FIRST VISIT AT THE DENTIST
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to make a first appointment for your child no later than 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth. It is he first step to get you child acclimated to the dental environment. Usually, we will provide counseling to the parents in order to have good oral hygiene habits and no X-rays or cleaning are provided at that appointment.
Later on, when we feel your child is ready for the first cleaning visit, the dentist and hygienist will establish a bond of trust with your child and examine his teeth, perform a clean and sometimes X-rays if necessary. They will also review with you brushing and flossing techniques.
About 50% of the population has a fear of the dentist. It is important to avoid transmitting this fear to children. A positive attitude will reassure your child and is important for his perception of the dentist in the future. Your cooperation is important before, during and after the visit.
Before the visit
Read a book telling the story of a character experiencing a first positive visit to the dentist.
Never use the terms “pain”, “discomfort “, “hurt”, “needle” prior to the visit to the dentist.
▸ Never tell the child that it does not hurt during the visit to the dentist because your child will focus only on the word “hurt”.
▸ Remember, your own fears and stress greatly influence the cooperation of your child. Prepare your child as simply as possible.
▸ If you feel that you might not be the right person to accompany your child, discuss with our staff the possibility to send someone else (grand-mother, older brother, etc) who is comfortable being at the dentist.
During the visit
▸ You may be asked to come in and sit on the chair with your child during the exam if your child is under 2 years old.
▸ For older children, you will be asked to return to the waiting room after the initial contact. We need to establish a relation of trust with your child and to focus only on him/her.
▸ Once we are ready, our staff will invite you to come in the room. Your dentist will meet you and give you specific information regarding your child oral health status.
After the visit
▸ Please, don’t tell your child “ See, it does not hurt!” or “Does it hurt?” or “Are you okay?”. It means to him/her that something could have happened during the appointment.
▸ Instead, be positive and tell your child “ Good job, I am proud of you.” or “Wow, you didn’t even needed me to be with you. You are so good.”
▸ Follow the oral hygiene advices given by your dentist and hygienist.
FLUORIDE
Fluoride is, a natural element, is recognized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to be safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental caries.
The Academy also encourages caregivers to optimize fluoride exposure by drinking fluoridated water and brushing with fluoridated toothpaste at least daily. It is recognized to be the most effective method in reducing dental caries. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by it combination with the tooth enamel. It also helps stopping the bacterial activity that causes the demineralization of the enamel.
Toothpaste is a great source of fluoride. For children under the age of three, it is recommended to use a dash of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. Between the age of three to six, use no more than a small pea-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Always brush your child’s teeth under the age of six, this will also allow you to make sure they spit the toothpaste.
WHY HAVE A TOOTH FILLED?
Primary teeth are certainly essential for mastication, but they are also very important in preparing the spaces for adult teeth. They serve as a guide for erupting permanent teeth. When your child looses a tooth too early, space can be lost for the adult tooth. It also delays the eruption of the permanent tooth. All this creates a higher risk of crowding and need for complex orthodontic treatment.
With many cavities and/or abscesses, your child’s behavior and mood will be affected both at home and at school. It is necessary to repair a decayed tooth, even if it will fall out later. An extraction, after all, is never a desirable experience for your child and will necessitate the need of an appliance to maintain the space for the future adult tooth.
ORTHODONTICS
Your child doesn’t seem to have enough spaces for all the adult teeth? Don’t worry! We are well trained in that field. At every recare appointment, your dentist will review the positioning of the teeth. Since we see your child every 6 months, we are able to monitor their growth and we will be able to detect malocclusions early. Would you like to know more about straight teeth? Click HERE.
HOW MANY TEETH?
Yes, there’s a lot of them! See attached images to know more about teeth eruption.
