Pediatric Dental FAQS
When should I schedule my child’s first visit to the dentist?
We recommend that you make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as your child gets that first tooth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children be seen by six months after the first tooth erupts, or at one year of age, whichever comes first.
How is a pediatric dentist different from other dentists?
All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school and continue their education with several years of additional, specialized training. During training in the field of pediatric dentistry, our dentist gained extensive knowledge and experience in treating infants, children, and adolescents.
Pediatric dentists enjoy working with children and bring to each patient their expertise in childhood development and behavior. Because our office is geared toward young visitors, you’ll find that our staff, as well as our office design, decorations, and activities, work together to provide an especially friendly and comfortable environment for kids
What happens during my child’s first visit to the dentist?
The first visit is usually short and simple. In most cases, we focus on getting to know your little one and giving you some basic information about dental care. The dentist will check your child’s teeth for placement and health, and look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If necessary, we may do a bit of cleaning.
How can I prepare my child for the first dental appointment?
The best preparation for your youngster’s first visit to our office is maintaining a positive attitude. Children pick up on adults’ apprehensions, so if you make negative comments about trips to the dentist, you can be sure your son or daughter will anticipate an unpleasant experience and act accordingly.
Show your child the pictures of the office and staff on the website. Let her or him know it’s important to keep the teeth and gums healthy, and that the dentist will help to do that. Remember that your dentist is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment.
How often should my child visit the dentist?
We generally recommend scheduling checkups every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits.
Why do baby teeth need special care?
Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, your child’s first teeth play an important role in development. While they’re in place, the primary teeth help your little one speak, smile, and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth.
If a child loses a tooth too early (due to damage or decay), nearby teeth may encroach on that space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health is affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums.
What’s the best way to clean my baby’s teeth?
Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his or her gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as the first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose one with soft bristles and a small head. You can usually find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore
At what age is it appropriate to use toothpaste to clean my child’s teeth?
Once your child has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two, because too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children.
Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing, to begin a lifelong habit he or she will need after graduating to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing, but swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth until he or she is ready to take on that responsibility, which usually happens by age six or seven.
What causes cavities?
Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When they come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, and eventually eat through the enamel and create holes in the teeth, which we call cavities.
How can I help my child avoid cavities?
Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Daily flossing is also essential, since flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t.
Check with us about a fluoride supplement, which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so we can check the health of your child’s teeth and perform professional cleanings.
Does my child need dental sealants?
Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your little one avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.
My child plays sports; how can I protect his or her teeth?
Even children’s sports involve contact, so we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.
What should I do if my child sucks his thumb?
A large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants. Most grow out of it by the age of four, without causing any permanent damage to teeth. If your child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or sucks aggressively, let us know and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit
When should my child have dental X-rays taken?
We recommend taking X-rays around the age of two or three. The first set consists of simple pictures of the front upper and lower teeth, which familiarizes your child with the process.
Once the baby teeth in back are touching each other, then regular (at least yearly) X-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six, and X-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your child is at a high risk of dental problems, we may suggest having X-rays taken at an earlier age.
At what age should my child first visit the dentist?
Our office, as well as The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), The American Dental Association (ADA) and The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by 12 months old. Consider your child’s first visit as a “well baby checkup” for his or her teeth.
The typical first dental appointment, also called a “meet and greet” for your child could include one or more of the following:
- A gentle but thorough examination of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums, and oral tissues to monitor growth and development and observe any problem areas such as thumb-sucking.
- A gentle cleaning, which includes polishing teeth and removing any plaque, tartar build-up and stains.
- X-rays as needed
- A demonstration of proper dental hygiene and oral health instruction.
- Topical fluoride.
We pride ourselves in our “open door” policy, and we invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination and other appointments if necessary. However, there might be times where the child maybe more cooperative if he/she were to accompany our team member through the dental experience. Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome apprehension. In order to allow necessary space for the Dentist and Dental Team to provide outstanding care for your child, only one Parent/Guardian may accompany a patient into the operatory.
Due to your child’s safety and the safety of our dental staff, we ask that siblings of patients remain in the waiting area. It is our belief that siblings who wait in the waiting area and not accompany patients, have greater success in their own future dental appointments.
For more information please refer to our FAQ page.