The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends finding your child’s Dental Home by age one or when the first tooth emerges, whichever occurs first. Establishing your child’s Dental Home provides the opportunity to implement preventive dental health habits that keep a child free from dental/oral disease. Our Office focuses on prevention, early detection, and treatment of dental diseases. We work to keep current on the latest advances in dentistry for children, and our services reflect just that.
Our goal at Hero Way Pediatric Dentistry is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and teach them how to care for their teeth. From our special office designs to our communication style, our main concern is what is best for your child.
Pediatric dentists care for children of all ages. From the first tooth to adolescence, they help your child develop a healthy smile until the child is ready to move on to a general dentist. Pediatric dentists have had 2-3 years of special training to care for young children and adolescents.
Research has shown that mothers with poor oral health may be at a greater risk of passing cavity-causing bacteria to their children, and periodontal disease can increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that all pregnant women continue to visit the dentist for checkups during pregnancy.
To decrease the risk of spreading bacteria, mothers should visit their dentist regularly, brush and floss on a daily basis, and maintain a healthy
diet. Additionally, increasing water intake and using fluoridated toothpaste helps prevent cavities and improves oral health.
Your child’s first tooth will typically erupt between 6 and 12 months, although it is common to occur earlier. Usually, the two bottom front teeth erupt first followed by four upper front teeth. Your child should have their full set of baby teeth by their third birthday.
Permanent teeth start to appear around age 6, beginning with the first molars and lower central incisors. The last baby teeth usually fall out by
ages 12-13. Adults have 32 permanent teeth including the third molars (called wisdom teeth).
Baby teeth are important for function, esthetics, speech development, and proper nutrition. If baby teeth have trauma, cavities or infections, it could lead to enamel defects, discoloration or displacement of the permanent teeth. Early loss of front baby teeth could lower self-esteem and cause speech problems. If baby molars are lost too soon, it could lead to space alignment issues and require earlier orthodontic intervention.
One of the most common forms of early childhood caries is “baby bottle tooth decay,” which is caused by the continuous exposure of a baby’s teeth to milk and sugary drinks. Baby bottle tooth decay primarily affects the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected.
Early signs and symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay are white chalky spots on the surface of teeth and tooth sensitivity. More advanced stages manifest as brown or black spots on teeth, bleeding or swollen gums, pain when brushing, fever, and bad breath. If your child shows any of these symptoms, you should see a pediatric dentist as soon as possible for diagnoses and treatment options.
1 – Don’t send your child to bed with a bottle of anything EXCEPT water.
2 – Clean your baby’s teeth and gums after each meal.
3 – Gently brush your child’s teeth with a smear amount of toothpaste before bedtime.
4 – Limit sugary drinks and food.
If your child fractures or knocks out a tooth, gather any fragments you can find and store them in a clean container of cold milk. Never use water
to transport a broken or knocked out tooth. It is important that you visit the dentist as soon as possible to prevent infection and other complications that are brought on by chipped or knocked out teeth.
If your child experiences a cut or bite on his/her tongue, cheek or lip, bleeding can usually be stopped by applying pressure on the affected area with clean gauze. You can also apply ice to the area to help with any swelling. If you cannot stop the bleeding, call your pediatric dentist or visit the emergency room.
If your child has a toothache, have them stop eating on that side of the mouth and rinse with warm salt water. Over the counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen may help (follow instructions on the bottle for dosage). If the pain persists for more than 24 hours, contact your pediatric dentist.
X-rays are valuable aids to help dentists diagnose and treat conditions that cannot be visibly seen. X-rays can diagnose cavities and bone
diseases, verify presence or absence of permanent teeth, evaluate dental injuries, and help with planning of orthodontic treatment. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child and more affordable for you.
Dental x-rays are very safe and the amount of radiation from dental x-rays is very small. Today’s dental equipment filters out unnecessary radiation and restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest. In fact, dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.
Orthodontic issues can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, preventative steps can be taken to help reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment later on. Potential concerns include long-term pacifier use, finger or thumb sucking, underdeveloped dental arches, and early loss of primary teeth. The American Academy of Orthodontics (AAO) and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends all children to have an orthodontic consult by age 7.
When adult teeth come in behind the baby teeth, they can be called “shark teeth.” It is fairly common and occurs as a result of the baby tooth not falling out before the permanent tooth erupts. In most cases, the baby tooth will fall out on its own within a couple months. If it doesn’t fall out on its own, contact your pediatric dentist.
We offer several options for safe and effective sedation:
Nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” help children become more comfortable during dental procedures. Nitrous oxide is a safe sedative agent inhaled with oxygen through a small mask that fits over the nose. It is not intended to put them sleep, but rather to help them feel calm and comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide are temporary and wear off after 5 minutes of 100% oxygen.
Oral conscious sedation (OCS) may be recommended for pre-cooperative aged children with more complex treatments, sensory disorders, or higher anxiety. OCS is usually administered in the form of a medicated drink an hour prior to the procedure. Nitrous oxide is almost always used as an adjunct to OCS to increase its success rate. Most children become relaxed and drowsy and may drift into a light sleep from which they can be aroused easily. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation is not intended to make a patient unconscious or unresponsive.
