| A Word to Parents About Pediatric Dentistry.
In addition to our other services, we specialize in pediatric dentistry. A large part of being a healthy child is having a healthy mouth. And it's never too young to start. Studies show that 50% of two-year-olds have one or more decayed teeth. The AAPD recommends an initial postnatal oral evaluation within six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth and no later than twelve months of age. This means a child should have his or her first dental visit at the first birthday! On your child's first visit, we will record a thorough medical and dental history. Be prepared to review the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal period of his or her development.
One important aspect of this visit is to discuss your child's risk of developing oral and dental disease. Based on this assessment, we will determine what timeframe is appropriate for the next visit. In high-risk cases this may be as early as three months. Dental decay in children can progress very rapidly. We will also evaluate your child's oral and dental development. We will evaluate the need for fluoride supplementation and discuss issues like finger sucking, pacifiers, injury prevention, oral hygiene, and the effects of diet. Reassure your kids that they don't need to worry about visiting the dentist. It doesn't have to be a painful experience—especially if they take care of their teeth and gums. Have them start young with a good regimen of brushing and flossing. We will do everything we can to make your child's visit a pleasant one. |
