father. He lives in San Antonio with his wife Aubrey, daughter Landry, and dog Bertie. Dr. Cantu graduated from Texas A&M University and is proud to be an Aggie! He graduated from dental school at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. After graduation, Dr. Cantu continued his specialty education in the pediatric dentistry residency program at the same institution. As a dental student and resident Dr. Cantu participated in research in dental trauma and dental caries and presented this research in Toronto, Texas and New York, New York respectively. Dr. Cantu is board certified with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

When Dr. Cantu is not at the office treating patients he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, playing guitar and performing magic. Your child may have seen Dr. Cantu perform at his or her elementary school. Dr. Cantu has a dental education for children magic program that is performed at many elementary schools around San Antonio and if you ask nicely he will be more than happy to perform a magic trick for you here in the office!

Dr. Cantu is extremely proud of making dental care for children his lifes work. He is devoted to promoting dental health to the city of San Antonio and is dedicated to creating an enjoyable dental experience for his patients and their parents. He is committed to being an integral part of the team for your childs health!

Parker was born and raised in San Antonio. Parker has over fourteen years dental experience. He has been with our team since 2001 and after working for over ten years as an assistant he received his Bachelors in Business Management and is now the Business Manager of the office. Parker loves working with children and uses the skills that he has learned through the years to not only make the patients feel comfortable with their dental visits, but their parents as well. Parker and his wife live in Cibolo with their three children Kaitlynn, William, and Ella. Parker enjoys playing with his kids and he loves to travel.

She has lived in Texas her whole life and rarely leaves the state. In her spare time, she spends time with her daughter. She likes to stay active and enjoys running and lifting. During the summer, you can find her at the lake!

Erin grew up in Maple Grove MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. She moved to San Antonio in 1992, and says she doesnt miss the snow! Erin joined our team as a business assistant in 1999, and specializes in hospital cases and Medicaid. One thing she enjoys most is helping patients and families feel comfortable with treatment. In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, friends, family, her cats, and her dogs. In March 2017, she made a trip of a lifetime to Tokyo, Japan, where she had dreamed of going for over 10 years! While in Japan she collected more items for her Hello Kitty collection, ate great food, rode a bullet train, and saw a whale shark! Erin loves sloths, traveling ,and going to rock concerts.

Imelda was born in Laredo and moved to Chicago with her parents and nine brothers and sisters when she was six years old. She became a dental assistant in 1984 and moved back to Texas in 1986 with her husband. Imelda and her husband have two daughters and four dogs at their home. She started working in pediatric dentistry in 1995 because of her love of children. Imelda is certified in dental x-rays, nitrous oxide, CPR, and sealants. Imelda plans on returning to school to become a sign language translator. She does sign as a result of having deaf family members, and is also fluent in Spanish and English.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Laura is married and has one daughter. She enjoys arts and crafts as well as watching movies. Laura graduated from San Antonio Colleges dental assisting program in 1987 and has worked as a dental assistant since that time. Laura started in this practice in September 1995; she says she enjoys the choice of pediatric dentistry because she gets to help the children learn about good dental health and have fun at the same time.

In 2007 she graduated from Dental Assisting school at Everest college dental assisting program in Reseda, CA. Flor and her husband moved to San Antonio in 2008 and she started work at pediatric dentistry soon afterward. She enjoys reading and listening to music. Flor says she was attracted to this office because everyone is very friendly and energetic.

Krystal was born in San Antonio, however she moved to California with her parents and siblings when she was three years old, she moved back to San Antonio as fast as she could and enjoys the life that living in San Antonio offers. Krystal has been a dental assistant since November 2005 and joined our team in June 2011. Even though she is not married and doesnt have any kids, she said she was attracted to our office because of her love for helping kids and the friendly and energetic atmosphere. In her free time Krystal enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and godson, playing softball, camping and fishing.

Carmen is a San Antonio native and has over 20 years of experience in the dental field. She is a dedicated dental assistant and is often known for singing to her patients! Carmen is devoted to working with our patients, and as a mother to a special needs child, her passion for the care and treatment of our special needs patients is unmistakeable. She enjoys camping, spending time with her family, and is an active member of her church. Carmen is fluent in both Spanish and English, and is married with two children.

Taylor is from Austin, Texas, and graduated with a bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene at the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio in 2017. Soon after graduation, Taylor joined our team at Pediatric Dentistry. Taylor loves working with kids and teaching them how to care for their smiles, and is passionate about helping children create good oral hygiene habits. In her free time, Taylor loves spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, and floating the river.

A dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars (the teeth directly in front of the molars). Sealants have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention of cavities. They were developed through dental research in the 1950s and first became available commercially in the early 1970s.

Scientific studies have proven that properly applied sealants are highly effective in protecting the tooth surfaces from caries. Because sealants act as a physical barrier to decay, protection is determined by the sealants ability to adhere to the tooth. As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot penetrate through or around a sealant. In fact, research has shown that sealants actually stop cavities when placed on top of a slightly decayed tooth by sealing off the supply of nutrients to the bacteria that causes a cavity. Sealant protection is reduced or lost when part or all of the bond between the tooth and sealant is broken.

Sealant application involves cleaning the surface of the tooth and rinsing the surface to remove all traces of the cleaning agent. An etching solution or gel is applied to the enamel surface of the tooth, including the pits and grooves. After 15 seconds, the solution is thoroughly rinsed away with water. After the site is dried, the sealant material is applied and allowed to harden by using a special curing light. Other sealants are applied and allowed to harden much the same way nail polish is applied to fingernails. Sealant treatment is painless and could take anywhere from five to 45 minutes to apply, depending on how many teeth need to be sealed. Sealants must be applied properly for good retention.

