Child Dental Care
|
It is recommended by the American Dental Association that children visit the dentist for the first time at age 1, or within 6 months of eruption of the first tooth. At our office, we schedule these first visits with Dr. Jones. She will do a quick, yet thorough, exam to make sure that everything is developing normally and introduce your child to the dental office, using the "tell, show, do" technique. She will use child friendly words as she teaches your child about their teeth and all the tools we use to check and clean teeth.
Dr. Jones and our team will educate you, as a parent, on proper hygiene and diet choices that are age appropriate for your child, as well as give you information on your child's development and what to expect as their mouths grows and changes. We will monitor your child's changing bite and tooth position, and discuss if and when it might be appropriate to start orthodontic treatment. |
|
We recommend preparing your child for his or her first dental visit by reading children's books about going to the dentist and giving them positive affirmations about coming. We have some books here in the office to look at in the waiting room too! We want to start kids off with a great experience so that they will develop a lifetime habit of coming for their regular visit and making healthful choices every day.
A child is never pushed beyond their own limitations. Dr. Jones will do as much as a child will allow to be done. Our goal is to have him or her be comfortable and feel like this is a safe place while having quality dental care.
A fluoride varnish is routinely given (by painting it on teeth) from the first visit to age 18. However, patients over the age of 18 are encouraged to keep up with fluoride varnish. For more information about the benefits to fluoride, please check out this Healthy Mouth article from the ADA.
When first permanent molars begin to appear (around the age of 6 or 7), we will take bitewing x-rays to be sure that the teeth are healthy on the inside and normal development is happening below the gumline. Usually, we take necessary x-rays on an annual basis to monitor for cavities between teeth and follow development. Below is an x-ray of permanent (aka adult) teeth making their way to the surface.
A child is never pushed beyond their own limitations. Dr. Jones will do as much as a child will allow to be done. Our goal is to have him or her be comfortable and feel like this is a safe place while having quality dental care.
A fluoride varnish is routinely given (by painting it on teeth) from the first visit to age 18. However, patients over the age of 18 are encouraged to keep up with fluoride varnish. For more information about the benefits to fluoride, please check out this Healthy Mouth article from the ADA.
When first permanent molars begin to appear (around the age of 6 or 7), we will take bitewing x-rays to be sure that the teeth are healthy on the inside and normal development is happening below the gumline. Usually, we take necessary x-rays on an annual basis to monitor for cavities between teeth and follow development. Below is an x-ray of permanent (aka adult) teeth making their way to the surface.
These are lower anterior teeth. You can see the "baby" teeth above the "adult" teeth. |
The permanent first molars are getting ready to erupt.
|
