The Difference Pediatric Dentistry Makes
It’s our goal to start children off on the right foot with kid friendly pediatric dental care that builds a positive relationship between the dental team and the little patient, making kids feel engaged and empowered to care for their own oral health. Happy, healthy habits set the tone for a lifetime of dental care that they actually look forward to.
Pediatric dental care accomplishes this from the very first dental appointment, through kid friendly routine teeth cleanings, and at every milestone your child reaches. We’re happy to support these little patients as they discover their new teeth, lose baby teeth, grow their adult teeth, and experience other milestones like getting a filling (that isn’t so scary after all!) or opting for orthodontics as young adults.
Why Is Children’s Dental Care So Important?
Believe it or not, some people ask why children’s dental care is so important because the primary teeth fall out anyway! Most children have their baby teeth by the age of 3. This first set of teeth begins to fall out by about the age of 6, and, except for wisdom teeth, most children have all their adult teeth by their early teens. Children gain and lose their primary teeth during their fundamental years, and the state of their dental health has many long reaching consequences.
Poor Dental Health Hurts
Just like grown ups, children are at risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, infection, and gum disease. Without a frame of reference, children are capable of normalizing a lot of pain and discomfort, but they still feel it all the same. If you notice your child avoids hot and cold foods or drinks, chewy food, or chews only on one side of their mouth, they may be trying to cope with dental pain or sensitivity.
Baby Teeth Set the Stage for Adult Teeth
As the baby tooth loosens and falls out, the root is reabsorbed and the space left behind acts as a guide for the replacement adult teeth. If a baby tooth needs to be extracted prematurely, it can cause problems like unexpected crowding or crooked adult teeth. Maintaining strong, healthy baby teeth and healthy supporting tissue and gums gives adult teeth their strongest start.
The Cornerstone of Confidence
A full set of healthy teeth is essential for children learning how to speak and smile. Children will also begin to form attachments and social skills from a very young age. Having dental complications, dental pain, or sensitivity will impact how they are able to express themselves and how they are perceived by their peers.
Good Eating Habits for Growing Bodies
A wide variety of different foods is especially important for children and can be challenging enough for parents of picky eaters. Children experiencing discomfort and dental pain may find themselves avoiding crunchy, chewy, or textured foods. Children may start a lifetime habit of eating on one side only or eating in the wrong part of their mouth, or they might not want to eat very much at all.
Your Child’s First Appointment
For patients of all ages, our ultimate goal is your health, comfort, and satisfaction. In pediatric dentistry, special consideration is given to the challenges that our youngest patients face when they sit in the chair. We’ll keep a close eye on child specific oral health markers and milestones, and we’ll talk to your child in a kid friendly way that makes them feel safe and engaged.
Show and Tell
Some kids are adventurous explorers with a million questions. Others feel bashful and careful or even anxious about new experiences. We want all kids to feel safe and engaged and to feel positive about visiting the dentist. The best way to meet their emotional needs is to have a conversation in kid-friendly terms. We’d like to start each appointment by hearing their thoughts and concerns and we’d like to explain what we plan to do during the appointment and answer any questions they have.
Gentle Examination
With special attention paid to child specific oral health markers, we will gently examine your child’s gums, tongue, teeth, and overall health. During our exam, we’ll monitor the progress of their primary teeth and adult teeth. Our exam will reveal areas of concern or tricky spots that may need extra attention at home or at future appointments.
Keeping You in the Loop
After the exam, we’ll provide advice for both the young patient and their parent or guardian. Sometimes we have extra tips and tricks to help with brushing those hard to reach spots at home. We’ll let you know if there are any problem areas that we plan to monitor and what to look out for between appointments. Together, we make a great team!
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pediatric dentists specialize in dental care for children from infancy through their teen years. They have the experience and training to care for the many changes children’s mouths go through as they grow into their adult mouths.
Your child will start to get their first teeth around 6 months old. It is recommended that children visit the dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months of getting their first tooth. If you suspect something might be wrong or if your child is experiencing discomfort or pain, please book an appointment as soon as possible. It’s never too late for a child to have their first dental appointment.
Technically speaking, a pediatric dentist is concerned with the dental health of anyone who hasn’t reached the age of majority. Pediatric dentists specialize in care for patients from the ages of 6 months old to 18 years old.
The general rule of thumb for how often a child should visit the dentist is the same as for adults, every 6 months unless otherwise specified by a dentist. Some patients opt for visits every 3 months or 8 months depending on their personal needs and budget. You shouldn’t wait more than a year between appointments. If your child is experiencing any discomfort or pain, don’t wait; book an appointment now.
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