Sealants should last five years but can last as long as 10 years. One study reported that seven years after application, an impressive 49 percent of treated teeth were still completely covered. Sealants should not be considered permanent. Regular dental check-ups are necessary to monitor the sealants bond to the tooth.

Children, because they have newly erupted, permanent teeth, receive the greatest benefit from sealants. The chewing surfaces of a childs teeth are most susceptible to cavities and the least benefited by fluoride. Surveys show that approximately two-thirds of all cavities occur in the narrow pits and grooves of a childs newly erupted teeth because food particles and bacteria cannot be cleaned out. Other patients also can benefit from sealant placement, such as those who have existing pits and grooves susceptible to decay. Research has shown that almost everybody has a 95 percent chance of eventually experiencing cavities in the pits and grooves of their teeth.

Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but its not always easy to clean every nook and cranny of your teeth especially those back teeth you use to chew (called molars). Molars are rough, uneven and a favorite place for leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria to hide.

Still, theres another safety net to help keep those teeth clean. Its called a sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. Theyre no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.

In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your childs dental health. In October 2016, theCenters for Disease Controlreleased a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children, of which only 43% of children ages 6-11 have. According to the CDC, school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.

Think of them as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyones mouth meet leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create holes in teeth. These holes are cavities. After sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teethjust like a raincoat keeps you clean and dry during a storm.

Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better. Your first molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps save time and money in the long run. Ask your dentist if sealants are a good option for you and your family.

Its a quick and painless process. Your dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel roughs up your tooth surface so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, your dentist will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth once again before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Your dentist will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant.

Sealants can be used over areas of early decay to prevent further damage to your tooth. Because some sealants are clear, your dentist can keep an eye on the tooth to make sure the sealant is doing its job.

Yes, there is a tiny amount of BPA in sealants but not enough to cause you or a loved one any harm. In fact, you get more exposure to BPA by simply touching a receipt, using cosmetics or coming in contact with dust.

Breastfeeding is one of the first (and most personal) decisions a mother makes for her baby. It can help your babys body fight infections and reduce health risks like asthma, ear infections, SIDS and obesity in children. Nursing moms may lower their chances of developing breast and ovarian cancer. But did you know breastfeeding can impact the dental health of both baby and mom? Heres how:

A June 2015 study from Pediatrics found babies exclusively breastfed for six months were 72% less likely to have crooked teeth (malocclusion). These babies were seen to be less likely to develop open bites, crossbites, and overbites than babies who breastfed for less than six months or not at all.

Still, this doesnt mean your exclusively breastfed baby wont need braces someday. Other factors, including genetics, pacifier use, and thumbsucking, affect alignment. Every baby, every child is different. This [study] sounds promising but this doesnt mean a childs teeth will be perfect, says Dr. Ruchi Sahota, mother, and American Dental Association spokesperson. The best thing for a mom to do is to take the child to the dentist and make sure the dentist is able to monitor eruption, that baby teeth are coming out at the right time and permanent teeth are coming in at the right time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year of a babys life; the World Health Organization encourages moms to go for two. As it goes with breastfeeding, every child is different, every mother is different, Dr. Sahota says. You should stop breastfeeding when you think its the best for you and the baby but not just because the teeth come in.

Another benefit of exclusive breastfeeding, Dr. Sahota says, is a reduced risk of baby bottle tooth decay, the frequent, prolonged exposure of the babys teeth to drinks that contain sugar. This type of tooth decay often occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle even ones containing formula, milk or fruit juice. (Water is fine because the teeth wont be bathed in sugary liquids for a prolonged time.) It most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected.

Its one of the most common questions nursing mothers ask: Can breastfeeding cause cavities? Yes, it can. Although natural, breast milk, just like formula, contains sugar. That is why breastfed or bottle-fed, its important to care for your babys teeth from the start. A few days after birth, begin wiping your babys gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth every day. Then, brush her teeth twice a day as soon as that first tooth emerges. Use fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice.

If you need to have a dental procedure that requires medication while nursing, check with your dentist, personal physician, and pediatrician to make sure it is safe for baby. Its important to know there are antibiotics we can give you that wont hurt the baby, Dr. Sahota says. Its not only safe to go to the dentist while youre pregnant and while youre nursing, but its also very important to do so for the best health of your child.

Another helpful resource for nursing moms is the U.S National Library of Medicines Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Simply search for any medication and get information about how it affects your supply, your baby and if theres an alternative available. Talk to your doctor about what you find.

Dr. Sahota says theres one thing she sees in new moms, breastfeeding or not. I definitely see moms who are, as simple as it sounds, are not able to take care of themselves as well as they did before the baby, she says. Moms that are just not brushing as much as they used to, whether theyre brushing once a day or not brushing at all.

A dip in dental care could lead to more gum disease and cavities. Cavity prevention is especially crucial for moms, as even the simple act of sharing a spoon with could transfer that bacteria into your babys mouth. Its really important to do the basics: Brush twice a day, floss once a day. See your ADA dentist regularly, she says. Make sure you have prevented decay and dont have any cavities so you dont transfer that to your baby.

Dr. Sahota says she also sees more teeth grinding (bruxism) in moms. I see a lot more head and neck muscle tension, which causes our jaws to be a little bit tenser and then that causes us to grind our teeth, she says. Trouble sleeping when were pregnant, that can cause us to grind our teeth a little bit. Post-natally, stress can increase and it can also be an issue.

All moms need to stay hydrated, especially if breastfeeding. Not drinking enough water, that in itself is a very dangerous thing for your mouth, she says. If we have a dry mouth, we put ourselves at risk for gum disease, for cavities, so many things.

And theres one last piece of advice dentistsgives all moms. Just like if youre on an airplane, you have to put your oxygen mask on first before you put it on your child, she says. If youre not healthy, you will not have the time and the energy to make sure your children are also healthy.