Feb. '09 Children's Dental Health Month

February is Children’s
Dental Health Month

Their smiles may be small, but they’re just as susceptible to big problems as your adult smile is. Here are some tips and information on keeping your kids’ teeth healthy now so they enjoy their smiles for their lifetime.

One of the questions I hear most from my patients who are parents is, “When should I bring my child for his/her first appointment?” The American Dental Association recommends that a child visit the family dentist by his or her first birthday, while baby teeth are emerging. That may seem a little early; however, the sooner a child starts with regular professional care, the more comfortable they are visiting us as their dentist.  We usually see kids for the first time at around age three.  We can definitely make suggestions on how to care for their teeth prior to that first visit, as well as suggestions to make that visit go well for the child.

Early, regular dental care will allow us to keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong with  proactive and conservative measures such as fluoride treatments, sealants and polishing.  As the child is growing, we can also monitor the development of the jaws and teeth, allowing us to diagnose potential problems before they might become a large concern.  Our main goal is to give each child the opportunity to have healthy teeth, a terrific smile and a lifetime of good dental experiences.

Fluoride Treatment
Tooth decay in young children may actually be on the rise. Why? One reason is that they may not be getting enough fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that protects and strengthens the teeth against cavities and occurs naturally in water in many areas of the country.  It is not present naturally in central PA and not currently supplemented in our drinking water.  Taken in controlled doses, fluoride is a very safe and effective way in which to build healthy and strong teeth.  There are much newer ways to offer fluoride treatments that are easy and comfortable — even for adults!  Many different flavors are also now available which allow every patient, especially the children, to make choices of their own.

Protective Sealants
One of the many advantages of early and frequent visits for children is that we can diagnose any potential cavities at an early stage.  Because of the weaker tooth enamel in primary (baby) teeth, cavities can progress quite rapidly.  If a child is susceptible, we can place protective sealants on teeth to help prevent cavities from progressing.  As the adult teeth are coming in, we can also place sealants on those back teeth with the deeper grooves, the ones that are more prone to cavities.

Preventive Care
Preventive dentistry is essential to giving your child a healthy smile now and for a lifetime, and should start as soon as the first tooth appears. But there’s more to preventive care than a healthy mouth! Children with healthy mouths chew more easily and gain more nutrients from the foods they eat. They learn to speak more quickly and clearly. They have a better chance of general health, because disease in the mouth can endanger the rest of the body. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry means less extensive, and less expensive, treatment for your child. Children should have preventive check-ups and cleanings two times a year.

A Positive Experience
Your child’s experience at the dentist will set the tone for how he or she feels about dental care for life. For a very first visit, we offer the opportunity for the child to come in and get acquainted with us and see what the office is all about.  We provide this at no charge.  We strive to make our office as welcoming as possible, making the children feel comfortable and relaxed. We have Game Boys available as well as TV’s to watch.  More importantly, with the advanced treatments and procedures we offer, care is as gentle as it can be, helping to make a visit to the dentist a positive one.