Frequently Asked Questions

Do I stay with my child during the visit?

We ask that you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We are all highly experienced in helping children overcome anxiety. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome apprehension. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish. Studies and experience have shown that most children over the age of 3 react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children.

When should my child first see a dentist?

We recommend, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, that your child have his or her first dental visit at 1 year of age. If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth before age 3 we will gladly set up a consultation appointment to discuss them.

How often should a child see the dentist?

The American Academy of pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check-up at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene. Your pediatric dentist will let you know the best appointment schedule for your child.

When will my child get his or her first tooth?

Primary teeth usually start to erupt in the first year of life. The first teeth to erupt at approximately 6 months are the lower central incisors followed by the upper central incisors. At 12 months, typically, all lower incisors and all upper incisors are erupted. The eruption time is highly variable and we are not concerned about variations of up to 6 months.

Any advice on teething?

From 6 months to age 3, your child may have some sore gums when teeth erupt. Many children like a clean teething ring, cool spoon, or cold wet washcloth. Some parents swear by a chilled ring; others simply rub the baby’s gum with a clean finger.

When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth?

The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water. Even wiping the teeth with a wet washcloth is better than nothing. Remember that most small children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively. Encourage your child to build his or her own brushing skills, but make sure an adult always brushes the teeth every morning and night. Do not use fluoridated toothpaste until your child can successfully spit out all of the toothpaste.

Are baby teeth really that important to my child?

Primary (baby) teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Healthy primary teeth allow normal development of the jaw bones and muscles and help guide the proper eruption of the permanent teeth into the right place. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses, and infections.

How can I prevent tooth decay from a bottle or nursing?

Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle. There should never be anything but water in a child’s bed. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) tooth begins to erupt. Water should always be added to juice to decrease its strength.

Should I worry about thumb and finger sucking?

Thumb/finger sucking is perfectly normal for infants and most stop by age 2. If your child does not, encourage him or her to discontinue the habit after age 4. Prolonged sucking habits can create crowded, crooked teeth, and even bite problems. Your pediatric dentist will be glad to suggest ways to address a prolonged sucking habit. For most children there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until the permanent front teeth are ready to come in.

What is Nursing Decay or Baby Bottle Tooth decay?

Nursing Decay or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is a form of early childhood dental decay (cavities) that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. The teeth of a child who either sleeps with a bottle containing sugary liquids or who nurses frequently can develop a type of decay that attacks quite rapidly. Any liquid other than water, including milk or breast milk, formula, fruit juice, or other sweetened liquids can cause rampant decay at any age, especially when placed in bed with a child.

At what age should I worry about a thumb sucking habit?

Try your best to extinguish a nonnutritive sucking habit (pacifier, thumb, or fingers) between the ages of 3 to 5 years. This can be a stubborn process and many children continue a habit well beyond this age. We recommend a positive reinforcement system at home as your best chance to end the habit. An appliance can be placed to assist the child but is not recommended until at least age 6.

What do I do about my child grinding his or her teeth?

Grinding (bruxism) can occur at any age while a person is awake or asleep. The cause is multi-factorial and generally hard to pinpoint. While adults often exhibit pain in the TMJ and facial muscles, children usually have no pain with grinding due to their increased blood and nerve supply during growth. Even though the baby teeth may be worn down and flattened they will not be harmed or become painful. Mouth guards are not recommended until all of the permanent teeth are present so that growth of the jaws in not impeded.

Why does my child’s tooth require pulp therapy (pulpotomy or pulpectomy)?

The pulp of a tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue and reparative cells. The purpose of 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 treatment consists of removing the diseased pulp tissue and placing an agent to prevent bacterial growth and to calm the remaining nerve tissue. This is followed by a final restoration (usually a stainless steel crown) and can be completed in one appointment.

Is my child ready for braces?

We evaluate your child’s bite and alignment of teeth every 6 months at each cleaning appointment. Overall, we are very conservative in our recommendations for early orthodontic treatment. Since we don’t perform any orthodontics in our office, we work closely with orthodontists who share our conservative approach. We will refer you to an orthodontist when the time is appropriate for a complete evaluation.

How do you handle a nervous child?

Because our practice is limited to pediatric dentistry, we try to provide a child-friendly environment for you and your family. We are able to treat most of our patients using the Tell-Show-Do technique which is the cornerstone of behavior management. It is the process of explaining to children in a positive and child-friendly manner in order to earn your child’s trust. We also use euphemisms or word substitutes in order to communicate better to our young patients.

How often are X-Rays taken and are they safe?

X-Rays (radiographs) are taken as part of your child’s dental diagnostic exam. X-Rays not only detect cavities but also survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. X-Rays allow us to properly diagnose health conditions that cannot be detected with just a clinical examination. The frequency of X-Rays is determined by your child’s individual needs. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends X-Rays every 6 months for children with a high caries (cavity) risk however, the majority of children usually need X-Rays approximately once a year. We are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, high-speed film, and proper shielding, the amount of radiation in a dental X-Ray is extremely small. The risk is negligible. It is a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated problem. Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today’s equipment filters our unnecessary X-Rays and restricts the X-Ray beam to the area of interest.