1. Like a pediatrician is your primary provider of childhood medical care, pediatric dentists are the primary (and specialty) oral health providers for your infant and child. They understand and are experienced in dealing with the unique dental issues and concerns that go along with each stage of childhood.
2. Children deserve a pediatric dentist for dental care for the
same reason they see a pediatrician for medical care. A pediatric dentist is a
doctor of dentistry who has two to three years of specialized training
following dental school and limits his or her practice exclusively to the
treatment of children, including those with special medical needs.
3. Good oral health is an important part of total health.
Establishing an office as your child’s dental home provides the opportunity to
implement preventive dental health habits that help keep your child free from
dental/oral disease. We focus on prevention, early detection, and treatment of
dental diseases, as well as dental growth and development. As a pediatric only
dental office, we are current on the latest advances in dentistry for children.
4. 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. Continual preventive care includes
regular check-ups and cleanings with oral hygiene instruction. The timing of
these depends on your child’s specific needs, most commonly recommended every
six months.
5. Primary (baby) teeth are important because they help with
proper chewing and eating, help in speech development and add to an attractive
appearance. A child who can chew easily, speak clearly and smile confidently is
a happier child. Healthy primary teeth allow normal development of the jawbones
and muscles, save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into place. If a
baby tooth is lost too soon, permanent teeth may come in crooked. Decayed baby
teeth can cause pain, abscesses, infections, and can spread to the permanent
teeth. Also, your child’s general health can be affected if diseased baby teeth
aren’t treated. Remember, some primary molars are not replaced until age ten to
fourteen, so they must last for years.
6. Some dental problems begin very early in life. One concern
is early childhood caries, a serious condition caused by a child staying on the
bottle, breastfeeding or sippy cup too long. Cavities between the teeth are
very common. They are not visible without dental x-rays in their early stages
of decay. By the time a child has pain associated with these types of cavities,
the teeth require more extensive treatment or removal. Another problem is gum
disease. About 40% of children two to three years old have at least mild
inflammation of gum tissues. Oral habits (such as thumb-sucking) should also be
checked. Many oral diseases, such as canker sores, can be treated before they
become advanced and cause unnecessary pain for your child. The earlier the
dental visit, the better the chances of preventing problems. Strong, healthy
teeth help your child chew food easily, speak clearly and feel good about his
or her appearance.
7. Interceptive orthodontics
refers to catching any orthodontic issues as soon as they occur. We look for:
- Baby teeth not falling out when they are expected to
- Baby teeth that are lost too early because of decay
- Top and bottom teeth not meeting properly
- Problems with biting or chewing
- Crooked teeth caused by crowding
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb and finger sucking
- Biting the cheek, or the roof of the mouth
- Jaws and teeth out of proportion to the rest of the
face
8. There are many good reasons
for early orthodontic treatment:
- When the jaws and teeth are still growing it is much
easier to move teeth and influence the position and size of the jaw
- Early treatment will shorten the treatment time
- Treatment of thumb-sucking and abnormal swallowing
patterns is more successful in a young child
- Protruding front teeth are easily damaged, so the
sooner they are corrected the better
9. Consult an orthodontist
immediately after you or your dentist become aware of a problem.
- Jaw growth and development problems can be identified
by the age of seven
- If it is necessary to widen or lengthen the upper or
lower jaw, this can begin by the age of 10 for girls, and 12 for boys
- Starting early can make the treatment easier and
shorter
10. Some of the issues we look
for:
- Crowding and irregular teeth
- Protruding upper teeth
- Protruding lower jaw and teeth
- Lower jaw protrusion
- Deep overbite
- Crossbite
- Spaces between the teeth
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Teeth erupting out of position (ectopic eruption)
