Many parents call our Elmhurst dentist with questions about pediatric dental care. It can be tough to know what types of treatments are necessary, and when treatment is appropriate for your child. That is why today our dental team is answering some common questions about dental care for children. We hope that the answers below will give you some insight into the world of pediatric dentistry!
Q: When should my child start going to the dentist?
A: The American Dental Association recommends that parents bring their children in for their first appointments before they are a year old. Dental care is not just about maintaining healthy teeth—you want to make sure that your baby’s gums and oral tissues are strong and healthy before teeth begin to come in!
Q: What happens during a pediatric dental appointments?
A: At your child’s semi-annual dental appointment we will thoroughly clean his or her smile in order to eliminate plaque that accumulated over time. We’ll also talk to your child about the importance of keeping up with oral hygiene at home, and what types of things they should be doing to clean their teeth and gums. We may also complete some preventive treatments, like placing sealants or applying topical fluoride solutions to strengthen enamel.
Q: What do you do when a child has an existing dental infection?
A: In many cases we can treat dental cavities with simple composite fillings. We always try to preserve the patient’s primary teeth for as long as possible, because primary teeth serve important roles in pediatric development: they serve as placeholders for permanent teeth, they allow your child to learn to enunciate and pronounce new words, they help your child expand his or her diet.
If you want to learn more about pediatric dentistry, or if you need to schedule a consultation for your child, please don’t hesitate to call our Elmhurst dentists to get started!