When caring for a young baby, a dental visit is often far from the parent’s mind. Since the baby doesn’t have any teeth, it is easy to assume that regular dental visits won’t be needed for several years. Don’t make the mistake of procrastinating the baby’s first dental visit though, because regular dental care early in life can help the child to maintain a healthy smile into adulthood.

Scheduling the First Pediatric Dental Appointment

Most dental professionals suggest that a child should visit the office before the age of one. This appointment time can vary depending on the needs of the child, but generally it is a good idea to have the child visit the dentist when their first tooth shows up.

If your family has a high risk for dental problems, then it is especially important that you don’t delay your child’s dental checkup. By visiting the dentist at the proper time, potential dental problems can be diagnosed early, helping the child to avoid bigger problems in the future.

After the first appointment, it is best to maintain regular visits with the pediatric dentist. The recommended frequency should be twice a year, and parents should be proactive to teach good dental habits throughout the year.

These dental exams give the dentist the opportunity to see how well the teeth are growing. Additionally, the visit will help your child learn more about dental health as they grow older. By scheduling the first dental appointment when your child is a baby, you can help them be comfortable with the idea of visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

Schedule an Appointment with a Pediatric Dentist

If it is time to schedule a dental checkup for your baby, then you should consider the different types of dental services that are available. Some parents assume that it is fine to take their baby to a general dentist, but the truth is that your child will actually receive better care by visiting a pediatric dentist instead.

Pediatric dental care is for the dental health of young children, allowing the dentist to be focused on the care and treatment of childhood dental issues. This specialty will give you the peace of mind to know that your child’s dental health is in good hands.

Are you ready to schedule a dental checkup for your baby? Contact our office today, and we will gladly schedule a time for your child to visit our pediatric office.

When it’s time to take a child for their first visit to the dentist, choosing the right dental office can be tricky. Most parents have a trusted family dentist and he or she is the first option that pops into mind. However, choosing a family dentist may not be the best option for a child. Instead, it may be best to find a qualified pediatric dentist.

Pediatric dentists are specialized. They have received two to three more years of specialty training in addition to that required by a family dentist. Their practices are generally focused solely on oral care for infants and children, including children with special needs and they are committed to providing children with enjoyable, positive dental experiences.

One of the biggest reasons to choose a pediatric dentist over a family dentist is their extensive knowledge and understanding of the oral health and growth of children’s teeth. Parents choosing pediatric dentists will have the added benefit of knowing their child is in the hands of someone with a high level of specialized training and commitment. In addition, pediatric dentists are educators. A large part of their job is to provide parents with the necessary information to properly care for their child’s ongoing oral health and well-being.

Family dentists are fully trained professionals and generally provide a high level of oral care for adults. However, they lack the advantage of the extra training required by pediatric dentists and seldom have the time to focus on creating the same comforting atmosphere children often need to lose their fear of dental visits.

Overall, pediatric dentistry is the best choice for parents trying to provide top of the line oral care for their child.

Did you know that nitrous oxide has been used in dental procedures for 100 years? It’s an extremely safe way to make sure your child is comfortable during otherwise uncomfortable dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, and extractions. Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that can be easily controlled, does not affect heart rate, and has no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Nitrous oxide has no odor and, used in combination with oxygen, does not in any way disrupt normal breathing. The ratio of nitrous oxide to oxygen is about 30% to 70%, so the effect is very gentle.

Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas,” is the mildest form of sedation that we use during dental procedures. For this reason, it is very commonly used with children. If your child needs nitrous oxide, we simply fit a small mask over his nose and request that he breathe normally. As long as your child is comfortable wearing the soft mask and breathing through his nose, he should have no problem with the nitrous oxide. Because nitrous oxide is so safe and easy to use, we can even use it for simple cleanings if your child is very anxious or has had a negative experience at the dentist’s in the past. However, it is used most commonly for more involved procedures like filling cavities.

Your child will not feel overly drowsy, simply relaxed, happy and comfortable. Nitrous oxide is called “laughing gas” because patients often feel a little giddy and get the “giggles”. It will not prevent your child from understanding and responding to instructions at all points during the visit. His arms or legs may feel heavy, but he will have no problem moving. The effects of nitrous oxide go away just a few minutes after the mask is removed, so there is little to no recovery time before your child is feeling back to normal.

Nitrous oxide does not significantly take away sensation for your child, it simply reduces pain and helps to ease feelings of fear and anxiety about the procedure and about having to sit in the dentist’s chair for a longer period of time than usual. During any invasive or complex dental procedure, we use local anesthesia at the site to numb the tooth (in addition to the pain-relieving effects of laughing gas) so your child will feel perfectly comfortable.

