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Pediatric Care

What to expect at your child’s 1st dental visit by age 1:

Cooperation for a full cleaning is not expected at this age. Typically, the first visit is more for parent education as well as establishing a dental home for the young child and their future visits. These visits at a young age help them get familiar with our office and staff so they feel comfortable when they are here for their check-ups.

Lap exams are commonly performed so we can evaluate tooth eruption and examine for early childhood decay.

A topical fluoride treatment is also recommended and placed at this visit.

Home Care Routine

6 Months to Age 2 
When your baby is given a bottle when going to sleep, use NOTHING BUT WATER. Bottles containing any sugary liquids or carbohydrates, such as milk, formula, or fruit juice, put teeth under attack from bacterial acid all night long.

ALL Ages 
As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, begin brushing teeth gently with a child size soft bristled tooth brush. Be sure to brush your child's teeth at least TWICE A DAY, once in the morning and once at night. The most important time to brush your child's teeth is RIGHT BEFORE BEDTIME using only a rice sized amount of fluoridated tooth paste before bed.


When teeth are touching, it is time to BEGIN FLOSSING. Ask the dentist for tips on flossing your child's teeth. Make sure there are no leftovers in between your teeth! The Mouth Monsters love a late-night snack!

When you sleep, your body makes less saliva, so bacteria don’t get washed away as easily. This is amplified if you don't brush your teeth before bed and allow the bacteria from your food to sit unbothered on your pearly whites.

It is important to bring your child in at least every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. Cavities don't develop overnight. It takes weeks, months, or even years for a cavity to develop. In fact, most cavities take at least six months to form. If a cavity is caught early enough, you can actually reverse the damage to your child's teeth.

Trauma

It is common for children at this age to fall and bump their teeth while learning to crawl, stand, and walk.

In the event of a dental trauma and/or emergency, bypass the emergency room and contact our office by calling and paging our emergency line.

If a baby tooth gets knocked out, we do not save them and ask that you send them to the tooth fairy. If a permanent tooth gets knocked out, please follow the steps below:

  1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown ONLY, not the roots.

  2. If dirty, rinse with milk or saline. Do not use water.

  3. Try to place the tooth back in the socket. If you can’t, keep in saline solution, a cup of your saliva, or milk.

  4. CALL us and start heading to the office!

  5. Time is the essence. Chances of saving your tooth are greater if you can get the tooth back in the socket within ONE hour.

Did you know?

MYTH: “I don’t need to take my child to the dentist until they’re at least 3 to 4 years old.”

FACT: To prevent dental problems, your child should see a dentist and establish a dental home when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday.

MYTH: “Baby teeth are just going to fall out anyway; they don’t really matter.”

FACT: Baby teeth matter just as much as adult teeth and are indicators of what the adult teeth will look like. Good dental habits are something you want to make part of your child’s life from the early stages.