Teething, the process of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. Some babies get their teeth early and some get them late. In general, the first baby teeth to appear are usually the lower front (anterior) teeth and they usually begin erupting between the age of 6-8 months.
See “Eruption of Your Child’s Teeth” for more details.
FAQ Category: Dental Topics
Your Child’s First Dental Visit-Establishing A “Dental Home”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
The Dental Home is intended to provide a place other than the Emergency Room for parents.
You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.
It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Pediatric dental offices make a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.
Perinatal & Infant Oral Health
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that all pregnant women receive oral healthcare and counseling during pregnancy. Research has shown evidence that periodontal disease can increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Talk to your doctor or dentist about ways you can prevent periodontal disease during pregnancy.
Additionally, mothers with poor oral health may be at a greater risk of passing the bacteria which causes cavities to their young children. Mother’s should follow these simple steps to decrease the risk of spreading cavity-causing bacteria:
1. Visit your dentist regularly.
2. Brush and floss on a daily basis to reduce bacterial plaque.
3. Proper diet, with the reduction of beverages and foods high in sugar & starch.
4. Use a fluoridated toothpaste recommended by the ADA and rinse every night with an alcohol-free, over-the-counter mouth rinse with .05% sodium fluoride in order to reduce plaque levels.
5. Don’t share utensils, cups or food which can cause the transmission of cavity-causing bacteria to your children.
6. Use of xylitol chewing gum (4 pieces per day by the mother) can decrease a child’s caries rate.
Whitening (Bleaching)
Several options are available to help make your smile brighter and whiter. In-office bleaching, at-home bleaching, or whitening toothpastes. Ask your dentist which technique is the best suited for you.
Veneers
Dental Topics for General and Pediatric DentistsVeneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Porcelain laminate veneers are commonly used to correct teeth that are stained or discolored, badly shaped or crooked, or damaged due to an injury.
Placing a veneer is usually an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.
Invisalign ®
Invisalign Teeth Straightening The invisible way to straighten your teeth, without braces.
Invisalign® can give you the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in dental and orthodontic practices nationwide.
How Does Invisalign® Work?
1 You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
2 As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist or dentist has prescribed.
3 You’ll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
4 Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Inlays and Onlays
Tooth-colored restorations that are used on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They can be placed instead of silver fillings or to replace existing silver fillings.
Bonding
Bonding restores chipped, cracked, miscolored or misaligned teeth by rebuilding the surface with a resin material. To place the bond, your dentist prepares your tooth with an etching solution. Then special resin materials are blended in colors carefully chosen to match your own teeth. These materials are applied to your teeth, then shaped into just the right contours. Finally, they’re hardened or bonded in place. Bonding provides wonderful results at an affordable cost.
Mouth Guards
If you participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your smile, and should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.
Ask your dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.
Good Diet = Healthy Teeth
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. In order to promote good dental health, we should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that we eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently we snack, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If you must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese, which are healthier and better for your teeth.