Prevention Is Most Important
Teething
Normally the first tooth erupts between ages 6 to 12 months. Gums may be sore, tender, and sometimes irritable until the age of 3. To sooth the gum, you can rub the sore gums gently with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon or a cold, wet cloth. Teething rings work well, but please avoid teething biscuits, because they contain sugar. And sugar is not good for baby teeth!
Please monitor the teeth for signs of baby bottle decay, while your baby is teething. You should examine the teeth on the inside or the tongue side for dull spots (whiter than the tooth surface) or lines every 2-3 weeks. Please keep in mind that a bottle left in your childs' mouth while sleeping containing anything other than water will aggressively damage teeth and lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay happens because sugar in your childs' drink mixes with bacteria in dental plaque, forming acids that attack the tooth enamel. Each time a child drinks liquids with sugar, acids attack the teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva washes away the liquid. But during sleep, the saliva flow decreases and liquids stay around the child’s teeth for long periods, covering the teeth in acids.
Infant’s New Teeth
The primary, or “baby,” teeth play an important role in the dental development of your child. Without them, a child cannot chew food properly and may have difficulty speaking clearly.
Primary teeth are crucial to the development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent teeth into place when they replace the primary teeth. This usually happens between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
Since primary teeth help the permanent teeth 'move' into the right place, young children with missing primary teeth may need a space maintainer. A space maintainer holds the natural space open. Without a maintainer, the teeth could tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked. In any case, Dr. Carmichael will recommend and discuss the proper treatment to you and your child.
Please keep in mind: The way your child treats his/her primary teeth plays a crucial role in how he/she cares for the permanent teeth later. Teach your child to take care of his teeth at an early age and explain everything your child wants to know about healthy teeth and healthy gums. Ask us for any advise or guidance!
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Your child’s first dental visit should be scheduled around his/her first birthday. Though this may sound early, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics have made the one year dental visit recommendation as a measure aimed at stemming the tide of rising tooth decay among children. The most important part of the visit is for your child to get to know and become comfortable with Dr. Carmichael and his staff. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits. If possible, we allow the child to sit in a parent’s lap in the exam room. In order to establish trust with your child, parents are invited to be “quiet and supportive” observers. As your child is able to observe the trust and confidence you have in the dentist, they will develop their own trust and feel comfortable with receiving care. Children should be encouraged to discuss any fears or anxiety they feel during their first dental visit.
Sedation
We understand that some children and young adults are so apprehensive and fearful that no amount of talking or calming by the dental team will allow the treatment to be completed. In these cases, Dr. Carmichael only uses the minimum amount of sedation medication to comfortably complete the dental care. Dentistry has come a long way to help children and young adults complete their needed dental care. For those children who just cannot handle regular dental appointments, there is hope with sedation dentistry.
