Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen years. We have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout the various stages of childhood. We love helping children develop positive feelings about their oral health and visiting the dentist.
Children Dentistry
What is Children Dentistry?
- Start preventative dental care early.
- Children should brush and floss their teeth.
- Limit all sugary snacks and drinks.
- Help prevent dental injuries.
- Visit a dental professional regularly.
- Comprehensive oral health evaluation.
- Teeth cleaning
- Tooth-colored fillings
- Space Maintainers
- Paediatric Orthodontics
- Habit breaking appliances
- Preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants.
- Extractions
Frequently asked questions
When do the first teeth start to erupt?
At about 6 months, the two lower front teeth (central incisors) will erupt, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. The remainder of the baby teeth appear during the next 18 to 24 months but not necessarily in an orderly sequence from front to back. At 2 to 3 years, all of these 20 primary teeth should be present.
When should bottle-feeding be stopped?
It is recommended that children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age, however, understand that these are recommendations and can be adapted to individual needs
Can thumb sucking be harmful to my child's teeth?
Thumb and pacifier sucking habits that go on for a long period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. If they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive, a mouth appliance may be recommended. Most children stop these habits on their own.
How should I clean my baby's teeth?
A toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for infants. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.
When should my child start using toothpaste?
Do not use fluoridated toothpaste until age 3. Earlier than that, clean your child’s teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After age 3, parents should supervise brushing. Use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and make sure children do not swallow excess toothpaste.
If my child gets a toothache, what should I do?
To comfort your child, rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water and apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth on your child’s face if it is swollen. See us as soon as possible
What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the dentist. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
What causes crowded teeth and other orthodontic problems?
Malocclusion is often inherited. Orthodontic problems also are caused by dental injuries, the early loss of primary teeth or such habits as thumb sucking, fingernail biting, or lip biting. Your dentist can help your child avoid oral habits that may create orthodontic problems.
My child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?
Primary, or “baby,” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Some of them are necessary until a child is 12 years old or longer. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.
What causes tooth decay?
Four things are necessary for cavities to form — a tooth, bacteria, sugars or other carbohydrates and time. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colourless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. When you eat, the sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.