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Who are pediatric dentists?

Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen years. They have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout the various stages of childhood. Children require different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development and helping them avoid future dental problems. As a specialized pediatric dental practice, everything we do is designed to provide a positive dental experience for your child. Our goal is to prevent dental disease and to provide excellent and compassionate dental care for your child in a clean, friendly and welcoming environment. We treat children from birth to 18 years of age.

Why choose a pediatric dentist?

Early dental visits with a Pediatric Dental Specialist are important to your child′s oral health. The sooner children begin getting regular dental checkups, the healthier their mouths will stay throughout their lives. Early checkups help prevent cavities and tooth decay, which can lead to pain, trouble concentrating and other medical issues. Youngsters with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly and smile with confidence.

During this “growth” phase of a child, special approaches are needed in dealing with their behavior, and guiding their dental growth and development in order to avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet those needs. Children are our only patients, and we are devoted to meeting their specialized needs. Apart from rendering dental care, we also deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable about the treatment they are receiving, and to make the dental experience pleasant. Additionally, we are trained and qualified to treat special needs children, including those with mental or physical challenges.

Everything at KIDZDENTAL is focused on your children-from the office décor to the dental chairs and wall decorations! Your child will enjoy watching their favorite T. V. channel while we are cleaning their teeth or performing treatment.

When Should I take my child for the first dental check-Up?

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his or her first birthday.

What Do I Need to Know About Baby teeth?

Most children have 20 primary teeth (also called “milk” teeth) that begin erupting around 6 months of age and they continue to erupt through about 2¹/₂ years of age. Adults normally have 32 permanent teeth that erupt from about ages 6 to about 21 years.
Primary teeth are important for 4 main reasons:

1. Allow chewing and eating for proper nutrition growth and development
2. Proving space for permanent teeth and guiding them into correct position
3. Permitting normal development of jaw bones and muscles
4. Proper speech development

How frequently should I visit the dentist?

A check-up every six months is recommended in order prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, your pediatric dentist can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health.

What is teething?

A baby's first tooth usually appears between the ages of 5 and 7 months. Some babies get their first tooth a little earlier and others a little later. Often, the two middle bottom teeth come through the gums first, followed by the middle four upper teeth. By the time children are 30 months (2 and 1/2 years) of age, all 20 baby teeth are usually present.

Teething is the process of teeth moving and breaking through the gums. This is a normal developmental stage for your baby.

Symptoms may include: Drooling more than usual - drooling may start as early as 3 or 4 months of age, but is not always a sign of teething.
Constantly putting fingers or fists in the mouth - babies like to chew on things whether or not they are teething.
Swollen, or puffy area on gum.
Fussiness or crankiness.
Teething does not cause colds, diarrhea, or high fever, but it can make a baby uncomfortable. If your baby becomes sick around the same time teeth are coming in, it is important to evaluate the symptoms of that illness independently of the teething. Call your child's physician for advice if your baby is sick.

How can you help your child with the discomforts of teething?

If your baby is cranky with teething, try giving him/her hard rubber toys, teething rings, or cold teething toys to chew on. Do not freeze teething toys or rings as these can hurt your baby's gums. You can also rub your baby's gum with your finger. Something cold on the gums usually soothes and numbs the gums better. Ask your baby's physician about pain relieving medications for teething.

What is the best diet for healthy teeth?

Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and lollipops stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.

Don't forget that water is a very important dietary ingredient. Review your water supply with the dentist to determine if it is fluoridated. If you use bottled water for your child, make sure it is fluoridated. If you need to discuss this issue, please let us know. Water should not be replaced by soda or juice in the diet. Soda should be eliminated if possible. Limit your child's consumption of juice to 4-6 ounces a day. Juice should be diluted with water for younger children to limit the amount of sugar intake. It is best to have children drink the juice at a sitting instead of consuming it freely throughout the day.

The dentist says my child needs a filling in a baby tooth. Since the tooth is going to fall out, why bother?

Some primary (or baby) teeth will be in your child's mouth until age 12. The tooth that needs to be fixed may be one of those.
Broken teeth or teeth that are infected can hurt your child's health and the way your child feels about him or herself.
To do a filling, the dentist removes the decay and "fills" the hole with metal, plastic or other material. A filling can be a cheap and easy way to fix a problem that could be painful and cost more later because it stops decay from spreading deeper into the tooth.
When a baby (or primary) tooth is missing, the teeth on each side may move into the space. They can block the permanent tooth from coming in. To hold the space, your dentist may put a plastic or metal space maintainer on the teeth on each side of the space, to keep the teeth from moving in.

Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?

The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Once children are 3 to 6 years old, then the amount should be increased to a pea-size dollop and perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth?

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a of milk and take your child immediately to the pediatric dentist.

Are thumbsucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth?

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist.

What is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?

Developing malocclusions, or bad bites, can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment at a later age. Your child may benefit from one or more of the following treatments:

• Stage I – Early Treatment: This period of treatment encompasses ages 2 to 6 years. At this young age, we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, the premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. Treatment initiated in this stage of development is often very brief and many times, though not always, can eliminate the need for future orthodontic/orthopedic treatment.


• Stage II – Mixed Dentition: This period covers the ages of 6 to 12 years, with the eruption of the permanent incisor (front) teeth and 6 year molars. Treatment concerns deal with jaw malrelationships and dental realignment problems. This is an excellent stage to start treatment, when indicated, as your child’s hard and soft tissues are usually very responsive to orthodontic or orthopedic forces.


• Stage III – Adolescent Dentition: This stage deals with the permanent teeth and the development of the final bite relationship.

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What are Mouth Guards?

When a child begins to participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile. It should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. A properly fitting mouth guard will stay in place while your child is wearing it, making it easy for them to talk and breathe.
Ask your pediatric dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.