Pediatric Services
Children begin getting their first set of teeth around 6 months of age, and around age 6 or 7 they start to lose their first set of teeth and get their adult teeth. Pediatric dentistry addresses oral health needs of infants up to children in their teen years. Taking care of the teeth even at a very early age sets the stage for a lifetime of good oral health.
Why Pediatric Dentistry is Needed
Pediatric dentistry begins at the earliest ages with infant oral health exams where inheritable risk factors such as high propensity for cavities in parents are discussed. Periodic teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments keep developing children’s teeth healthy. Repair of cavities or defects in developing teeth may also be necessary.
What Pediatric Dental Care Involves
In addition to taking care of cleanings and filling cavities, it’s very motivating for the kids to have members of the dental team review with them how to brush and floss their teeth. Pediatric dentistry also involves counseling parents on developing good oral hygiene habits in children such as brushing and flossing and avoiding habits with long term consequences such as thumb-sucking. Monitoring and early intervention can also help make issues involving teeth straightening or improper bite development less complicated to correct in the long term.
“I took my kids in for their routine appt today and Tammy and Dr. Rackley were so kind and patient with them! Tammy showed them all of her tools and talked about how to brush teeth and my kids are so excited to brush and floss! I’m so grateful that they made us feel comfortable and went above and beyond for my kids- thank you!!”
Special Skills of a Pediatric Dentist
Outside of keeping good care of developing teeth, Dr. Smith and Dr. Rackley possess special skills in working with younger patients who are not always content to sit in the exam chair and calmly have a difficult procedure completed. Specialized care may be required when working with pediatric patients.
If you have youngsters in your family, getting them regular dental care is vital to ensuring they develop healthy teeth that will last a lifetime. Establishing routines to keep teeth healthy and happy now will result in strong oral health habits that follow them well into adulthood. Make an appointment to come by our office to see one of our dentists and talk about how we can help.