How should I clean my baby's teeth?
A toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for infants. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.
At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?
"First visit by first birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, usually between 6 and 12 months of age, certainly no later than his/her first birthday.
Why should my child see a pediatric dentist instead of our regular family dentist?
Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the oral health of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three years of additional specialty training. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including persons with special health care needs.
Children are not just small adults. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behaviors, guiding dental growth and development, and help with avoiding future dental problems. A pediatric dentist offers a wide range of treatment options, as well as expertise and training to care for your child's teeth, gums, and mouth.
What is an orthodontist?
Orthodontists are qualified dentists who after graduating from dental school attend a full-time university based orthodontic residency program for two to three years. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.
Why are baby teeth important?
It is very important that baby (primary) teeth are kept in place until they are lost naturally. Neglected cavities can, and frequently do, lead to problems that affect the underlying developing permanent teeth. Baby teeth serve a number of critical functions; they 1) maintain good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly, 2) save space for the permanent dentition and guide them into place, 3) are involved in speech development, and 4) are important to a child's overall self esteem.
The baby front teeth will usually come out between ages of 6 and 8 while the back teeth will remain until your child is between 10 and 12 years old.
What is baby bottle tooth decay and how can I prevent it?
Baby bottle tooth decay is a pattern of rapid decay associated with prolonged nursing or bottle feeding. It happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. He/she should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
What are dental sealants and how do they work?
Sealants are clear or shaded plastic applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Sealants fill in the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, which are hard to clean, and shut out food particles that could get caught, causing cavities. Fast and comfortable to apply, sealants can effectively protect teeth for many years.
Why are x-rays important?
Radiographs, commonly known as x-rays, are an essential tool for properly diagnosing your child's oral health. They allow the dentist to see beyond what can be seen visually and provide the ability to diagnose dental disease in the early stages - before it has advanced to the point of causing discomfort and destruction. Radiographs are also needed to survey developing and erupting teeth, diagnose bone disease, determine if there are missing or extra teeth, diagnose abscesses and abnormal growths, such as tumors and cysts. Without proper radiographs the dentist cannot complete a thorough examination and certain dental conditions can and will be missed.
With contemporary safeguards, such as lead aprons and high-speed film, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. Even though there is very little risk, pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.
My child plays sports. How should I protect my child's teeth?
A mouth guard should be a top priority on your child's list of sports equipment. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. They protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard, but a custom-fitted mouth guard fitted by our doctor is your child's best protection against sports-related injuries.
When will my baby get his/her first tooth?
Teething, the process of baby teeth coming through the gums into the mouth is variable among individual babies. In general, the first baby teeth to erupt are the lower front teeth and this usually begins between the ages of 6-8 months. This will be followed shortly by the two upper front teeth. The remainder of the baby teeth appear during the next 18 to 24 months but not necessarily in an orderly sequence from front to back. At 2 to 3 years, all of these 20 primary teeth should be present.
When will my child begin losing teeth?
Usually, the first teeth to be lost are the bottom front two teeth. This normally occurs between 5-7 years of age. The sequence of losing teeth is varied amongst children so do not be concerned if your child is early or late in this process. Regular dental checkups are important to properly monitor your child's development.
Why do some children get tooth decay?
Three main factors play a role in caries (decay) development: 1) genetics, 2) oral hygiene, and 3) diet.
Genetics. Some teeth are genetically more susceptible to decay: the anatomy of the teeth; for example, if the tooth has deep pits and fissures, compromised enamel (outer surface of the tooth) formation, and a higher oral concentration of cavity causing bacteria.
Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene removes bacterial and left over food particles that combine to create cavities. The better and more thorough that your daily oral hygiene is, the less likely that cavities will develop. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. For older children, brush their teeth at least twice a day. Flossing should be done at least once per day once the teeth are in contact with each other.
Diet: Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and soft tissues of the mouth need a well balanced diet. Sticky snacks, such as fruit rolls, dried fruits, and gummy bears are harmful to teeth. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. When your child snacks, choose nutritious foods such as low-fat yogurt and cheese, nuts, fruits and vegetables,
Do we offer IV sedation?
Yes. Sometimes, due to the extent of the dental treatment required and/or the inability of a child to cooperate for such treatment, IV sedation is recommended to ensure your child's safety and comfort. Our office is specially equipped and our staff is specialized in caring for patients needing sedation in the dental office setting. The IV sedation is administered by a certified dental anesthesiologist who monitors the child throughout the procedure and assures his/her safety.