Frequently Asked Questions
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How Do I Prepare My Child For Their First Dental Visit?
Our offices, as well as The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age or 6 months after the first tooth is visible.
Informing your child of their upcoming visit should always be done in a positive manner. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”, “shot”, “pull”, “drill” or “hurt”. Our office makes a practice of using words that mean the same things but are pleasant and non-frightening to your child.
We invite you to stay with your child during all dental appointments, some parents are comfortable with this relationship and some parents prefer to allow their children to go back by themselves. We leave that decision up to you!
At What Ages Do Different Teeth Come In?
Children’s teeth begin forming before birth in the second trimester. As early as 4 months old, your child’s first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt through the gums. The first teeth generally seen are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. All 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, although the pace and order of eruption vary.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
What do I do in different dental emergencies?
TOOTHACHE: Clean the area of the tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If the pain still exists, contact our office. Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact our office immediately.
CUT OR BITTEN TONGUE, LIP or CHEEK: Apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with gauze or cloth.
If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call your pediatrician or seek emergency care.
KNOCKED OUT BABY TOOTH: Call our office.
KNOCKED OUT PERMANENT TOOTH: Call our office. If possible, find the tooth. Try not to touch the root portion of the tooth. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT clean with soap, scrub or handle the tooth unnecessarily. If possible, reinsert the tooth into the socket. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk.
CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TOOTH: Call our office. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses if any lip trauma present.
SEVERE BLOW TO THE HEAD: Call 911, or take your child to nearest emergency room immediately.
POSSIBLE BROKEN/FRACTURED JAW: Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest emergency room.
How Do I Prevent Cavities In My Child’s Teeth?
1. ORAL HYGIENE:
Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and food particles that combine to create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from your child’s teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water.
For all children, we recommend brushing their teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once daily. We also recommend a fluoride rinse for those children that are able to rinse and spit out.
2. GOOD DIET:
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on the tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cheese, which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.
3. DENTAL VISITS:
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends visits every six months to the pediatric dentist, beginning at your child’s first birthday. These visits are very important and will prevent small issues from turning into larger problems such as toothaches, loss of teeth.
Why are Primary (Baby) Teeth Important?
It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Cavities that have been neglected can and frequently do lead to problems, which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are important for:
- Proper chewing
- Providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position
- Permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.
Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front 4 teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) aren’t replaced until age 10-13.
What Are Sealants?
A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. The sealant acts as a barrier to the food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay prone areas of the teeth.
Why Is Space Maintenance Important?
What Is A Stainless Steel Crown?
What Is Pulp Therapy?
The pulp of a tooth is the inner central core of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue and reparative cells. The purpose of the pulp therapy is to maintain the vitality of the affected tooth so the tooth is not lost.
Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injury are the main reasons for a tooth to require pulp therapy. The two most common forms of pulp therapy in children’s teeth are the pulpotomy or pulpectomy.
A pulpotomy removes the diseased pulp tissue within the crown portion of the tooth. Next, an agent is placed to prevent bacterial growth and to calm the remaining nerve tissue. This is followed by a final restoration such as a stainless steel crown.
A pulpectomy is required when the entire pulp is involved (into the root canals of the tooth). During this treatment, the diseased pulp tissue is completely removed from the tooth. The canals are cleansed, disinfected and filled with a resorbable material. Then, a stainless steel crown is placed.
What Material Is Used For Fillings?
Will My Child Need To See An Orthodontist?
Developing malocclusions, or bad bites, can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontics treatment at a later age.
STAGE 1 – Early Treatment: This period of treatment encompasses ages 2 to 6 years. At this young age, we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, the premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. Treatment initiated in this stage of development is often very successful and many times, though not always, can eliminate the need for future orthodontic/orthopedic treatment.
STAGE II – Mixed Dentition: This period covers the ages of 6 to 12 years, with the eruption of the permanent incisor (front) teeth and 6 year old molars. Treatment concerns deal with jaw mal-relationships and dental re-alignment problems. This is an excellent stage to start treatment, when indicated, as your child’s hard and soft tissues are usually very responsive to orthodontic or orthopedic forces.
STAGE III – Adolescent dentition: This stage deals with the permanent teeth and the development of the final bite relationship.
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