WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY CHILD’S FIRST VISIT?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) now recommend that your child see a dentist upon eruption of their first tooth, or by age 1.  By seeing children at an early age, we are able to examine children to make sure that all dental structures are developing normally.  More importantly it allows us to speak with parents about diet and hygiene and to discuss prevention.  Children that begin early with their dental care, tend to have lower rates of decay because the child is less averse to the dental setting, parents are better educated, and early intervention (when necessary) can be accomplished, so areas of concern do not become major problems later.

Your child’s first visit to our office is designed to be a positive, anxiety-free experience. Our goal is to provide your child the highest quality dental care in a manner that allows them to grow up unafraid of the dentist. Our approach is customized according to your child’s specific needs, both physically & psychologically.

We have a No Restraint policy. Under no circumstances are harsh words or physical restraints utilized. Along with our No Restraint policy, we also have an Open Door policy. Parents are allowed in appropriate patient care areas. Occasionally, we may ask parents to allow us to have some personal time with their child in order to focus the child’s attention on the task at hand if needed and the parent is comfortable.

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL THINGS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT:

Be natural, positive & easy-going. Your child will look to you for cues as to what to expect & how to act at their first dental visit. If you appear calm & confident about the upcoming dental visit, so will your child. Speak to them about it as a positive, fun experience – never use coming to the dentist as a punishment.

Please avoid phrases & words such as “it won’t hurt,” “shot,” “drill,” or “needle.”

Talk about the visit. It is a new experience for your child, so let them know the dentist will be looking at his or her teeth to see if they are healthy & straight. Once you arrive at our office, we’ll take it from there.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

1. Appear calm & relaxed. Be a role model your kids are watching!
2. Be a silent helper. Allow the doctor/staff to build a relationship.
3. Pretend not to appear concerned as your child will try to sense your comfort level.

Whether your child is coming for their first visit or has had a not-so-positive previous experience, you can be assured that we will do everything in our power to provide a lifetime of gentle, quality dental care for your child. Please feel free to call if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments.

Many parents will ask why worry about baby teeth when they are going to fall out? Baby teeth (primary teeth) are important because they do not only aid in function of the oral cavity through chewing and speech development, but they also help to hold space for the developing permanent teeth. Excellent dental care helps to aid the developing oral cavity prepare for the emergence of the permanent teeth.

When primary teeth get decay, they can lead to dental pain and abscessed teeth. Studies have shown that children with severe decay miss more days of school and have a harder time concentrating in school. It is important for children to build strong preventive habits early on so that they may go on to have excellent dental hygiene as they mature.

Our goals are to help minimize early childhood decay, and restoring teeth that have cavities which may cause children discomfort and pain.

Our office will always explain when and why a tooth needs a restoration and how to prevent future cavities from developing through diet and good oral hygiene.

Although your child has not even been born, there are things that you can do while pregnant they may help reduce your childs risk for dental decay. Good oral health during pregnancy is important for children to develop strong teeth. Many studies now have linked a parents oral health with a child’s risk of developing cavities. Such things as active decay, poor oral hygiene, or poor diet can affect developing baby teeth in the fetus. Things such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or stress can also have effects on the developing baby teeth. It is important for parents to maintain a good diet and excellent oral health during pregnancy to help insure that their child’s teeth develop normally.

It is also important once your child is born to help minimize the transmission of pathogenic bacteria from parent to child. Those parents with poor oral health, or active decay are now encouraged to not share cups, toothbrushes, or pacifiers. These are all methods by which parents can transmit an active decay process from their mouth to their child’s oral cavity.

Many new studies have shown that parents that use chlorohexidine rinses or chew gum with xylitol, can reduce their own bacterial levels, and have a lower chance of transmitting pathogenic bacteria to their children. If you are pregnant, or have a newborn child, please ask your dentist about these alternatives.

TOOTHACHE:

Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen is recommended. See a dentist as soon as possible.

CUT OR BITTEN TONGUE, LIP OR CHEEK:

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, go to an emergency room.

BROKEN TOOTH:

Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Get immediate dental attention.

KNOCKED OUT PERMANENT TOOTH:

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately.

POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW

In the event of jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel, tie or handkerchief. Go immediately to an emergency room.

BLEEDING AFTER A BABY TOOTH FALLS OUT

Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, see a dentist.

COLD SORES / CANKER SORES

Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit your dentist.

As teeth begin to erupt into the mouth, many children may experience some discomfort or sleepless nights. Teeth always tend to erupt according to the Circadian Rhythm, and go through their greatest amount of eruption at nighttime. This is why many children may have difficulty going to sleep or being fussy during periods of tooth eruption.

Many children like a clean teething ring, cool spoon, or cold wet washcloth. Some parents swear by a chilled ring; others simply rub the babys gums with a clean finger.

Experts disagree about whether teething actually causes symptoms like fussiness, coughing, fever and diarrhea or whether it is just a coincidence that these common maladies occur at the same time as teeth are erupting. While some lucky parents report no apparent negative side effects, many others maintain that their teething babies do suffer discomfort.

If your child is showing discomfort during teething, the symptoms he/she may experience include:

As a tooth erupts, a watery sac (eruption cyst) may develop. Eruption cysts are usually harmless and should be left alone. As a tooth pushes through the gum, it will eventually rupture the sac.

If symptoms develop during teething, they usually occur approximately four days before and up to three days after the tooth erupt.

Mild teething symptoms that gradually improve should not cause concern. However, contact your pediatrician if your baby’s symptoms are severe or persist. Fever, diarrhea, frequent ear pulling, coughs and severe diaper rashes are not normal teething symptoms. You should be especially concerned if your child has a rectal temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for babies younger than three months). When in doubt, consult with your pediatrician to determine whether your baby is showing signs of a problem that requires medical attention.

TOOTH ERUPTION:

The first baby teeth come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 mounths 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.

The difference between a general dentist who treats children and a pediatric dentist is additional education and specialized training to provide the best clinical care and a positive experience. Pediatric dentists are specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions particular to infants, children and adolescents.

All dentists receive similar dental training and must earn an undergraduate degree and attend dental school where they receive either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD). Pediatric Dentists then complete ANOTHER two to three years of additional intensive pediatric dental training specifically focused on treating the unique dental issues of infants, children and teens, including those who are disabled or have special needs. Dr. Post completed an additional two years of training at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry both in Portland, OR. She is also passed very strenuous testing to obtain her Board Certification from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Post chose to focus her entire dental career on treating children and adolescents. Our office is designed with a child’s comfort in mind with a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Specialized pediatric dental instruments are used to provide optimal care for developing teeth. Staff members are experienced in working with children and know how to make kids feel comfortable and safe. The team at Pebble Pediatric Dentistry work together to create smiles not just for today, but for a lifetime.