Taking Your Child to the Dentist: Know What To Expect

Dec 14
11:34

2011

Antoinette Ayana

Antoinette Ayana

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Before you take your toddler to his or her first dentist visit, consider what will happen. Learn how decay is often handled at a young age.

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Whether or not you are good at seeing the dentist regularly,Taking Your Child to the Dentist: Know What To Expect Articles you should make sure that your children are. Even toddlers can benefit from an occasional trip to the dental practitioner. Learn what to expect from children's dentistry, no matter what age you bring in your kids.

Many dental hygienists advise that you take your baby to the first dental appointment when he or she is as young as one year. At the very latest, your child should have seen a dental practitioner by the age of three. Early visits can help ensure that there is no tooth decay, as this means that the brushing habits have to improve. Whether you bring your baby in at age one, three, or somewhere in between, the practitioner will likely start out by opening the toddler's mouth wide to get a good look at the condition of the teeth. If everything looks good, the dentist will probably let you and the young patient know that, encouraging you both to keep up the good work. You might even get a free toothbrush or toothpaste for your child.

If, however, there is evidence of decay, you will be alerted, and then likely educated on how to properly brush and floss your child's teeth. In some cases, the decay is a result of the patient falling asleep with a bottle of formula in his or her mouth as a baby, or drinking too much juice as a toddler. In other cases, it is because you were not able to brush the teeth often enough or efficiently enough, as most toddlers move around too much to make it easy for their parents to take care of this chore. Either way, you may receive some tips at the dental office, and then you will help decide what needs to be done.

In many cases, dentists choose to keep the visit painless for the patient by offering to apply fluoride to the decayed tooth. This may reduce the rate at which it is rotting. Sometimes, though, the dental hygienist chooses to fill the tooth, just as he or she would for an adult patient. If the decayed area is hurting your child, and it is not a good candidate to be filled, it may need to be pulled. Take heart in the knowledge that dental doctors usually offer painkillers that are appropriate for kids so that they do not have to feel uncomfortable when getting teeth pulled. Laughing gas is just one of the many options. No matter what treatment you choose, you should know that letting a cavity stick around, even if it is painless, can lead to infection and further problems for young patients.

If you have a pediatric dentist in mind, or even someone who treats the entire family, you should ask a few questions before the appointment to find out what to expect. This way, both you and your kids can feel prepared for the visit. Remember that above all, early dental visits are meant to stop issues early, and should also educate kids on the importance of taking care of their mouth.

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