It ’ s Your Smile
Your Child ’ s Teeth
By Dr . Jernell Escobar
Dr . Escobar has been practicing dentistry in the Bay Area since 2006 . She took over Dr . Palmerlee ’ s practice when he retired in 2012 . She is passionate about providing exceptional oral health care in a patient centered environment . Dr . Escobar participates in continuing education seminars with other leading clinicians in exploring new and innovative methods and materials for restoring smiles .
One of the most frequently asked questions by parents in my practice is , “ When should I take my child to the dentist ?” In this article , we will address when to initiate dental care for your child and discuss milestones in your child ’ s treatment . The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that a child ’ s first trip to the dentist should occur shortly after the appearance of their first tooth and no later than their first birthday . Often , the follow up question is , “ why would I take my child to the dentist at such a young age ?” The first visit to the dental office does not involve cleaning the child ’ s teeth . It is important to introduce your child to their new “ dental home ” to familiarize them with the environment . The appointment begins with a brief check of the oral cavity . This exam can tell the dentist a lot about a child ’ s development and health . It is possible to observe chromosomal abnormalities and health problems that can manifest themselves in the teeth and gums . Second , it is especially important for first-time parents to become educated about how to take care of the teeth of the newest members of their family . The dentist can give guidelines as well as cleaning demonstrations so that you can provide the best home care for your child . In addition , the dentist can give some practical advice that could potentially prevent costly and painful dental procedures . One example of this is the prevention of “ baby bottle rot .” Many parents find that a great way to pacify a child is to send them to bed with a bottle of milk . Over time , this graduates to juice and in some circumstances soda . The constant contact of sweet liquid on the teeth can lead to rampant tooth decay . During the first visit , the dentist will also make a recommendation as to how frequent subsequent dental visits should occur .
Pediatric dental visits are also an important time to talk about other topics such as fluoridation . Fluoride can be a touchy subject for some . However , if it is your intention to give your child fluoride , then the time frame as well as the dosage is important . Frequently , the pediatrician prescribes oral fluoride in conjunction with a multivitamin . However , there are things to consider that the pediatrician may or may not take into account . It is important to determine whether or not your child is receiving any fluoride from their municipal water source and if so how much . Once this determination is made , the correct dosage can be prescribed . This is very important because too much fluoride can be deleterious to teeth .
The next milestone in your child ’ s dental care will be their first dental cleaning . This should occur between two and three years of age . At this visit , the child is introduced to the variety of instruments and equipment at the dental office . The instrumentation is referred to by clever names and the children are encouraged to play with them to see how they work . The oral exam conducted at the cleaning will be a time to review how well the home care is progressing and to point out areas that could use improvement .
Around the age of five , the dentist will recommend that your child have their first set of dental radiographs . The purpose of the radiographs is twofold . First , the dentist is screening for cavities and infection that may be developing that are not visible during an examination . This is especially true of cavities that originate in between teeth . Second , the dentist is checking for the presence and to monitor the development of the incoming adult teeth . It is important to identify congenital problems , such as missing teeth , so that you and your dentist can be proactive about how to plan appropriately to repair or replace these teeth . If your child has required radiographs prior to this time frame , they likely have suffered some kind of dental trauma or infection .
Between the ages of six and eight , your child has likely lost some of their baby teeth and the adult teeth are beginning to make an appearance . This is a crucial time to evaluate the incoming position of the adult teeth and to do a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation . It is important because if the child is found to be deficient , early orthodontic intervention can mean avoiding costly procedures to correct a severe malocclusion . Also , around this time , the first adult molars have come in to view . At this point , your dentist may talk to you about sealing the top and side surfaces of the molars . This is done to protect the pits and fissures that are part of normal tooth anatomy and to prevent them from accumulating food and plaque . This should help to prevent the onset of cavities in those teeth .
In conclusion , it is crucial that your child ’ s first dental experiences be positive as well as instructive . It is important that your child develops a trusting relationship with your family dentist so that routine care is straightforward and lessens the likelihood that your child will develop dental anxiety in the future .
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G M H T O D A Y M A G A Z I N E MARCH / APRIL 2015 gmhtoday . com