How Can a Pediatric Dentist Help Your Child at Any Age?

A pediatric dentist should begin seeing your child as a patient around the time that the first tooth shows up. If you are not sure when this is, you should count on having your child see a dental practitioner by age one at the latest. After that, he or she should get regular care, just like adults do. You should get an idea of the timeline you can expect as your son or daughter ages.

The first appointment with a pediatric dentist is just to get babies used to the idea of seeing a practitioner. It is not expected that babies will cooperate at their first appointment, nor will anyone try to hold their mouth open for long. If you are nervous about bringing a young baby to the first visit, remember that dentists like this have seen countless infants and kids who do not behave. You should trust that the practitioner you have chosen knows how to handle young patients. Besides, the pediatric dentist will simply take a quick look at the baby's teeth and gums to make sure there is no sign of infection, and that the teeth are coming in as they should.

When your baby turns into a toddler, you should bring him or her in for a cleaning. This will go similar to your cleanings. The staff will gently clean the teeth and gums and make a note of any irregularities. They will then let you know of any tips that apply to your toddler, so you should know whether you should brush his or her teeth more, or need to start helping him or her floss. If your toddler has a cavity \, the right procedure will be discussed.

In many cases, when there is a sign of some damage to the tooth, sealants will be offered. For some children, though, tooth extraction is necessary even at a young age. Some may even need a root canal. Your pediatric dentist will let you know the treatment your child will need. You can expect the same as he or she ages and gets cavities and other tooth issues. Plus, your son or daughter will need regular cleanings, which you can schedule with a pediatric dentist until he or she is old enough to start going to your practitioner's office.

If your baby is one or is just starting to get teeth, you should be thinking about dental work. Talking to the dental office early on is a good idea. This allows you to stay one step ahead of cavities and other issues.