If your child is anxious about visiting the dentist, or is coming in for a filling or other procedure, we’ll explain in kid-friendly terms what we’re going to do, why the laughing gas will help relax them, and how it will make them feel. Before we begin, both you and your child should feel completely comfortable and prepared for us to begin the procedure or cleaning using nitrous oxide. Often, laughing gas helps children feel better about coming back to the dentist for the next visit!

Toothaches are no fun for adults or children. When a child has a toothache, it can be difficult to determine what is causing the pain or even exactly where the pain is. Toothaches can interfere with sleep and cause significant stress, and parents may feel helpless and uncertain how to ease the pain.

The first thing to do is make sure it’s really a toothache you’re dealing with. Depending on the age of the child and their communication skills, what they call a toothache may in fact be a bitten tongue or sore gums. Sometimes “toothaches” may be caused by new teeth that are coming in.

Actual toothaches may be caused by a number of things. Tooth decay is one of them. Another common cause of toothache is food stuck between the teeth, so look for food particles and see if they can be removed with dental floss. Sometimes baby teeth may come out before they are ready because of jarring or vigorous wiggling, and this can also cause pain.

If you are unable to determine the cause of the pain and relieve it, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist. Until then, there are some things you can do to help make your child more comfortable.

Plain, warm water or warm salt water can relieve pain temporarily. Provide your child with a glass of warm water so they can rinse and spit the water back out, repeating when the tooth starts to hurt again. Alternately, some toothaches respond better to cold water or a towel-wrapped ice pack applied to the outside of the cheek.

Until your child feels better, give him or her only liquids and soft foods at room temperature. Salty or very hot or cold foods may cause increased pain. Biting down while chewing, drinking sugary drinks, and pressing the top and bottom teeth together may all contribute to the discomfort.

Distracting your child may work too. Try taking his or her mind off the tooth by reading a story or allowing him or her to play a favorite game or watch a favorite movie. You can also try over the counter pain relievers, making sure to use the correct dosage for your child’s age and weight.

These tips can help keep pain at bay until your dentist appointment. Let the dentist know if you see a visible cavity in the tooth, a lump at the gum line of the painful tooth, or if the toothache has lasted for more than a day. Also watch for any signs of infection such as fever, swelling of the face, or severe pain, and contact the dentist immediately if you notice any of these.

Although babies’ teeth aren’t visible at birth, they’re there – already formed under the gums, waiting until around six months of age to start coming in. These milk teeth, or “baby teeth,” along with the gums and tongue, are vitally important for eating and speaking. In addition, milk teeth hold space for permanent teeth, which begin coming in at five to six years. And cleaning babies’ teeth early on helps acclimate them to using toothbrushes and helps them form good habits.

At around three months of age, before the first tooth ever comes in, it’s time to start cleaning your baby’s gums and tongue. Dampen a bit of gauze or a wash cloth with water only – no toothpaste – and wrap it around your finger. Use a gentle circular motion to remove food debris, and repeat this after each feeding.

When your baby is six to 12 months old, he or she may have several teeth. When you see the first one, it’s time to start using a soft-bristled baby toothbrush. You should still not use toothpaste, but continue using a circular motion with the toothbrush gently cleaning the teeth, gums, and tongue. Try to make brushing fun so your baby will look forward to it.

Once your baby or toddler has teeth, be conscious of how much time sugary substances are staying in contact with the teeth. Do not dip pacifiers in honey or anything else sugary; do not put your baby to bed with milk, juice, or soda, as all of these contain sugars that can cause tooth decay.

From 12 to 24 months, your child should be allowed to “play” or “pretend” with his or her own toothbrush alongside you as you brush. Toddlers often enjoy imitating what they see you do. Do have someone help your toddler brush to ensure it’s getting done properly – this could be you, an older sibling or another caretaker. You can begin using toothpaste now, but use only a tiny smear on the brush.

As your toddler grows into a preschooler, continue making sure he or she brushes twice a day, most importantly at bedtime. Make sure he or she spits out the toothpaste and rinses his or her mouth with plain water. Older toddlers and preschoolers will probably want to “do it themselves,” and that’s fine – as long as you re-brush when they are done. Children usually need supervision while brushing until age six or seven.

Taking care of milk teeth is an important job and one that begins as soon as the first tooth pokes through and doesn’t end until the last baby tooth falls out around age 12. These teeth are important for chewing and digesting properly, speech, and a healthy self-image, so take care of them meticulously just as if they were permanent.

When it comes times for your child’s first dental visit, be sure to give our team at Children’s Dental World a call!