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 the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist or hygienist.
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 his 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 adequate brushing and flossing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The more frequent the use of high sugar foods, the more likely decay will result. Frequency, therefore, has a greater impact than quantity. A bag of M&M’s, for example, eaten a few at a time over a period of hours has a much more negative effect than the same bag eaten all at once.
Every time we eat, an acid reaction occurs inside the mouth as the bacteria digest the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acid environment can damage the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities. This acid is potent enough to destroy the hardest substance in the human body: dental enamel.
The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about six to eight months old. Next to follow will be the four upper front teeth. The remainder of your baby's teeth will appear periodically over the next few years. 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 five and six, 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. All children are different.
Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth, but they are also important to chewing, biting, speech, and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
For children especially, protecting the teeth during athletic activity should be a consistent priority. For the developing youngster, injury to the teeth and jaws can have serious implications that can have last a lifetime. Consider the “simple” front tooth fracture. The initial repair of the tooth may be done with bonding. This will likely be repeated several times before the child matures. Eventually, the tooth will require a crown and often a root canal procedure. A metal post may be required to strengthen the tooth after the root canal. Because natural teeth change with time, the crown will likely have to be replaced. Since root canal therapy results in a much more brittle tooth, these teeth often crack and are lost as they age and are subjected to additional use or abuse. Ultimately, a replacement with a bridge or implant is necessary. In the end, this “simple” tooth fracture remains an on-going problem that can cost several thousand dollars to maintain.
A simple, inexpensive, custom-fitted athletic guard can usually make the difference between a problematic fracture and a simple bruise. These appliances are typically good for the season and are replaced as the child grows and the teeth change. “Off the shelf”, heat and fit appliances available in sports stores can be an acceptable alternative if they are well fitted. Unfortunately, they rarely are. When they are bulky, not properly sized or poorly retained, effectiveness is reduced and the young athlete is less likely to use it consistently.
We fabricate custom-fitted appliances for children as well as adults. These appliances are designed appropriately for the particular sport to afford maximum protection and easy compliance.
For more information on protecting your teeth please view our Athletic Guards informational section.