Child Dentistry

Your child’s first visit

Your child’s first dental visit should be just after their second birthday. This visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. You may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and the staff.

We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child’s teeth and applytopical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We always suggest your child age 0-14 years old receive fluoride at home with fluoride supplements. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here are some “First Visit” tips:

Take your child for a “preview” of the office.
Read books with them about going to the dentist (available in the waiting room).
Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
Speak positively about your own dental experiences.

During your child’s first visit the dentist will:

Examine their mouth, teeth and gums.
Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
Check to see if they need fluoride.
Teach you how to clean your child’s teeth and gums.
Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.

What about preventative care?

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We suggest regular office visits for prophylaxis and exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments and placement of dental sealants. Dental sealants are a plastic material that is bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. Good habits start early and a successful appointments will build a foundation for a lifetime of good oral health for your child.

Are you at risk?

Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. A steady diet of sugary foods and drinks, like Gatorade or Vitamin Water, can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Sugar mixed with the bacteria in your mouth produces acid. This acid attacks your enamel for up to 20 minutes after ingested. When sugar is consumed over and over again, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. When a tooth decays, the enamel does not grow back. The only option once decay occurs is to see your dentist to have the tooth treated.Limiting sugar intake and brushing and flossing regularly will prevent caries.

Tips for cavity prevention

Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
Watch what your child drinks.
Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
Make treats part of meals.
Choose nutritious snacks.

Your child’s teeth

The first baby teeth that come into your child’s mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2 1/2 years old.

At around 2 1/2 years old your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6 the first permanent adult teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.