Dental Care FAQs

A pediatric dentist and a general dentist have a common goal of keeping children's mouths healthy. Many times pediatric dentists and general dentists work hand in hand to meet that goal. A pediatric dental specialist has had a minimum of 24 months in an advanced education program designed to provide special knowledge and skills beyond the DDS training. Pediatric dentistry encompasses disciplines such as behavior management, care of the medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patient, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention, sedation, pharmacological management, hospital dentistry, as well as other traditional fields of dentistry. These skills are applied to treating conditions and disease unique to growing individuals and to the needs of children's stages of development.

Taking care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of the growing adult teeth. The primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into position and allow normal development of the jawbone and muscles. Early loss or damage to baby teeth can severely affect the outcome of the permanent teeth because baby teeth hold the space for their successors. As with adults, children need healthy teeth and mouths to chew food, learn to pronounce words properly, speak clearly and smile with confidence.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children see the dentist either 6 months after the first tooth erupts or by their first birthday. Though this may seem early, 40% of toddlers between two and three have some inflammation of the gums and/or cavities. It is also a perfect time to establish a dental home for the child and get advice on eruption patterns, tooth cleaning, pacifiers, fluoride and preventing tooth injuries for young walkers.

Brushing should be done by the parents or caregiver before they can do it themselves. A wet gauze or washcloth is effective in cleaning the gums and front teeth (incisors) of plaque. Gentle brushing can begin when molars erupt. Flossing can begin when most of the baby teeth are in and are touching each other. Around the age of six or seven, a child can brush their own teeth with careful supervision. A smear or pea sized drop of fluoridated toothpaste can be used when the child can spit effectively.

The best way to motivate your child is to start by being a good role model with your own daily brushing, flossing and limited snacking regimen. Let them notice your own regular dental checkup schedule. It is best to start at an early age to make mouth cleaning an event they would not want to miss. Make it a routine to brush teeth before getting into the bathtub or getting dressed for school. Pour on the praise! Instill a sense of pride in a job well done. Children will be happy with their newfound independence.

Dental sealants protect the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. They cannot protect in between the teeth. Sealants are made of a shaded plastic that are painted onto the deep pits and grooves of the back teeth (molars). Sealants "seal out" food and plaque and provide a shallow, smooth surface for the toothbrush to clean effectively. They are quickly and painlessly applied to baby teeth and permanent teeth that, in the dentist's opinion, are at risk of decay on the biting surface of the tooth. Sealants must be checked periodically and replaced or maintained when necessary. Sealants generally last for many years; however, eating sticky or chewy foods can pull them out. Ice chewing can fracture sealants and would require replacing.

Studies show that 4 out of 5 cavities in children under the age of 15 develop on the biting surface of back molars. Molars commonly decay because plaque accumulates in the tiny grooves of the chewing surfaces. Tooth brush bristles can't effectively reach and clean the deep pits and grooves. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities on smooth surfaces of the teeth, but is less effective in the deep pits and grooves. Sealants are a great preventive mechanism against tooth decay.

The American Dental Association recommends fluoride treatments twice a year for your child's teeth. Please be aware that your insurance company may only pay for this treatment once a year.

When a child begins to lose their baby teeth and permanent teeth begin to erupt, the permanent teeth appear more yellow than their baby teeth. This is a natural occurrence because of the different makeup of baby teeth and permanent teeth. Baby teeth reflect light differently than adult teeth, making the adult teeth appear more yellow. When they are right next to each other, the difference in color is more dramatic.

The minimum suggested age for any type of bleaching is around the age of 14. It is best when root development is complete.

"Silver stars" are another name we use for silver fillings. It is made of dental amalgam. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury and an alloy of silver, tin and copper. Mercury is used to bind the metals together and provide a strong, hard durable filling material. Mercury in dental amalgam is not poisonous. When mercury is combined with other materials in dental amalgam, its chemical nature is changed making it harmless.

Stainless steel crowns are silver caps that cover the whole tooth. Porcelain crowns are tooth colored. Crowns are completed in one visit. Our philosophy is to place stainless steel or porcelain "tooth colored" crowns on first baby molars that have decay in between the teeth. Stainless steel or porcelain crowns are very sound restorations. They will last until the tooth falls out around the age of 12. Often times if a 2-surface filling is used to restore a first baby molar, it may decay again or the filling may break due to the shape of the tooth. If that occurs, the tooth may need a stainless steel crown or be extracted with space maintenance if the tooth abscesses. That would mean the child would have to go through an extra procedure and the parent would pay for treatment of the same tooth twice! Our goal is to restore the health of the tooth for longevity.

If it is the child's first visit, we prefer to have the parent accompany them especially if the child is age 4 or younger. We prefer not to have parents present in the operatories for several reasons. The most important reason is that it gives us the opportunity to connect with your child and concentrate on your child's needs. Often times, if a parent is present, the child is distracted which makes the situation more challenging for everyone. In rare cases, the child does better with the parent present. If that is the case, we welcome the parent back to help us as a team to care for the child.