Below are common questions and our answers about taking care of your children’s teeth:
Why should I take my child to a pediatric dentist?
All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school, and then continue their education with several years of additional specialized training. During training in the field of pediatric dentistry, your doctor gained extensive knowledge and experience in treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric dentists enjoy working with children and bring to each patient our expertise in childhood development and behavior. Because our office is geared toward young visitors, you'll find that our staff, as well as our office design, decorations, and activities all work together to provide an especially friendly and comfortable environment for children.
Are baby teeth really that important?
A child’s first teeth play a vital role in their development! While they’re in place, these primary teeth help your little one speak, smile, and chew food properly. They also hold space in the jaw for when the permanent teeth come in. If a child loses a tooth prematurely, due to damage or decay, the nearby teeth often encroach on that space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. A child’s general health can also be affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums. Infection caused by decay can spread to other areas of the body and cause serious health concerns.
How often should my child visit the dentist?
Dr. Wallengren follows the AAPD recommendation that children receive professional dental cleaning and exam every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits.
May I stay with my child?
We invite you to be with your child during the initial examination and at all appointments until they gain comfort and confidence to come back alone, while you wait in our reception area. It is often easier for us to develop a closer rapport with your child when they accompany our staff through the experience. The goal in this is to gain your child's confidence and overcome any apprehension.
If you choose, you may come with your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.
What causes cavities?
Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, eventually eating through the enamel and creating holes in the teeth, which we call cavities.
How can I help my child avoid cavities?
Be sure that your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, because flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement, which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.
Why does my child need dental X-rays?
In a typical dental exam, your child’s dentist will visually look in their mouth, count the erupted teeth, and look for signs of decay on tooth surfaces. There can be decay in a child’s teeth – between and inside the tooth – that is not possible to see on visual exam. This requires regular monitoring through dental X-rays.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Our office uses the latest technology in digital X-rays, which reduces radiation exposure by approximately 90% over traditional film X-rays. We are typically able to get our first dental X-rays between the ages of three and five. We never force a child to do something they are not ready for and take the time to educate and encourage children to sit for their first X-rays successfully.
When should my child have dental X-rays taken?
We recommend taking the first dental X-rays between the ages of three and five. The first set consists of simple pictures of the front upper and lower teeth, which familiarizes your child with the process. Once the baby teeth in the back are touching one another, then regular X-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six, and X-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your child is at a high risk of dental problems or has a dental injury, we may suggest having X-rays taken at an earlier age.
Does my child need dental sealants?
Dental sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach. Dental sealants are a way to protect molars, especially the 6 and 12-year molars.
What should I do if my child sucks their thumb?
The large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, and most grow out of it by the age of four, without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If your child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or if they suck aggressively, let us know and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit. We are also able to recommend ways to encourage children to change their habits.
What do I do for my child’s shark tooth?
When adult teeth erupt, they most often come in right on top of, or below, a baby tooth and literally push it out of the way. Occasionally, the adult tooth or the baby tooth is misaligned and it temporarily looks like a ‘shark tooth’, with the two teeth inhabiting the same space. This can look like a tooth is growing out from the jaw at an unusual angle. This is far more common than parents realize! In most cases, this is not an emergency, and the baby tooth will gradually come out on its own. There are circumstances when you should be seen, and if it goes on for too long, possibly have the primary tooth extracted.
