Your Child's Smile

How can I prepare my child for the first visit to the dentist?

Make the first visit something for the child to look forward to. Morning appointments are usually when the child is most rested and cooperative. Do not attempt to bribe your child. Today, dentistry for children is a fun and positively anticipated experience. You might read your child a story about a trip to the dentist. Or you can play "dentist" by taking turns looking into each other's mouths with a flashlight. If your child asks a question you feel uncomfortable answering, you may respond, "I don't know, Let's ask the dentist". This keeps you from unnecessarily scaring the child. It also allows your child an active role in the appointment.

Are there other concerns?

Yes. Baby bottle tooth decay is the leading cause of decay and tooth loss in very young children. To avoid this, do not put your baby to sleep with a bottle that contains any sticky or sugary substance. (These include milk, fruit juice, formula or other sweetened beverages) If the child must be put to sleep with a bottle, use plain water. Sometimes very active children will have a healthy tooth completely knocked out. If this happens to a permanent tooth, save the tooth and any fragments or gum tissue. Soak the tooth in milk or water until help can be found. If no milk or water is available, the life of the tooth may be prolonged by keeping it moist in saliva by holding it under the tongue, or between the cheek and gum. In many cases, the tooth can be reimplanted successfully, if help is obtained within the first hour. Baby teeth will be lost.

Why should they be fixed?

First the baby (primary) teeth provide a foundation and guidance for the permanent (secondary) teeth. If a child has teeth that are improperly spaced or have extensive decay, crowding, shifting or poor oral habits, early corrective treatment may be necessary to prevent more extensive treatment (including orthodontia-braces) in the future. Early tooth development also affects a child's ability to eat, chew, form speech patterns and swallow. This is especially important for your child's sense of social confidence and self esteem. If baby teeth are lost early, cosmetic appliances and space maintainers are available to replace them, or to provide space for the permanent teeth to come through.