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What is the importance of Baby Teeth
(primary Teeth)?
It is vital that baby teeth are kept
in place until they are lost naturally. These teeth serve a number
of critical functions: Primary Teeth help maintain good nutrition by
allowing your child to chew properly. They are involved in speech
development. It also helps to save space for the permanent teeth to
come in.
A healthy smile always can help children feel good about they way
they look.
When should their first dental visit be?
The first dental exam should occur
after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child’s first
birthday. This may between 6 months to twelve months of age.
Beginning tooth and mouth examinations may lead to better detection
of early stages of tooth decay that can easily be treated. At the
first visit we will discuss home care for teeth, diet and the
importance of fluorides. We will do a risk assessment and talk about
Early Childhood Caries that may be due to inappropriate nursing
habits or sippie cups. We will give you facts about finger, thumb
and pacifier habits.
Should I worry about thumb or finger
sucking?
Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for
infants. It must stop by age 2. If your child does not stop, start
discouraging it. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked
teeth or bite problems. We will have suggestions for you to address
a prolonged thumb sucking habit.
What kind of dental problems can
infants/children have?
A big concern is early childhood
caries, also known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries.
Your child risks severe decay from using a bottle during naps or at
night or when they continually nurse from the breast. Children can
also develop speech problems or unusual growth patterns with their
teeth. Sometimes this is due to crowded teeth or bite problems.
How often should my child visit the
dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry recommends a dental check up every 6 months or twice a
year fro children. Some children will need more frequent visits
because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or
poor oral hygiene.
Why visit the dentist twice a year when
my child has never had a cavity?
Regular dental visits promote your
child to stay cavity free. Teeth cleaning remove debris that build
up on teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments
renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthens teeth and
preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child’s
brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.
Tooth decay isn’t the only reason to visit your dentist. Your
pediatric dentist makes ongoing assessments of your child oral
health. For example your child may need additional fluoride, dietary
changes, or sealants. We can identify orthodontic problems and
suggest treatment to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth.
What are sealants? How do they sealants
work? How long do they last?
Sealants protect the grooved and
pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of
back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear
or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep
them cavity free.
Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult,
sometime impossible to clean the tiny grooves and pits on certain
teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices placing your
child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants, “seal out” food and
plaque, thus reducing the amount of those things that cause tooth
decay.
Research shows that sealants can last for many years if properly
cared for. So your child should be protected throughout the most
cavity prone years. If your child has good oral hygiene and avoids
biting hard objects or chewing sticky foods, sealants will last
longer. Your pediatric dentist will check the sealants during
routine visits and can recommend reapplication or repair when
necessary.
How often should a child have a dental
X-ray films?
Since every child is unique, the need
for dental x-rays varies from child to child. Films are taken are
taken to see what visual exams cannot. In general, children need
x-rays more often than adults, therefore we recommend they be taken
at every hygiene visit, usually twice a year or every 6 months.
X-rays are needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone disease,
evaluate the results of an injury as well as diagnose caries that
are between the teeth.
If you have any additional questions, please
contact us
today.
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