Children have quite a few dental needs and those needs often appear much earlier than many parents might expect. Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in childhood and even infants can develop dental problems. It's important to have your children seen by a Tarzana dentist like Afsoon Gerayli, DDS, early in the game. Common dental problems in children include tooth decay, chipped or broken teeth.
What Does Child-Friendly Dentistry Mean?
Preventive care is vitally important in children and any good general dentist should offer this service. However, a child-friendly dental practice typically offers some additional services. For example, children can find it very difficult to remain still for a dental procedure, especially if they're anxious or fearful. Allowing extra time for an appointment means there's time to take a break, while patience and compassion make it easier for the child. Sedation techniques and the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can provide the additional help a truly fearful child needs or get them through a long and complex procedure. Other child-friendly strategies include electronic media that appeals to children or books and toys in the waiting room.
Normal Dental Development
Most children develop at least one tooth by the age of six months. Symptoms of teething include drooling, ear pulling, biting or chewing on objects and fussing or irritability. Massaging the gums, offering a chilled teething ring or cold wet washcloth and using an over-the-counter ointment or gel can hep your baby with teething discomfort. Most of the baby teeth will have erupted completely by age three and the jawbone will begin to grow larger to make room for adult teeth around age four. At about age six, your child will begin to lose baby teeth in order to make room for permanent teeth. The final teeth to come in are the permanent molars at the back of the jaw, known as wisdom teeth. These may not appear until the middle to late teens.
Parental Dental Care
Dental care should actually begin when your child is an infant. Use a wet wash cloth to clean the gums. Continue the process when baby teeth begin to erupt, especially after the breast, bottle or a meal. Older infants and toddlers who can hold the mouth open and follow instructions are ready to have parents brush their teeth with a small dab of toothpaste and a soft brush. You can also floss teeth. As the child grows older, he or she can begin to take over the tasks of flossing and brushing, but parents should supervise to make sure the teeth are properly cleaned. Children who are old enough to rinse, spit and swallow can begin to use mouthwash. It's also important to educate your children about proper diet and especially about sugar and refined carbohydrates, which are the foods most likely to promote tooth decay.
Building the Relationship
Children are often uncomfortable with strangers, especially strangers whose offices are full of unfamiliar equipment. It's important to start building a relationship with the dentist at a very young age – the American Dental Association recommends children see a dentist within six months of the time the first tooth appears, but no later than the age of 12 months. Early visits allow the child to become comfortable with the dentist and staff and build good relationships that will help if the future holds something less pleasant like filling a cavity or removing a tooth. When the dentist sees a child regularly, it's easier to spot problems early. Regular preventive care also helps build good habits when it comes to oral hygiene and ongoing preventive care. Finally, when visits begin young, the dentist and staff can educate the child about proper oral health care.
When your child sees us regularly at Victory Cosmetic Dentistry, we can ensure that all the important aspects of care get done. These may include the application of dental sealants or fluoride varnish, professional cleaning to remove stubborn plaque, the assessment of wisdom teeth and any necessary referrals, such as a visit to the orthodontist. For top-notch and compassionate care from the most trusted Resada dentist, please contact us today.