Pediatric Dentistry
A child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable. Children are not born with a natural fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. Our office makes a special effort to use pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe each treatment. We want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends
Children should visit the dentist by his or her first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (which appear between six and 12 months of age) receive proper dental care, and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
When new teeth arrive
Your child’s primary or “baby” teeth will begin to emerge between the ages of six to 12 months, and will continue to appear until about age three. During this time, your child’s gums may feel tender and sore.
To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring.
Your child’s primary teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood. Permanent teeth begin to emerge at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth — 32,including wisdom teeth.
Adopting healthy oral hygiene habits
As your child’s teeth erupt, be sure to examine them every two weeks, to inspect for lines and discoloration that may be caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can attack a new tooth, so take care that your child brushes his or her teeth after feeding or eating. We recommend brushing two times a day for optimal oral hygiene.
Brushing can be fun, and your child should brush as soon as the first tooth arrives. When a baby’s tooth erupts, parents should brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. For children younger than two, do not use fluoride toothpaste unless advised to do so by Dr. Abbey or another healthcare professional. We suggest you review proper tooth-brushing procedures with your child.
Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and we will discuss with you the right time to start flossing your child’s teeth. If you notice signs of decay, contact us immediately.
Preventing tooth decay with regular checkups
Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your mouth that bacteria turn into an acid, which can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits help keep tooth decay away.
Your child should visit our office every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year, along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.
Tooth sealants are also recommended because they “seal” the deep grooves in your child’s teeth, and prevent decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants last for several years, but will be monitored at your child’s regular checkups.
