Child Dentistry

Your child's first visit

Their first dental visit should be just after your child's third 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 your 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. One way to ensure that your child is receiving enough fluoride at home is through use of a fluoride toothpaste.  Most importantly, 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 their first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

During your first visit the dentist will:

• Examine their mouth, teeth and gums
• Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking
• Check to see if fluoride is needed
• Teach them about cleaning their teeth and gums
• Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits

What about preventative care?

At our office we are concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child's teeth. Dental sealants are specialized plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone molar 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 mainly due to a diet high in sugary foods and liquids.  A lack of brushing and flossing after eating these foods/liquids also increases the chances of cavities.  Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly will help reduce cavities.

Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes.  During this time the acid environment can destroy 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.  On the other hand, thicker saliva is caused when a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.

Typically, the first baby teeth that come into the 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 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 develope differently.

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 with daily oral hygiene.