The first "regular" dental visit should be around 18 months of age and no later than their 2nd birthday unless you suspect a problem earlier. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We ask the parent to sit in chairs directly at the end of the dental chair. We will actively involve you in the examination and point out areas of concern. It’s very important however, that your child listen and take direction from the doctor or dental assistant. This will establish trust between your child and the dental team.
The first visit to the dentist may be the most important in your child’s life. It’s an experience that will help determine life-long health attitudes, for better or for worse. That’s why we go gently and take all the time your child needs to feel comfortable, to encourage curiosity, and to make friends.
We prefer to schedule first appointments early in the day, when children are more rested. You can help make this first visit a positive one by reinforcing our role as a “tooth doctor”, a friendly person who works to keep teeth healthy. Approach the visit with calm, and your child will sense the same.
We will gently examine your child's teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child's permanent teeth under the gums). 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.
We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child's reaction to their first visit to the dentist may surprise you.
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in sealant technology to protect your child's teeth. Sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child's lifetime of good oral health.
Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing and flossing. Flossing is the most neglected aspect of a child’s oral hygiene regime. Decay between teeth is the area of highest cavity risk. Limiting sugar intake and brushing and flossing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their foods the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.
Every time someone eats, 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.
Consistency of a person's saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.
The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are typically 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.
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 daily hygiene.