At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?
According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and American Academy of Pediatrics, your child should see a dentist when the first tooth erupts, usually by his/her first birthday. The most important part of the visit is getting to know and becoming comfortable with the doctor and her staff. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems.
Why should my child see a pediatric dentist?
Pediatric dentistry is a specialty that focuses on oral health and the needs of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three additional years of specialty training. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares the pediatric dentists to meet the unique needs of your infants, children, adolescents and patients with special healthcare needs.
Do I stay with my child during treatment?
We are happy to have you sit with your child during the first examination. During future appointments, however, we kindly request that you allow your child to be accompanied by our staff during appointments. This helps us establish a closer relationship with your child and gain their trust and confidence. If you prefer, you are allowed to accompany your child to the treatment area during every appointment. For the safety of all of our patients, siblings and other children not being seen, should remain in the waiting room with a supervising adult.
How can I get my child through the teething stage?
From 6 months to age 3, your child may have sore gums when teeth erupt. Sore gums when teeth erupt are part of the normal eruption process. The discomfort is eased for some children by use of a frozen teething ring or a teething biscuit. Your pharmacy should also have medications that can be rubbed on the gums to reduce the discomfort.
Why are primary teeth so important?
It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary(baby) teeth allow your child to chew properly, are involved in proper speech development and guide the proper eruption of permanent teeth in the oral cavity. A healthy smile can help children feel good about the way they look to others.
When should my child start using toothpaste?
Tooth brushing is a key task for maintaining good oral health. When choosing a toothpaste for your child, make sure to pick one that has the American Dental Association’s seal of approval. After brushing, children should always spit out the toothpaste to avoid ingesting too much fluoride, a condition known as fluorosis. Do not use fluoridated toothpaste until age 3. After age 3, parents should monitor brushing and make sure that no more than a “pea size” amount of toothpaste is used each time.
What is baby bottle tooth decay and how can I prevent it?
Frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar (juice, breast milk, formula) will cause a serious condition known as baby bottle tooth decay (Early Childhood Caries).This happens when a child goes to sleep while breast feeding and /or bottle feeding. During sleep the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bed time, it should contain only water. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque.
What causes tooth decay?
Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50% of first graders and 80% of 17 year-olds in the United States. The disease is five times more common than Asthma and seven times more common than Hay fever. Decay is a bacterial infection. Decay is caused when plaque, a thin, sticky, colorless layer of bacteria, is allowed to stay on the teeth for a long period. After sugar consumption, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that will attack the tooth enamel. With repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity (hole) is formed on the tooth. Frequent sugar intake, including fruit juices, sports drinks and flavored milk contribute to caries formation.
If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?
A cavity is a bacterial infection and therefore is not recommended to leave any decay on baby teeth. Decay can easily spread to adjacent teeth, cause pain and lead to infection if not caught in early stages. Once established, the disease requires immediate treatment to prevent further damage to teeth and the surrounding structures. Please note that Primary molars do not exfoliate until a child is around 12 years of age.
How safe are dental X-rays?
Radiographs are vital and necessary part of your child’s dental health. With contemporary safeguards, such as Digital Radiography, the amount of radiation received is extremely small compared to conventional X-Rays. Dental X-Rays present a far smaller risk than an undetected or untreated dental problem.
American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographs every six months for children with high caries risk rate. We request radiographs every one to two years for most of our patients.
Can thumb sucking be harmful for my child’s teeth?
Sucking is a natural reflex that relaxes and comforts babies and toddlers. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of primary teeth can cause improper growth of the mouth and misalignment of the teeth. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous thumb sucking behavior in your child, talk to your dentist.
To help your child outgrow thumb sucking, refrain from scolding them when they exhibit thumb sucking behavior, praise them when they don’t suck their thumb, eliminate the cause of anxiety and place a bandage on the thumb or a sock on their hand at night.
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What is pulp therapy?
The pulp of the tooth, which is the core, contains nerves, vessels, connective tissue and reparative cells. The goal of pulp therapy is to maintain vitality of the tooth. The most common causes for pulp therapy are dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injuries. In children, the two most common forms of pulp therapy are the pulpectomy and pulpotomy.
A pulpectomy is the removal of the entire pulp. During this treatment, the diseased pulp in removed from the crown and the root. The canals are disinfected and a resorbable material will be used in primary teeth to fill the canals.
The pulpotomy is the removal of the diseased pulpal tissue in just the crown of the tooth. A medicament will be used to prevent bacterial growth and is followed by the final restoration.