A pediatric dentist is key to giving your child the best start to a healthy oral hygiene practice in life. Our teeth are with us when we are born, even though they are unseen. Everyone wants a healthy smile free of cavities and disease. Parents want to make sure they are doing as much as possible to help their children learn how to take care of their teeth so they last a lifetime.
By taking your child to a pediatric dentist early on, you remind them the dentist is our friend. We want to make sure dental anxiety never becomes an issue. Having a child experience the dentist early on and a positive experience will give them the foundation they need for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Many parents are unsure of what age they should take their children to the dentist. Most parents set up their child’s first visit in the early toddler years. It is recommended that you take your child to the dentist by their first birthday or when the first tooth erupts from their gumline.
This is a general rule most parents aren’t aware of. A baby could get their first tooth around 5 to 6 months. You may be unsure of how the dentist will do an exam since a baby cannot sit in the chair like most, but your dentist will help show you how to position your child for the exam properly.
When a child goes to the dentist, it is important they have a complete dental exam, dental x-rays, and find out any important family history. Your dentist wants to be sure they are aware of any concerns right from the start.
The dentist will look for tooth decay, plaque build-up, or signs of proper or improper tooth placement under the gums. They want the teeth to come in as straight and healthy as possible.
Your dentist will recommend filling any cavities to prevent the decay from spreading to other teeth and keep the gums healthy for future teeth.
Once a child’s back molars come in, they will apply a dental sealant. This is quick, painless, and will prevent cavities from forming on the permanent back teeth. Children with sealants are three times more likely not to have cavities than children without dental sealants.
A pediatric dentist will also start showing your child how to properly take care of their teeth from the first visit in between dental checkups. They will teach them how to correctly floss brush and help them to see the importance of their oral health. The best way to keep your child’s dentist visits positive and healthy is to start them as young as possible and encourage them to want to brush their teeth and keep their mouths happy.
Request an appointment here: https://www.pediatricdentistsuffolk.com or call Fun Park Pediatric Dentistry at (757) 767-2767 for an appointment in our Suffolk office.
Making sure your child undergoes a dental checkup for kids regularly is important for ensuring their continued oral health and avoiding the onset or exacerbation of dental problems. These visits allow the dentist to monitor a child's oral health, teach good oral hygiene practices, and address any problems promptly.Parents may have questions regarding their children's…
An experienced dentist for kids can deal with dental emergencies. Kids are prone to these dental problems. For such crises, a pediatric dentist knows how to calm down and help young patients. Here are the details on how a dentist for kids can help with dental emergencies.Apply pressure with a bandage or clean cloth. Make…
Pediatric dental professionals love a healthy set of teeth, especially when those teeth belong to their patients. There is a sense of pride that a pediatric dentist feels when these young patients grow into young adults with good teeth and great oral habits. From a young age, a child should learn how to take care…
Your child should see a pediatric dentist at an early age, ideally when they start to teeth. The aim is to have the dentist track the growth and development of their entire oral cavity. Regular visits enable the kids’ dentist to monitor the child as they hit different developmental milestones. The dentist also gets to…
Dental sealants for kids are an important part of a child's oral health care routine. They can help protect teeth from cavities and decay, but many parents are unaware of the benefits associated with sealants. This blog post will discuss the benefits of dental sealants for kids and why they should be part of your…
Invisalign® for teens improves the alignment of your child’s teeth without them having a mouthful of metal brackets and wires. Metal braces have been the standard way to fix teeth alignment problems and have been used since the 1800s.While braces remain one of the most effective ways to straighten teeth, these devices are highly visible…