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Your
Child’s First Dental Visit
When
should my child first see a dentist, and why?
The ideal time is six months after your child's first (primary)
teeth erupt. This time frame is a perfect opportunity for the dentist
to carefully examine the development of your child’s mouth.
Because dental problems often start early, the sooner the visit
the better. To safeguard against problems such as baby bottle tooth
decay, teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking,
the dentist can provide or recommend special preventive care.
How
do I prepare my child and myself for the visit?
Before the visit, ask Dr. McBride or the hygenist about the procedures
of the first appointment so there are no surprises. Plan a course
of action for either reaction your child may exhibit—cooperative
or non- cooperative. Very young children may be fussy and not sit
still. Talk to your child about what to expect, and build excitement
(not fear) as well as understanding about the upcoming visit. Be
careful not say phrases like, "You don't have to be afraid",
or "Don't worry." Usually children have not had
a previous impression of fear or worry about the dentist until they
sense it is the expected behavior. Bring with you to the
appointment any record of your child’s complete medical history.
What
will happen on the first visit?
Many first visits are nothing more than introductory icebreakers
to acquaint your child with Dr. McBride and the practice. If the
child is frightened, uncomfortable or non-cooperative, rescheduling
may be necessary. Patience and calm on the part of the parent and
reassuring communication with your child are very important in these
instances. Short, successive visits are meant to build the child's
trust in the dentist and the dental office, and can prove invaluable
if your child needs to be treated later for any dental problem.
Child
appointments should always be scheduled earlier in the day, when
your child is alert and fresh. For children under 24-36 months,
the parent may need to sit in the dental chair and hold the child
during the examination. Also, parents may be asked to wait in the
reception area so a relationship can be built between your child
and the dentist or hygienist.
If the
child is compliant, the first session often lasts between 15-30
minutes and may include the following, depending on age:
A gentle
but thorough examination of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral
tissues to monitor growth and development and observe any problem
areas; if indicated, a gentle cleaning, which includes polishing
teeth and removal of plaque, tartar build-up and stains; x-rays;
a demonstration on proper home cleaning; assessment of the need
for fluoride, orthodontics, etc.
Depending
upon your child's age and readiness, we will begin the exposure
of education. Dr. McBride feels that learning about bacteria
(the main source of all dental diseases) is very crucial to understanding
why we must do various things to keep our mouths healthy.
The hygienist will remove samples of your child's plaque and prepare
it into a slide to be viewed on a TV- projected microscope.
The bacteria will still be living and moving right before your child's
eyes. They will learn the names of the bacteria, where they
came from, how they live and how we destroy them to be healthy.
We learn more about your child's dental status with this information
also, and your child will see how we use this tool to recommend
changes in diet or home routines with anti-bacterials if necessary.
Your child will feel involved in their dental health!
Dr.
McBride or the hygienist should be able to answer any questions
you have and try to make you and your child feel comfortable throughout
the visit. The entire dental team and the office should provide
a relaxed. non-threatening environment for your child.
When
should the next visit be?
Children, like adults, should see the dentist at least every six
months. Sometimes Dr. McBride or the hygienist may request to schedule
interim visits for every 3 months to watch or treat a developing
problem.
How
do I find a good dentist for my child?
Many general dentists treat children. Dr. McBride see clients from
ages 1 to 100+. But if you feel your child will have a difficult
time and might benefit from an atmosphere that caters to fearful
children, ask us for a referral to a pedodontist (a dentist that
specializes in the treatment of children) in your area. They offer
sedatives and have playful games to soothe the kids.
Dr.
McBride feels that a relationship between himself and the child
is the key to preventing fear and discomfort. Dr. McBride
will first want to become your child's friend. He will listen
and respect what they have to say. Dr. McBride has taken measures
to ensure that everyone feels a sense of control. Our special
remote control train whistle is placed in your child's hand to activate
at any moment of concern or need. At that moment everyone
stops to attend to the child and makes adjustments if necessary.
For
fun, we have childrens movies, each chair is equipped with a TV/VCR
and headphones. Our treasure chest is stocked with fun goodies.
And, around the office you will find a few bins of sugarless candies
and jelly bellies.
Four
ways to protect your child's oral health at home:
Parents typically provide oral hygiene care until the child is old
enough to take personal responsibility for the daily dental health
routine of brushing and flossing. A proper regimen of home preventive
care is important from the day your child is born.
- Clean
your infant's gums with a clean, damp cloth. Confirm with Dr.
