DENTAL HEALTH

Children's Dentistry

Your child's first visit

The first "regular" dental visit should be just after your child's third birthday. The first dental 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. These initial visits are very important in shaping your children's attitudes and behaviors at the dentist's office.

We will gently examine your child's teeth and gums. X-rays will be taken if necessary to check for cavities and to evaluate the developing permanent teeth as well. We may clean your child's teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, 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 his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here are some "First Visit" tips:

Take your child for a "preview" of the office.
Read books with them about going to the dentist.
Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
Speak positively about your own dental experiences.

During your first visit the dentist will:

Examine your mouth, teeth and gums.
Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
Check to see if you need fluoride.
Teach you about cleaning your teeth and gums.
Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.

What about preventative care?

Tooth decay is a completely preventable disease. At our office we are concerned with all aspects of preventive care. From dental sealants to fluoride treatments, we work to prevent tooth decay.

Cavity prevention

Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. Soda pop, candy, and other high sugar foods and drinks contribute to the development of cavities.

Every time someone eats or drinks, 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.

Tips for cavity prevention

Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
Watch what your child drinks.
Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
Make treats part of meals.
Choose nutritious snacks.

The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are usually 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 are different. Dr. Goode and Dr. Johnson can answer any questions you may have regarding your child's developing permanent teeth.

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 and good oral hygiene habits daily.