Pediatric (Children’s) Dentistry

We specialize in Pediatric Dentistry, dentistry for children, and we have a very colorful, dedicated treatment room with a crocodile dentist chair just for children. Rather than having your children terrified to go to the dentist, we endeavor to make it a fun experience that they will look forward to. This is because establishing good dental practices in childhood means fewer problems later in life, our aim is to prevent dental problems for a child’s entire life. Pediatric dentistry covers children from the time their first tooth erupts until their last adult tooth has replaced them, usually around 13 or 14 years old.

We must emphasize the importance of good dental practices being established early in life. A child with dental problems, if left untreated, will have troubles their entire life. These problems will only become worse as a child grows leading to extensive, painful, and expensive constant treatment as an adult.

Bad dental practices in childhood can also affect speech development and appearance which in turn affects employability as an adult.

Children’s dental development

Milk teeth begin to develop before a baby is born and starts to appear when the baby is around 6-8 months old. Some children’s teeth may start to appear earlier or later than this and it is not a cause for concern. Usually, it is the front teeth at the bottom which breakthrough first.

A child should have their first dental checkup at around 1 year old. Our very experienced and gentle pediatric dentists will investigate each child thoroughly for the signs of cavities or other problems in the teeth, jaws, and gums. Any issues found will be discussed with parents and recommendations made for treatments. From this first visit, a child should have a check-up every six months.

All the baby or milk teeth should have appeared by the time a child is three years old. Children usually begin to lose their baby teeth at around 6 years old and most have all their adult teeth by age 13 or 14.

Children’s Oral Care

Teething: The process of baby growing teeth is called teething. When a baby starts teething, they often drool more or want to chew on things. For some babies, teething may be painless. For others, their gums may be sore and they may lose their appetite and have trouble sleeping. These tips can help relieve a baby’s discomfort.

Give the baby a cold teething ring or a cold washcloth to chew or suck on.
Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.
Do not give your baby aspirin. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to death in children under 18 years old.
Ask your doctor before using teething gels or tablets. These may actually be harmful.

Teething does not have to interfere with breastfeeding. You can continue to breastfeed your baby as usual once they start teething.

Clean your baby’s teeth and gums with a wet washcloth or gauze after feedings.

Do not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk can collect in your baby’s mouth and cause tooth decay.

First Teeth: Once a baby starts to get teeth, clean their teeth, and mouth at least twice a day. Bring your baby for their first check-up around their first birthday.

1 to 2 years old: Brush 2 times a day (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities For children younger than age 3 use an amount of toothpaste that is the size of a grain of rice. Floss between their teeth as soon as you see two teeth that touch.

3 years and older: For children 3 years and older, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Help your child brush their teeth for 2 minutes until you feel sure that your child will brush all sides of their teeth well. Just like with brushing, help your child floss between their teeth until they can do it well on their own.

Make regular visits to the dentist. Our dentists can tell you if your child has plaque or cavities, when to expect the next baby teeth to come in, and how to take good care of your child’s teeth.

Watch your child’s diet. What your child eats and drinks can hurt their baby teeth. Some drinks including fruit juice and soda can be high in sugar or acid. Limit sugary treats like cookies, too. Sugar and acid can make the outer shell (enamel) of teeth weak and put teeth at a higher risk for cavities.

Ask us about sealants. A sealant is a special coating that goes into the grooves and pits of your child’s molars (back teeth). Sealants protect against cavities on the biting surfaces of the teeth. If your child is at high risk for cavities, sealants may be put on your child’s back teeth.

Ask us about fluoride treatment. Fluoride helps protect teeth from cavities. We may also recommend fluoride varnish to provide extra cavity protection. Applying fluoride varnish is quick and painless. We will paint the fluoride treatment (a sticky varnish) on the top and sides of your child’s teeth with a small brush to help prevent cavities.