When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up? What is conscious sedation? What's general anesthesia? What are sealants? How does flouride work? How safe are dental X-rays? What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist? Are baby teeth really that important to my child? Caring for your Teeth What should I do if my child has a toothache? What should I use to clean my baby's teeth? Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth? How can I prevent decay caused by nursing? How often does my child need to see the pediatric dentist? Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use? How do I make my child's diet safe for his teeth? How do I know if my child is getting enough fluoride? What can I do to protect my child's teeth during sporting events? What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth? How can parents help prevent tooth decay? What do I do in a dental emergency What should I use to clean my baby's teeth? A toothbrush will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime. When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up? In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday. What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist? Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs. Are baby teeth really that important to my child? Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. What should I do if my child has a toothache? Call us as soon as possible, we do have a 24 hour emergency line for our patients. Rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Do not place aspirin on the teeth or gums. If you feel your child needs immediate attention after hours please seek treatment at the medical emergency room Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth? Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive, a mouth appliance may be recommended by our team. How can I prevent decay caused by nursing? Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bed-time bottle. Also, learn the proper way to brush and floss your child's teeth. Take your child to a pediatric dentist regularly to have his/her teeth and gums checked. The first dental visit should be scheduled by your child's first birthday. How often does my child need to see the pediatric dentist? A check-up every six months is recommended in order prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, we can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health. Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use? Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used after age 2-3, parents should supervise brushing and make sure the child uses no more than a pea-sized amount on the brush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing. How do I make my child's diet safe for his teeth? Make sure your child has a balanced diet, including one serving each of: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish and eggs. Limiting the servings of sugars and starches will also aid in protecting your child's teeth from decay. How do dental sealants work? Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years. How do I know if my child is getting enough fluoride? We can evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then your pediatric dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements. What can I do to protect my child's teeth during sporting events? Soft plastic mouthguards can be used to protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard developed by us will protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head. What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth? The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to our office. How safe are dental X-rays? There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Pediatric dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. Lead aprons and high-speed film are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation. How can parents help prevent tooth decay? Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits. What is conscious sedation? Conscious sedation is a management technique that uses medications to assist the child to cope with fear and anxiety and cooperate with dental treatment. Medications and dosages should be selected that are unlikely to cause loss of consciousness in the patient. Children who have a level of anxiety that prevents good coping skills or are very young and do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion for the delivery of dental care should be sedated. Conscious sedation is often helpful for some children who have special needs. Conscious sedation aids in allowing a child to cope better with dental treatment. This can help prevent injury to the child from patient movement and promote a better environment for providing dental care Many different medications can be used for conscious sedation. We will discuss different options for your child. Sedation is safe when administered by a trained certified dentist who follows the sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. We will discuss sedation options and patient monitoring for the protection of your child. In order to alleviate potential anxiety in your child, we may recommend minimal discussion of the dental appointment with your child. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment. It is very important to follow our directions regarding fasting from fluids and foods prior to the sedation appointment. We will not discharge your child until the child is alert and ready to go. Children who have been sedated are usually requested to remain at home for the rest of the day with adult supervision. We will discuss specific post-sedation instructions with you, including appropriate diet, physical activity, and requested supervision. What is general anesthesia? General anesthesia is a management technique that uses medications to cause the child to become unconscious and asleep while receiving dental care. It is provided by a physician or dentist who has special training in anesthesia. Children with severe anxiety and/or inability to cooperate are candidates for general anesthesia. These children may be young or have compromised health or special needs. They usually require extensive dental treatment and their anxiety cannot be controlled with conscious sedation techniques. Although there is some risk associated with general anesthesia, it is safe when administered by an appropriately trained individual in an appropriately equipped facility. Many precautions are taken to provide safety for the child during general anesthesia care. Patients are monitored closely during the general anesthesia procedure by personnel who are trained to manage complications. We will discuss the benefits and risks involved in general anesthesia and why it is recommended for your child. physical examination is required prior to general anesthesia for dental care. Your child’s medical doctor will perform the physical examination to evaluate your child’s condition prior to approval of general anesthesia. Parents are instructed to report to us any illness that occurs prior to the general anesthesia appointment. It may be necessary to reschedule the appointment. It is very important to follow instructions regarding preoperative fasting from fluids and foods. Usually patients are tired following general anesthesia. Your child will be discharged when alert and ready to depart. You will be instructed to let the child rest at home with minimal activity planned until the next day. Post-operative dietary recommendations will also be given. What are sealants? Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult - sometimes impossible -to clean the tiny grooves and pits on certain teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices, placing your child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants "seal out" food and plaque, thus reducing the risk of decay. Research shows that sealants can last for many years if properly cared for. So, your child will be protected throughout the most cavity-prone years. If your child has good oral hygiene and avoids biting hard objects, sealants will last longer. We will check the sealants during routine dental visits and can recommend reapplication or repair when necessary. The application of a sealant is quick and comfortable. It takes only one visit. The tooth is first cleaned. It is then conditioned and dried. The sealant is then flowed onto the grooves of the tooth and allowed to harden or hardened with a special light. Your child will be able to eat right after the appointment. The treatment is very affordable, especially in view of the valuable decay protection it offers your child. Most dental insurance companies cover sealants. Some companies, however, have age and specific tooth limitations. Check with your benefits provider about your child’s coverage and talk to our staff about the exact cost of sealants for your child. The natural flow of saliva usually keeps the smooth surfaces of teeth clean but does not wash out the grooves and fissures. So, the teeth most at risk of decay—and therefore most in need of sealants - are the six-year and twelve-year molars. Many times the permanent premolars and primary molars will also benefit from sealant coverage. Any tooth, however, with grooves or pits may benefit from the protection of sealants. Each child is unique. We can determine what is best for each child at the time of the examination. Absolutely! Sealants are only one step in the plan to keep your child cavity-free for a lifetime. Brushing, flossing, balanced nutrition, limited snacking, and regular dental visits are still essential to a bright, healthy smile. How does fluoride work? When the element fluoride is used in small amounts on a routine basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. It encourages "remineralization," a strengthening of weak areas on the teeth. These spots are the beginning of cavity formation. Fluoride occurs naturally in water and in many different foods, as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements. Fluoride is effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene. Will my child need fluoride supplements? Children between the ages of six months and 16 years may require fluoride supplements. We will consider many different factors before recommending a fluoride supplement. Your child's age, risk of developing dental decay and the different liquids your child drinks are important considerations. Bottled, filtered and well waters vary in their fluoride amount, so a water analysis may be necessary to ensure your child is receiving the proper amount. What type of toothpaste should my child use? Your child should use toothpaste with fluoride and the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Young children, especially pre-school aged children, should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision and only a small pea-sized amount on the brush are recommended. If not monitored, children may easily swallow over four times the recommended daily amount of fluoride in toothpaste. Fluoride is documented to be safe and highly effective. Research indicates water fluoridation, the most cost effective method, has decreased the decay rate by over 50 percent. Only small amounts of fluoride are necessary for the maximum benefit. Proper toothpaste amount must be supervised, and other forms of fluoride supplementations must be carefully monitored in order to prevent a potential overdose and unsightly spots on the developing permanent teeth. Do not leave toothpaste tubes where young children can reach them. The flavors that help encourage them to brush may also encourage them to eat toothpaste. Topical fluoride comes in a number of different forms. Gels and foams are applied at the dental office after your child's teeth have been thoroughly cleaned. Fluoride varnish is one of the newer forms of topical fluoride applied at the dentist office. It has been documented to be safe and effective to fight dental decay through a long history of use in Europe. The advantages of varnish are: Easily and quickly applied to the teeth. Decreases the potential amount of fluoride digested. Continues to "soak" fluoride into the enamel for approximately 24 hours after the original application. This method is especially useful in young patients and those with special needs that may not tolerate fluoride trays comfortably. Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth. What do I do in a dental emergency When your child needs urgent dental treatment, your pediatric dentist stands ready to help. Please keep the emergency number available and convenient. Q: What should I do if my child's baby tooth is knocked out? A: Contact us as soon as possible. Q: What should I do if my child's permanent tooth is knocked out? A: Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap -- use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to the pediatric dental office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it's after hours.) The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth. Q: What if a tooth is chipped or fractured? A: Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. Q: What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture? A: Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening. Q: What if my child has a toothache? A: Call us and visit the office promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area. Q: Can dental injuries be prevented? A: Absolutely! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits and preventive care.