Children’s Dentistry

Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist

The first “regular” dental visit should be just after your child’s first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves minimal 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 their dentist.

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 apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most importantly, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

Why Should My Child See a Family Dentist?

Pediatric dentistry is a specific specialty that focuses on treating children and only children. While many parents choose a pediatric dentist for very young children or children with special needs, others are more comfortable taking their child to a family or general dentist they are familiar with and who knows their family.

At Your Practice Name, we welcome the opportunity to care for your child’s dental health needs with understanding, patience, and a gentle touch. By getting to know you child when they are young and establishing routine dental care, we can encourage them to continue seeing us throughout their lives. Sadly, many little ones who see a pediatric dentist as pre-teens feel they have “outgrown” their dentist when they are older and are not comfortable continuing to see them. Establishing a lifelong relationship with our patients at an early age almost always results in patients who continue to see us in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond.

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

We are often asked this question. 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. If you talk about it positively, they may look forward to it as a new adventure rather than something to dread.

During your first visit the dentist will:

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

What about preventive care?

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office, we are most concerned with preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health.

Cavity Prevention

Cavities are usually due to a diet high in sugary foods and poor brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their food and the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.

Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs in their mouth as bacteria digest the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time, the acidic environment can weaken the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities.

Consistency of a person’s saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars, they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more acid-producing bacteria grow, which can cause cavities.

Tips for Cavity Prevention

• Limit the 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.

When Will Your Child’s Baby Teeth Erupt?

The first baby teeth that typically break through the gums 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 teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth, and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth come in a few months early or late; all children are different.

Baby teeth are more than just placeholders for when the permanent teeth come in. They are crucial for chewing, biting, speech, and appearance while your child is a toddler and young child. For this reason, they need to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.