Don’t be fooled. Baby teeth are not disposable. They are important to proper speech, nutrition and facial structure. They usher in those big permanent teeth. The family dentists at Williamsburg Dental LLC in Lincoln ask parents to bring their kids to the office by age three for regular preventive care. Learn what happens at a child’s first dental visit and what dental services care for young smiles.
The Baby Teeth
A baby’s bottom central incisors typically erupt between the ages of six and eight months. Other teeth soon follow, adding to parents’ lists of responsibilities. Mom or Dad must wipe little mouths with a warm washcloth or gauze after meals. Toothbrushing with a small smear of toothpaste begins at one year. Supervised hygiene continues until a child has good manual dexterity and the discipline to brush and floss everyday independently.
Young teeth help a child eat and speak properly. Baby teeth provide the pathways for adult teeth to be correctly aligned, avoiding costly restorative and orthodontic treatment. Bottom line, the first teeth are placeholders, ensuring a healthy and attractive adult smile.
So, the doctors and support staff at Williamsburg Dental look forward to seeing children for their dental visits. The first time in the dental chair, on a parent’s lap, gives the child great security that going to the dentist is a pleasant experience.
For babies and toddlers, the dentist checks the mouth for proper development and evidence of decay; he also counts the teeth. Parents receive instruction on oral hygiene, good nutrition and “baby bottle decay”–a threat to baby teeth when milk or juice collects in the mouth with a bedtime bottle feeding.
As a child grows, dental appointments expand to include digital X-rays at proper intervals, orthodontic evaluation by age seven and information on athletic mouthguards to protect against injury. The dental hygienist gently scales teeth to remove plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and interdental spaces. The individualized treatment plan includes restorations (fillings, for instance) as needed and in-office fluoride treatments to strengthen and protect tooth enamel.
Additionally, your Lincoln family dentist frequently applies plastic sealants on back molars. A special liquid painted on chewing surfaces, sealants protect teeth from cavities for up to ten years.
Parents, take note, too: Drs. Kotopka, Gessford, Killeen, Beddes and Rossini at Williamsburg Dental stress the importance of immediate care for pressing oral health problems such as toothaches, lost restorations or knocked out or cracked teeth. Please contact the office immediately if a dental emergency arises for one of your children. We will provide quick and compassionate advice and get you into the office as soon as possible.
Dental Care is Important Care
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry urges parents to prioritize their children’s oral health. Incidence of dental decay escalates when kids don’t see their dentists, but with six-month cleanings and exams, young smiles flourish.
If your child has started getting his or her first teeth, contact Williamsburg Dental LLC for a pediatric dental visit. Look forward to years of great smiles!