General Anesthesia (GA) is a last resort alternative when other behavior management techniques are insufficient. A dental anesthesiologist uses IV sedation to put the child fully to sleep in order to complete all dental treatment in one setting.
We offer silver diamine fluoride (SDF), which is a liquid substance gently painted onto or flossed in between the teeth to help prevent cavities from growing. The only downside is that it turns the cavity permanently black, and is often used in pre-cooperative aged children (1 – 3 years) to buy time until treatment can be completed safely.
Bruxism, more commonly known as teeth-grinding, is a very common finding in children. It is usually self-limiting and children grow out of it when the permanent teeth erupt. In some cases, teeth-grinding can suggest improper bite patterns, stress, and airway issues. In severe cases, children who grind or chew on ice may have fractured teeth, thinner enamel, headaches, earaches, and/or orofacial pain.
Thumb sucking, finger sucking and pacifier use are habits common in many children. In fact, nearly one third of all children suck on their thumbs, fingers or pacifiers in their first year of life. These habits are normal soothing mechanisms up to age 3, but long-term can change the orientation of the teeth and development of the jaws.
We recommend weaning your child off of the pacifier or thumb-sucking habit by age 3 to prevent any detrimental changes to their teeth and jaws.
While it can be common for children to breathe through their mouths on occasion (when they are congested, have a cold/allergies, or are involved in strenuous activity), breathing through the mouth all the time can be an indication of other problems.
If your child is suffering from these symptoms, we can help determine underlying causes and may refer your child to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for further evaluation. Mouth breathing in children can cause gum disease, bad breath, crooked teeth, jaw alignment issues, and other orthodontic problems.
To prevent cavities, we suggest a healthy diet with no more than 2-3 snacks in between meals. We encourage drinking more water, which prevents dry mouth and naturally cleans teeth. For your oral hygiene routine, brush twice a day for two minutes at a time with fluoridated toothpaste, and floss daily before nighttime brushing. Lastly, make sure to visit your pediatric dentist every six months for routine checkups and preventative care.
It’s never too early to begin a healthy oral care routine. In fact, you should begin caring for your child’s gums long before their first tooth emerges, which is usually around the six-month mark of their life. Healthy gums are an important predicator of healthy teeth, and maintaining clean gums will help ensure that your child has healthy, cavity-free baby teeth.
You can clean your infant’s gums and first few teeth by simply using a clean, soft washcloth. After your child has finished eating or drinking milk, use the damp washcloth to gently wipe out their mouth. This will remove any sugar or acid that’s left by their food, and help prevent early childhood cavities.
Once your child has a few more baby teeth – usually between 8 and 12 months – then you can graduate from a washcloth to a toothbrush designed for toddlers. Generally speaking, toothbrushes designed for babies have much softer bristles and a smaller head than those meant for older children.
Between 1-3 years of age, use only a smear amount of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) to brush their teeth. After age 3 when they have all of their baby teeth, switch to using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Always be sure to rinse their mouth out with water after brushing to try and prevent them from swallowing any toothpaste.
Flossing is very important for baby teeth. Flossing helps remove the plaque and food that can become lodged in between the teeth. Be sure to floss your child’s teeth once a day before nighttime brushing.
Children should eat a variety of foods including grains, fruits, protein, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. Raw vegetables like carrots, celery and bell pepper are excellent snacking alternatives to unhealthy chips and crackers. Starchy carbohydrates like potato chips and crackers can stick to teeth and cause plaque buildup, which can lead to cavities. Fibrous vegetables like celery can actually clean your teeth as you eat them! That is also true of fibrous fruits like apples, strawberries and kiwi.
Dental sealants help to prevent cavities by sealing pits and fissures that naturally occur in molars. Sealants “seal off” the deep grooves of your teeth to prevent food and plaque from collecting and forming cavities on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
Fluoride is considered to be nature’s own cavity fighter. Fluoride is naturally found in all sources of water such as lakes, rivers and even the
ocean. Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel, which protects teeth from decay.
For more than half a century, the American Dental Association (ADA) has recommended using toothpaste containing fluoride to prevent cavities. Fluoridated toothpaste and in-office fluoride treatment is the safest and most effective way for fluoride to prevent cavities. Not only does fluoride prevent cavities, but it can also help mineralize small cavities to keep them from growing bigger and avoid unnecessary treatment.
Xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol, helps prevent cavities by inhibiting the growth of caries-causing bacteria. It is naturally found in some fruits and berries, and commonly marketed in sugar-free gums and mints.
Did you know that sports drinks can contain more sugar than leading soft drink beverages, with as much as 19 grams of sugar per serving? The sugars increase acidity in your mouth, which weakens tooth enamel and attracts cavity-causing bacteria. We recommend drinking water whenever possible, or rinsing with water after consumption of sports drinks.
Mouth guards – sometimes called mouth protectors or sports guards–work by helping cushion a blow to the face. Did you know that the CDC estimates more than 3 million teeth are knocked out at youth sporting events every year? Mouth guards minimize the risk of broken teeth and soft tissue lacerations. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are designed for multiple sports.
Contact us about custom mouth protectors.
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