Dental Topics
Your Child’s First Visit
Your child’s first visit will include an oral examination and a toothbrush demonstration. Dr. Toni will examine your child’s mouth, with special consideration for what’s most comfortable for you and your child. We invite parents to stay with their children during the initial examination, as well as any future visits.
Dental Checkups & Cleaning
Dental checkups and cleanings are an essential part of a complete oral health regimen and should be done every 6 months. This includes taking x-rays periodically for diagnostic purposes and a teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth.
During this appointment, you can expect Dr. Toni and staff to:
- Review your child’s history
- Respond to your questions and concerns
- Talk with you about your child’s overall oral health, including subjects such as:
- Development
- Teething
- Bite (how your child’s teeth will come together)
- Soft tissues such as gums and cheeks
- Oral habits such as thumb sucking or teeth grinding
- Cavity risk factors such as diet, hygiene practices and fluoride use
- How to prevent trauma to your child’s mouth
- Home Care Recommendations
Restoration
Restorative decisions for primary (baby) teeth are driven by different goals and expectations than permanent teeth. The primary teeth are a temporary dentition with known life expectancies for each tooth. By matching the “right” restoration with the expected lifespan of each tooth, we succeed in providing a permanent restoration that will never have to be replaced.
We use only the best dental products and restoration materials, to ensure that your child’s restorations will last. For this reason, we offer tooth-colored fillings (composite fillings) that are free of mercury.
FAQ
Q: At what age should I schedule my child’s first dentist appointment?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the first dental visit should be 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth, or by the time the child is 1 year old. The idea of an early dental visit can be surprising to some parents, but the infant visit is endorsed by leading national public health groups. It establishes your child’s relationship with the dentist, and allows us to answer any question you may have, including how to care for an infant’s or toddler’s mouth.
More than 1 out of 4 children in the United States have cavities by the age of 4 years old, sometimes as early as age 2. One of our major initiatives is to educate parents about early childhood cavities and help prevent them. During your child’s first dental visit, we’ll discuss your child’s risk of developing cavities, as well as diet, oral hygiene and the use of fluoride to prevent problems.
Q: What’s the best toothbrush/toothpaste for us to use? Any tips on what we can be doing at home between visits?
Tooth brushing is one of the most important aspects of good oral health. Many toothpastes, and/or tooth polishes, however, can damage young smiles. They contain harsh abrasives, which can wear away young tooth enamel. When looking for toothpaste for your child, pick one that is recommended by the American Dental Association, as shown on the box. These toothpastes have undergone testing to ensure they are safe for children of all ages.
The type of toothbrush is less important than being consistent – brushing should be done twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening right before bed. If your child drinks anything other than water before going to bed, then you must brush and floss your child’s teeth again!
Q: What do you do for an anxious child?
Providing a safe and enjoyable environment for both you and your child is our utmost concern. Our hope is to help them feel at ease from the moment they walk in – they’ll immediately notice our kid-friendly environment, including video games, movies, books and toys to enjoy during visits.
We also offer sedation dentistry as a helpful service to children and young adults that have a high level of anxiety during dental procedures. Your child is carefully monitored and we use only the minimum amount of sedation medication to safely complete dental care.
Sedation medication may be taken orally (Oral Sedation), inhaled through the nose and mouth (Nitrous Oxide), or delivered intravenously (IV Sedation). These options can be thoroughly explored during your child’s first visit, or any subsequent appointment.
Services
Digital X-Ray Diagnostics
X-rays are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. We use the latest technology through digital imaging to ensure the highest quality radiographs.
Teeth
Cleaning
Dental checkups and cleanings are an essential part of a complete oral health regimen and should be done every 6 months.
The Wand Anesthetic Medicine
To alleviate your child’s fear or anxiety, we use a computerized anesthetic dispensing machine called “The Wand.” Shaped like a pen, The Wand automatically adjusts for your child, and the anesthetic is delivered at a constant pressure and volume so that the injection is hardly felt.
White
Fillings
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal shape and function, as well as prevent further damage. We offer both white or silver fillings.
Pulp
Therapy
The pulp of a tooth is the inner, central core. Pulp therapy can help save a decayed or infected tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted.
Zirconia
Zirconia, sometimes called “ceramic steel,” is known for its superior longevity. A perfect balance of strength and translucency make it ideally suited for dental use.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a well-established intervention to promote dental health. Inexpensive and non-invasive, SDF is applied topically to help prevent cavities.
