Kids Dental Care



FIRST VISIT

We suggest a child’s first visit with the dentist happens in their first year.  We call these visits Happy Visits where the child is introduced to the dental office, the dentist and hygienist.  An exam and cleaning may be performed if the child will allow however it is important to keep everything positive for the child.  Much of the time is spent consulting with the parents on diet and care for the baby’s teeth.  A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.

AS THEY GROW

A dental visit every six months allows the dentist to monitor your child’s mouth for signs of early cavities and growth problems.  In addition it teaches your children the importance of regular check-ups and the value of a healthy mouth.  Through early intervention the dentist can help you and your child prevent cavities from forming and protect the teeth in the high risk surfaces using dental sealants and fluoride varnish.


Children must be evaluated for proper growth and development of their jaws and teeth.  Early intervention in cases of underdevelopment of the jaw or misalignment of the teeth can prevent difficult functional and esthetic problems.  An orthodontic consultation at age seven for children who are starting to show tendencies toward jaw and teeth misalignment is important.
Moving from childhood to preteen and the mixed dentition that results is another time of high caries risk.  As primary teeth are lost and adult teeth take their place, children should be monitored and counseled about home care and diet changes that can affect their teeth.



As your child moves to teenage and adult life the foundation that you set through regular dental visits and early treatment and/or prevention of decay will serve them their entire lives.  I find that individuals whose parents took them to the dentist as children tend to continue regular visits into adult life and pass that positive behavior on to their children.  In addition, parents who themselves visit the dentist help to reinforce to their children that dental care is an important part of leading a healthy life.

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