A child's first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable, at Lake Park Dental we make a special effort to use pleasant, non-frightening and simple words to describe each treatment so your child can feel at ease.
Your child's first primary or baby teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of six and 12 months, and will continue to erupt until about age three. During this time, your child's gums may feel tender and sore. Rubbing the gums with a clean finger or wet cloth can help alleviate this discomfort. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring. When your child has finished teething, you can expect a total of 20 primary teeth.
Your child's primary teeth are lost at various times throughout childhood. Permanent teeth begin erupting at age six and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth (32, including wisdom teeth).
Dental visits for your child should begin as early as age one. Education is a major part of our pediatric services. Not only can Dr. Graham help the child understand the importance of daily oral care, but parents can also get advice on toothpaste selection, diet, thumb-sucking cessation, and a wide range of related topics. Our exams, x-rays, and photos allows us to predict future oral problems. For example, malocclusion (bad bite), attrition due to grinding (bruxism), and jaw irregularities. Your child should visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth healthy and strong.
Sometimes brushing effectively is difficult, especially when it comes to those hard-to-reach spots in your child’s mouth. It is difficult for their toothbrush to get in-between the small cracks and grooves on their teeth. If left alone, those tiny areas can develop tooth decay. With a sealant, we can give their teeth extra protection against decay and help prevent cavities.
Dental sealants are plastic resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on the tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing their teeth becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.
Sealants last from three to five years, but can often last longer. A dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact, so if your sealants come off, let us know and schedule an appointment with us at Lake Park Dental to ensure your child’s sealants are intact.
Fluoride is effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay and in preventing plaque from building up and hardening on the tooth’s surface. A fluoride treatment at Lake Park Dental takes just a few minutes. After the treatment, they may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. A typical fluoride treatment is done every 3, 6 or 12 months.
Call to schedule a routine checkup at Lake Park Dental and a fluoride treatment today.
If your child has a decayed tooth, we can restore it back to its normal shape and function with a filling. Dr. Graham will carefully examine the tooth and discuss the options before beginning the filling procedure.
If a filling is required, Dr. Graham will first remove the decayed tooth material, then clean the affected area and fill the cleaned-out cavity with a filling material. This filling will help prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria might enter.
Fillings may include gold, porcelain or composite material. Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are typically used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important.
Questions about fillings for your child? Give us a call at (414) 963-9440.