McBride if you should rub a tiny dab of toothpaste on the gums--usually,
in small amounts (smaller than a baby pea) it is recommended
for the teething period and tips of emerging teeth.
It takes about 1 teaspoonful or more of fluoridated toothpaste
to be harmful if ingested (a stomach-ache results). Of course,
call a poison center if your child consumes a high amount of toothpaste.
- As
soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small,
soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste.
Remember, most children are also getting fluoride from the community
water supply (if your child drinks bottled water, choose a company
that fluoridates the water to 1 ppm).
- To
avoid baby bottle tooth decay and teeth misalignment due to sucking,
try to wean your child off of the breast and bottle by one year
of age, and monitor excessive sucking of pacifiers, fingers and
thumbs. Never give your child a bottle of milk, juice or sweetened
liquid as a pacifier at naptime or bedtime.
- Help
a young child brush at night—the most important time to brush
due to lower salivary flow and higher susceptibility to cavities
and plaque. Perhaps let the child brush their teeth first to build
self-confidence, then the parent can follow up to ensure that
all plaque is removed. Usually by age 5 or so, the child can learn
to brush his or her own teeth with proper parental instruction.
- As
soon as the teeth are fully erupted, floss between your child's
teeth daily--even if the teeth do not contact each other.
This will demonstrate the importance of a good routine and help
the child to realize that they cannot trust brushing alone will
remove or disrupt plaque from the entire area around each tooth.
The
best way to teach a child how to brush is to lead by good example.
Allowing your child to watch you brush and floss your teeth teaches
the importance of good oral hygiene.
Dental
Sealants
What
is a sealant?
A dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surfaces
of molars and premolars (the teeth directly in front of the molars).
Sealants have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention
of cavities. They were developed through dental research in
the 1950’s and first became available commercially in the early
1970’s. The first sealant was accepted by the American Dental Association
Council on Dental Therapeutics in 1972.
How
effective are sealants?
Scientific studies have proven that properly applied sealants are
100 percent effective in protecting the tooth surfaces from caries.
Because sealants act as a physical barrier to decay, protection
is determined by the sealants’ ability to adhere to the tooth.
As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles cannot
penetrate through or around a sealant. In fact, research has
shown that sealants actually stop cavities when placed on top of
a slightly decayed tooth by sealing off the supply of nutrients
to the bacteria that causes a cavity. Sealant protection is
reduced or lost whey part or all of the bond between the tooth and
sealant is broken. However, clinical studies have shown that
teeth that have lost sealants are no more susceptible to tooth decay
than teeth that were never sealed.
How
are sealants applied?
Sealant application cleaning the surface of the tooth and rinsing
the surface to remove all traces of the cleaning agent. An
etching, solution or gel is applied to the enamel surface of the
tooth, including the pits and grooves. After 15 seconds, the solution
is thoroughly rinsed away with water. After the site is dried,
the sealant material is applied and allowed to harden by using a
special curing light. Other sealants are applied and allowed
to harden much the same way nail polish is applied to fingernails.
Sealant treatment is painless and could take anywhere from five
to 45 minutes to apply, depending on how many teeth need to be sealed.
Sealants must be applied properly for good retention.
How
long will a sealant last?
Sealants should last five years, but can last as long as 10
years. One study reported that seven years after application,
an impressive 49 percent of treated teeth were still completely
covered. Sealants should not be considered permanent.
Regular dental check-ups are necessary to monitor the sealants'
bond to the tooth.
Who
should receive sealant treatment?
Children, because they have newly erupted, permanent teeth, receive
the greatest benefit from sealants. The chewing surfaces of a child's
teeth are most susceptible to cavities and the least benefited by
fluoride. Surveys show that approximately two-thirds of all
cavities occur in the narrow pits and grooves of a child's newly
erupted teeth because food particles and bacteria cannot be cleaned
out.
Other
patients also can benefit from sealant placement, such as those
who have existing pits and grooves susceptible to decay. Research
has shown that almost everybody has a 95 percent chance of
eventually experiencing cavities in the pits and grooves of their
teeth. It is important, however, that the dentist not “pool”
the material into these pits and fissures, as these areas are crucial
to the escapement of food when chewing. If these areas are
left pooled or “high”, it can affect the bite and place more loading
forces onto the teeth.
Are
sealants covered by insurance?
Although insurance benefits for sealant procedures have increased
considerably, coverage is still minimal. The trend is toward expanded
coverage of this benefit, especially as companies start to realize
that sealants are a proven preventive technique. This preventive
measure can help reduce future dental expenses and protect the teeth
from more aggressive forms of treatment.
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