Children's dental care in McLean

When Should I Make My Child's First Dental Appointment?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you should take your child to see a children's dentist by age one or six months after getting their first tooth. As soon as your child gets a tooth, they can get a cavity. Even if your child does not have a tooth at 12 months, dentists also do a complete oral exam, including the gums.

What Happens at a Child's First Dental Exam?

Your child will sit on your lap in the dentist's chair. The dentist will examine your child's mouth, but won't take x-rays if he or she is an infant. He or she will check your child's oral development, but it's also a way to introduce your child to visiting a dental office. Getting your child used to seeing a dentist at an early age will make future visits easier since they know what to expect. Your child's first appointment with a kid’s dentist also includes education for parents or caregivers. You'll learn about pacifier habits, cleaning an infant's teeth, and what is a healthy diet to prevent tooth decay.

What Does Dentistry for Children Include?

We offer kid’s dental care which helps prevent dental problems and restorative services to repair damaged teeth, including:

Fluoride - Fluoride treatments for kids help prevent cavities. The fluoride does not taste bad and kids generally don't mind having the treatment. Fluoride treatments may even reverse small cavities just forming, according to the ADA.

Dental Sealants - Dental sealants are an important part of preventative dentistry for kids. A thin coating is applied to the biting surface of molars to seal the pits and depressions that can trap food particles and plaque.

Teeth Cleaning for Children - We start toddler teeth cleanings when your child is ready. The gentle cleaning can help identify any areas not getting enough attention. Identifying these areas early on can help avoid future dental problems.

Fillings - Hearing your child needs a filling isn't easy, but it's imperative to treat cavities in baby teeth when they are small. Decay can spread easily among baby teeth. We are specially trained to put your child at ease while restoring their tooth.

Dental Bonding - Active kids can fall and chip or crack a tooth. Fortunately, dentists can bond a composite resin to the tooth to repair the damage in a painless, non-invasive procedure. Your child will also have their smile whole once again.

Baby Root Canal - A baby root canal is an ideal, safe alternative to pulling a painful, decayed baby tooth. While the baby tooth would fall out eventually, it needs to remain in your child's mouth as long as possible. Baby teeth aid in chewing and speaking clearly, plus they reserve a space for the adult tooth.

Pediatric Crowns - Crowns for baby teeth can restore a badly decayed or damaged tooth. Primary teeth serve important functions, including helping adult teeth move into the correct position to help avoid orthodontic work in the future.

Mouthguards - We offer sports mouthguards for active kids. The mouthguard can prevent injuries if your child falls or takes a blow to the mouth. While often required for contact sports, mouthguards are recommended for any activity where there is a chance of an injury, We can also furnish your child with a nightguard if they grind their teeth while they are asleep.

When Do Kids Start Getting Baby Teeth?

You can expect your baby to start teething at six months old, although anywhere from six to 12 months is normal. Your child will get a total of 20 baby teeth. Expect the middle two bottom teeth to appear first, then the top two middle teeth. Although some babies have no teething symptoms, you may notice redness at the area their tooth is erupting and they will dribble more than normal. You may also notice them chewing on items more often.

When Do baby Teeth Fall Out?

At age five or six, most children start losing their baby teeth, with the teeth falling out in the same order they emerged. If your child does not lose a baby tooth before he or she is eight, please bring him or her in to see our children's dentist in McLean. Teeth become loose up to a month or so before they fall out. Wiggling a tooth is okay, kids tend to do this anyway, but don't yank the tooth out before it is ready. It leaves a hole where infection can set in.

Why Do Kids Get Toothaches?

If your child complains of tooth pain, try to determine which tooth hurts. You can look at it and see if it is a baby tooth that's loose or there is something stuck between his or her tooth. If you don't see an obvious, normal reason for the pain, please contact our children's dentist in McLean to make an appointment. Your child could have a cavity, the most common reason for toothaches, or they may have fractured a tooth. Whatever the cause, our dentist can diagnose the problem and ease your child's pain with the appropriate treatment.