Pediatric (Kids) Dentistry

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Basic Principles:

 When should children/infants first be brought to the dentist?

  • It is important for children to establish a “dental home” during their infant and toddler years. Around age 2 is a great time to introduce your child to their dental office.

  • We begin full cleanings and exams at age 2-3 for children. They will be evaluated for gum health, their bite, and risk for decay. A fluoride varnish treatment is applied at these visits.

  • While baby teeth will not be with your child forever, they influence the health of their adult teeth tremendously. Caring for them is equally as important.

 What is our take on Fluoride?

  • Fluoride is one of the most important factors in determining children’s oral health. We have seen a much higher frequency of dental caries in communities where fluoride isn’t readily available. Like any other mineral or vitamin, fluoride is essential for the healthy development of your child’s baby and adult teeth. 

  • Fluoride is naturally occurring in many foods and beverages, but depending on your child’s decay risk, will need to be supplemented. 

  • Over fluoridation is extremely unlikely and we have yet to see a case of over fluoridation

  • Fluoride varnish treatments are the most effective way to deliver fluoride topically. This will benefit the teeth they currently have. Varnish may be applied by your pediatrician or dental professional.

  • Fluoridated drinking water delivers fluoride systemically. This mostly benefits their developing teeth. If you have well water or live in a non-fluoridated community, the dentist may recommend additional fluoride 

Pacifiers and thumb sucking should be discontinued by age 3. Both can contribute to problems with their bite, alignment of teeth, and speech

Clenching and grinding occur in about 70% of children. While it is normal, it is important that it be monitored by a dentist as it could indicate problems with breathing and/or sleep. Night guards cannot be made for the pediatric population

Boys should have orthodontic evaluation by 9. Girls should be evaluated by 8. We will give a referral for this. Typically to Fry Orthodontics.

What is our position on sealants?

  • With very minimal exceptions, dental sealants are to be recommended on all adult molar teeth as soon as the tooth is erupted enough to maintain a dry field during the application process. Some, but not all patients should also have sealants placed in other areas of the mouth (pre-molars, linguals of upper anterior teeth) depending on anatomy, homecare and dietary choices

We will never intentionally create a negative experience for the child. We will never “try and get through the appointment” via yelling or traumatizing the child

When possible quadrant or ½ month dentistry is preferred per appointment for everyone’s benefit. Nitrous Oxide is encouraged for these appointments. 1.5 carpules of 2% lidocaine is considered enough for a quadrant of dentistry, 3 carpules for ½ mouth.  

If tooth is scheduled to exfoliate within 12 months, we typically do not restore. We may extract. This is at the doctors discretion. Please see chart below as a reference.