Common Pediatric Dentistry Questions
We typically recommend scheduling your child’s first pediatric dental visit as soon as the baby teeth begin to appear. This allows us to prevent cavities from forming, and talk with you about how you can care for your child’s teeth.
For most children, we recommend visiting the dentist every six months. We may recommend coming in every three months if your child is more prone to cavities.
We advise you to start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as their teeth start to appear. Use a toothbrush and a toothpaste that your child likes and turn toothbrushing into a fun game. You can both take turns role-playing as a dentist, brushing the front, back, sides, and top of the teeth in a circular motion.
The baby teeth serve as spacers for the adult teeth. Children who have severe damage to their baby teeth are more likely to also damage their permanent teeth. Early loss of baby teeth may cause loss of space for permanent teeth, therefore causing orthodontics problems later on.
Our dentists recommend that you get a soft-bristle brush with a small head for cleaning your infant’s teeth. As your child grows, switch to a toothbrush with a slightly larger head.
If there is little or no space between your child’s teeth, that is usually a good sign that you should be helping them floss. Flossing is less necessary if there is a lot of space between the child’s teeth.
Today’s X-ray technology uses a mere 25 percent of the radiation when compared to earlier generations. As such, dental X-rays are considered incredibly safe for your child. If you ever have any questions about your child’s safety during their checkup, feel free to let us know.
While family dentists can do a great job providing general care for patients of all ages, our pediatric dentists specialize in assessing the needs of infants and children. We monitor kids to ensure healthy oral formation while also keeping them comfortable, safe, and at ease.
Common Children’s Orthodontic Questions
The cost of orthodontic care can vary a great deal depending on the patient’s needs. We are happy to provide a more personalized estimate during your child’s appointment. Additionally, we can talk with you about financing and insurance assistance as needed.
Some insurance policies will cover orthodontic care, at least partly, and some policies will not. It really just depends on your insurance, but we are always happy to talk with you about the best ways to maximize reimbursement.
Orthodontic treatment can really start at any age, however, if early treatment is needed that must start between the ages of seven and ten. Early treatment can prevent the need for jaw surgery and other complications.
Tooth extractions are only performed when it is absolutely necessary. In some cases, when the teeth are extremely crowded, or baby teeth will not fall out on their own, we may recommend your child have an extraction performed, but this is more the exception than the rule.
The time needed for orthodontic care varies from patient to patient. The average span of time is between 12 to 24 months, Treatments typically run according to schedule as long as the patient is compliant, comes to scheduled appointments, and keeps a good oral hygiene routine.
Have additional questions? Call us today!
