Dental Care for Teens in Raleigh, NC

Q: Are sealants worth it for teenagers?

Yes. Molars that erupt during the teen years can still benefit from dental sealants. Sealants provide an extra layer of protection against cavities, especially for teens with busy schedules, sugary diets, or inconsistent brushing habits.

Q: Do you make custom sports mouthguards?

Yes. Custom sports mouthguards are designed to fit a teen's mouth comfortably and provide better protection than over-the-counter boil-and-bite options, making them more likely to be worn consistently during sports activities.

Q: Do you remove wisdom teeth?

The dental team evaluates and monitors wisdom teeth using examinations and imaging. When removal is recommended, patients are referred to a qualified oral surgeon and provided with guidance throughout the process.

Q: Can my teen get teeth whitening or braces here?

For cosmetic teeth whitening and orthodontic treatment such as braces, teens are referred to the nearby O2 Dental Group for coordinated specialty care.

Q: How do you keep teens engaged in their dental care?

Dental visits focus on open communication with teens about topics that affect their oral health, including sports, nutrition, and lifestyle habits. Appointments are designed to be efficient and relevant to encourage long-term healthy habits.

Q: Does insurance cover teen dental visits?

Routine dental care for teens is commonly covered by Medicaid and many dental insurance plans. Coverage is verified before treatment, and financing options such as CareCredit and Sunbit may be available for any remaining balance.

The teen years bring their own dental challenges — busy schedules, sports, sugary habits, and wisdom teeth on the horizon. We help teens stay ahead of all of it.

Sealants & Cavity Prevention

Bilingual · Español

Wisdom-Teeth Evaluation

Custom Sports Mouthguards

THE SHORT VERSION

Teenagers need dental care tuned to their stage of life. We protect against cavities with sealants and prevention, fabricate custom sports mouthguards that fit far better than store-bought ones, and evaluate and monitor wisdom teeth so problems are caught early. For whitening and orthodontics, we refer teens next door to our sister practice, O2 Dental Group, so the care stays in the family.

Cavity Prevention Doesn’t Stop at Childhood

The teen years are oddly high-risk for cavities. Schedules get packed, brushing gets rushed, and sports drinks, energy drinks, and constant snacking keep the teeth bathed in sugar and acid. Sealants are still genuinely valuable at this age, protecting the grooves of the molars that came in around twelve, and regular cleanings catch trouble early. We also talk frankly with teens about the things that matter to them — including how vaping affects the gums and mouth — in a way they’ll actually hear.

Custom Sports Mouthguards

If your teen plays a contact or collision sport, a mouthguard is cheap insurance against a knocked-out or broken tooth, which is expensive and permanent. The boil-and-bite versions from the store are better than nothing, but they fit loosely and teens often leave them out because they’re bulky and hard to talk through. We fabricate custom mouthguards molded to your teen’s mouth — thinner, more comfortable, and far more protective, which means they actually get worn.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth usually start showing up in the late teens, and getting ahead of them prevents headaches later. We track their position with regular exams and imaging, watching for teeth that are impacted, crowding their neighbors, or hard to keep clean. When the picture suggests they should come out, we’ll explain why and connect you with an oral surgeon for removal. Not every wisdom tooth needs to go — we’ll tell you straight when monitoring is the smarter call.

Whitening and Braces — Right Next Door

Teens often start caring about how their smile looks, and we’ve got that covered through the family. For teeth whitening and orthodontics, including braces and clear aligners, we refer to our sister practice, O2 Dental Group, located right next door. It’s a seamless handoff to a team we know and trust, so your teen’s care stays coordinated.

We accept Medicaid and most plans, with CareCredit and Sunbit available — see the Raleigh insurance page.

Dino Kids Dental of Raleigh

Address: 5321 Tin Roof Way, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27616

Phone: (919) 341-2257

Hours: Mon–Thu: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Select Fridays by availability — call to confirm

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sealants worth it for teenagers?

Yes. The molars that came in around age twelve still benefit from sealants, and with the higher cavity risk of the teen years — busy schedules, sugary drinks, rushed brushing — that protection earns its keep.

Do you make custom sports mouthguards?

We do. A custom mouthguard molded to your teen's mouth is thinner, more comfortable, and far more protective than a store-bought boil-and-bite version, which means it actually gets worn during play.

Do you remove wisdom teeth?

We evaluate and monitor wisdom teeth and take imaging to track them. When removal is the right call, we explain why and refer your teen to an oral surgeon for the procedure.

Can my teen get teeth whitening or braces here?

For whitening and orthodontics, we refer teens to our sister practice, O2 Dental Group, right next door. It's a coordinated handoff to a team we work closely with.

How do you keep teens engaged in their dental care?

We talk with teens directly and honestly about the things that affect them, from sports and diet to vaping, and we keep visits efficient so they fit a packed schedule. Meeting them where they are tends to stick better than lectures.

Does insurance cover teen dental visits?

Routine teen dental care is covered by Medicaid and most dental plans. We verify your coverage before treatment and offer CareCredit and Sunbit for anything left over.

Dental Care That Grows With Your Teen

From sealants to sports mouthguards to wisdom-teeth checks, we keep teens on track. Book a visit, and we’ll connect you to O2 Dental Group next door for whitening or braces.

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