The first "regular" dental visit should be just after your child’s third birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. You may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.
We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.
Here are some "First Visit" Tips:
- Take your child for a "preview" of the office.
- Read books with them about going to the dentist.
- Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
- Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
During your first visit the dentist will:
- Examine your mouth, teeth, and gums.
- Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
- Check to see if you need fluoride.
- Teach you about cleaning your teeth and gums.
- Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.
Bright Smile Dental is Ideal for Preventive Dentistry
Our staff of pediatric dental professionals near Columbus, Ohio are committed to dental care prevention for infants, children, and young adults. Dr. Jerry Cheung, a member of the Academy of Contemporary Dentistry and the Great Columbus Society of Contemporary Dentistry, is hospital-trained in pediatric preventive dentistry. After a career in a private pediatric practice, our dentist went on to study at Nationwide Children's Hospital. When you come to Bright Smile Dental for preventive dentistry, you can be sure that your child's oral health is in great hands.
To help maintain your child’s dental health, we will work with you to develop a structured oral hygiene routine that is easy to follow. We encourage daily oral hygiene habits because they prevent decay and it’s an important part of pediatric dental care prevention. The pediatric dentist will introduce your child to an exciting approach to maintaining a healthy smile. In addition, we also encourage check-ups every six months to facilitate healthy teeth and gums. This also ensures that your children are reaching their proper tooth developmental milestones.
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Contact Bright Smile Dental today to schedule your dental appointment with the best pediatric dentist in Powell, Ohio
Tips for Cavity Prevention in Toddlers
- Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
- Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
- Watch what your child drinks.
- Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
- Make treats part of meals.
- Choose nutritious snacks.
What about preventative care?
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our dental office in Powell, pediatric dentists focus on all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are medial-grade plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health.
Cavity Prevention
Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing and flossing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their food and the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.
Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities.
Consistency of a person’s saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.
Understand Your Toddler's Growing Teeth
The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2 1/2 years old.
At around 2 1/2 years old your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6 the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.
Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
When your family comes to Bright Smile Dental, you're walking into a kid-friendly, comfortable environment. Not only will we care for your children's oral health, we'll also teach them preventive care tips to ensure good dental hygiene in the long-term. We offer pediatric preventive dentistry for children in the Powell, OH area. Call our dental clinic today at 614-799-9140 to book an appointment.