Child Dentistry
Here at Lamorinda Dental Care, Dr. Hoang is actually known as Dr. Julia when it comes to kids–she knows her last name can be a little tricky!! Dr. Julia loves children–in fact, she has been treating many Lamorinda children over the last five years as she was the child “specialist” at quite a few dental offices. When you and your child visit the office, you can expect your child to meet Dr. Julia herself and not be handed off to the staff. Children’s teeth are important too, and they command the attention of the doctor. Like adults, children need to be inspired to be proud of their teeth, respect them, and learn how to take good care of them. It is Dr. Julia’s goal that her pediatric patients grow into educated adults that are proud of the teeth, have healthy mouths and smiles, and most importantly, comfortable with trips to the dentist!
Below are links to treatments and additional information that are most relevant to pediatric dentistry:
Your child’s first visit
The first “regular” dental visit should be just before or after your child’s third birthday. However, Dr. Hoang advises that you expose your child to this “different sort of doctor” earlier than age three, by bringing the child to your own dental visits (cleanings would be a good choice). That would allow your child to observe and feel completely safe, at the same time, seeing that it’s okay for Mommy or Daddy to open their mouths for the doctor to see, and that we have many interesting tools and gadgets; very different than the medical doctor. It is a good opportunity to see what the dentist will wear, as masks, gloves and the magnifying glasses can look a bit scary at first.
The first real dental visit is usually short and may involve very little treatment. However you may be surprised to see what your little child may want to try! Dr. Hoang has completed full cleanings on little 3 year olds! 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 (usually after age 4). 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.
If not much is accomplished during the first visit, or if your child has a meltdown–don’t worry!! It happens! However, with proper prepping at home and making the “big date” exciting, you may be able to start the visit on the right foot.
What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?
We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.
Here are some “First Visit” tips:
- Make it fun!!! Like they are SO lucky that it is FINALLY their turn to go to the dentist!!!
- 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 (counting teeth, “brushing” them with special tools.
- Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
- Remind them that they will have to open wide like an alligator, and that it’s okay for the dentist to touch their teeth with her special tools and count them.
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.
- Perform a child proply if the child will allow.
What about preventative care?
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are space-age 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. 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.
Tips for cavity prevention
- 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.
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.