Generally, we like to see children soon after their first teeth appear. (Usually around their first birthday.) We encourage all parents to bring their children in before their third birthday.
We recommend rinsing the child's mouth with warm salt water. You may place a cold washcloth on their face if it is swollen. Children may be given Tylenol for tooth pain. (Avoid giving aspirin to children with toothaches as it can irritate the tooth.) Contact our office to schedule an appointment immediately.
A soft bristled, small headed toothbrush should be used at least once per day before bedtime. Toothpaste is not necessary for children under 3 years old. The main goal is to remove food residue from your child's teeth.
Generally, children will outgrow these habits before they become harmful. Please mention these habits during your child's regular exams so we wan monitor your child's growth. In addition, we recommend orthodontically correct pacifiers.
It is often tempting to nurse an infant to sleep or let the child take a bottle to bed. These habits can lead to massive tooth decay as the sugars in the milk, formula or juice are left on the teeth during the night. We recommend brushing your child's teeth before bedtime and providing only water at night.
Usually the two lower front teeth (central incisors) erupt at about six months of age, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. During the next 18 to 24 months, the rest of the baby teeth appear, although not in orderly sequence from front to back. All 20 primary teeth should be present at two to three years of age.
Some children can be comforted from chewing on a teething biscuit, a piece of toast, or a frozen teething ring. Teething medications can also be applied to the gums to reduce discomfort and are available at your pharmacy. A child may also benefit from occasional use of infant Tylenol or another pain reliever.
Both children and adults should visit our office every six months in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems.
A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meatm, fish and eggs will go along way toward developing overall health. Also, limiting sugars and starches will greatly protect your child's teeth from decay. If you are concerned about your child's eating habits, please discuss this with us during your child's exam.
Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease the chance of getting cavities. Many of our adult patients who grew up with regular dental care and fluoride supplementation have few or no dental problems.
Each child's intake can vary greatly. We recommend discussing this during your child's exam. If your child's fluoride intake is insufficient, we will often prescribe fluoride supplementation.
Each child's intake can vary greatly. We recommend discussing this during your child's exam. If your child's fluoride intake is insufficient, we will often prescribe fluoride supplementation.
The most important thing to do is to remain calm. If you have the tooth, you should attempt to insert it back into its socket and then contact us immediately. If you have difficulty re-inserting the tooth, place it in a glass of milk and contact us immediately.
We generally recommend that a soft plastic mouth guard should be used to protect a child's teeth, lips, and cheeks from injuries. If your child plays contact sports, we can create a custom fitted mouth guard for this purpose.
There is very little risk from receiving dental X-rays. Our state-of-the-art technology utilizes a fraction of the radiation used in the past. X-rays are highly valuable to find hidden decay, tumors and determine growth patters.
Permanent teeth are normally more yellow than primary teeth.
Usually there is no need for concern, and the space will close furing the next few years as the other front teeth erupt. We will monitor progress during exams and help you determine if orthodontics may be recommended.
A space maintainer or "band and loop" is placed in your child if baby teeth have been lost prematurely, holding the space for the permanent teeth to erupt. Without a space maintainer, the permanent teeth can become trapped and unable to erupt.
Generally, the health of your child's permanent teeth will be affected by the same conditions that affected the baby teeth. This is another reason why it is important for your child to visit our office on a regular basis.
Regular visits help a child get comfortable with the dentists and our staff. These visits also allow us to consistently evaluate your child's growth and take early corrective measures if needed. Also, regular exams and cleanings help prevent decay and avoid costly problems. Regular dental visits are part of leading a healthy and normal life for your child.
It is unwise to leave any amount of decay on baby teeth. Decay can easily move to other baby teeth or even to permanent teeth. It can also cause pain and expensive orthodontic problems that could have been avoided. We recommend carefully restoring all decayed teeth to optimal health.
Any fluoridated toothpaste that is recognized by the American Dental Association is recommended. (However, children under 3 should not generally use a fluoridated toothpaste -- they should use a non-fluoridated infant toothpaste or simply water.
Decay is caused by plaque -- a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone's teeth. When sugar is eaten, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. After repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity or hole is formed in the tooth.
We do not place any silver fillings. All materials used will be tooth-colored.
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