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Common Questions and Answers
regarding Pediatric Dental Care
Index:
What
causes
tooth decay?
Your teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria, called
plaque. Plaque bacteria use sugar and starch in food as a source of
energy. The bacteria convert the sugar or starch into harmful acids
that attack tooth enamel for as long as 20 minutes or more. Repeated
attacks may cause the enamel to break down, resulting in cavities.
Why should my child
see a Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric Dentistry is a dental specialty requiring 2-3 years of advanced training after
graduation from dental school.
The longer programs, as those which Dr. Healey attended, include 3 years of formalized training in Pediatric Orthodontics. Contemporary orthodontic training utilizes knowledge of the developing jaws, as well as the relationship of the teeth, to achieve an esthetic result with proper alignment of the jaws and loading of the jaw joint.
Our Pediatric Dental Office emphasizes care for children in five areas:
1.
Psychological Well-Being:
A child's early dental experiences influence their attitude towards dental care, often for a lifetime. By being sensitive to both the joys and fears of children, our office strives to create happy memories and positive dental
attitudes. Parents are welcome to join the child during treatment. It should be
noted that our office does not condone the use of physical restraints (papoose boards) for dental procedures.
2.
Preventive Care:
In our office, a "check-up" is more than a dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, and "cavity
check". Red disclosing solution is used to detect bacterial plaque at each periodic visit. Then, a staff member coaches the child in front of a mirror about effective
tooth brushing. A thorough cleaning of the teeth and application of fluoride significantly strengthens the teeth and reduces "cavities" by 40%. Dr. Healey closely examines the teeth, gums, and growing jaws at each periodic visit.
3. Restorative Care:
Should your child need restorative care (fillings, replacement of teeth, removal of teeth ... ), Dr. Healey and our office's Treatment Coordinator will answer all of your questions ranging from the procedures and prevention to fees and payment methods. Your child's comfort and well-being, both physically and psychologically, is of highest priority.
4. Orthodontics
(Braces):
Up until the 1970's orthodontics primarily involved straightening
of the teeth. Since the early 1980's, contemporary orthodontic training concerns itself with both straight teeth
and correct jaw alignment and formation.
The latter is termed a "skeletal correction." This correction, for many children, begins at age 8 (or younger, if severe). Once the jaws are formed properly and relate to each other correctly, the "dental correction," to straighten the teeth, is initiated between the patient's 12th and 15th birthdays. Orthodontic technology has vastly improved since most parents were in braces.
Ample educational materials are available in our office to provide further explanation about orthodontic treatment.
5.
Hospital Dentistry and Sedation:
Some
children require sedation or general anesthesia to allow for safe
and comfortable restorative care. Dr. Healey offers in-office
conscious sedation for healthy children, and specialized care at
Atlanta Pediatric Outpatient Surgery Center and at Children's Health
Care of Atlanta, at both the Egleston and Scottish Rite campuses.
May I go back with
my child during treatment?
YES.
Parents are welcome to either come back to the treatment area or, if they prefer, stay in the reception room. Young children can become apprehensive when separated from a parent during treatment, especially in a less familiar environment.
In addition to increasing the child's comfort level, a parents presence during treatment also provides reinforcement at home for those lessons taught during the child's dental visit.
These lessons include use of disclosing solution to detect plaque, proper brushing, and healthy eating habits.
At
what age should a child
first visit the dentist?
Children should begin dental
treatment at Age 2.
The first visit involves a complete examination, cleaning and
fluoride treatment. Fluoride treatments not only strengthen the
primary teeth, but also strengthen the developing permanent tooth
buds.
The penetration of this APF fluoride is most effective when started
prior to the eruption of the primary second molar teeth at age 2.
Whenever there are any questions about the color or shape of the
teeth, Dr. Healey will be glad to examine your child and answer any
questions you may have. Some children do develop problems that
require attention before age one.
Missing Baby
Incisor Teeth
(Front Baby Teeth)
The permanent incisor teeth generally appear at age 6 1/2 - age
7. When the baby incisor teeth are lost at age 5 1/2, few
problems arise, however, when they are lost at an early age,
their loss can slow the speech development, alter the swallowing
pattern, encourage constriction of the growth of the jaws, and
prevent an otherwise happy child from smiling and adversely
affect their self esteem.
These teeth are replaced differently than adult teeth would be
for many reasons, however an esthetic, durable, and comfortable
adjustable fixed pediatric appliance can restore the esthetics
and function quite nicely!
How important are
the baby
teeth?
Other than the obvious importance of chewing and esthetics, the baby teeth reserve a position in the mouth for the erupting permanent teeth. These first teeth help to guide the permanent teeth into proper position.
The primary (baby) incisors are especially important so that your child properly pronounces the S's, F's, and
Th's.
Maintaining the front teeth is also essential as they help form proper speech habits and swallowing patterns. Proper placement of the tongue during speaking and swallowing is critical to the correct formation of both the upper
and lower jaws
What
should parents know
about dental care for children under Age 2?
Follow these guidelines to protect your child's first teeth:
1. As soon as your baby's first tooth appears in the mouth, brush it with a child-size toothbrush or wipe it with a clean wash cloth to remove plaque daily.
2. Prolonged exposure to sugars in fruit juice, milk, formula, and breast milk combine with bacteria in the mouth and can cause rapid decay. (The enamel shell on baby teeth is quite thin.) Therefore, avoid sending your baby to bed with bottles that contain liquid other than
water.
3. Parents whose water systems are not fluoridated (such as well water) should start fluoride supplements at 6 months of age.
4. Should your young toddler fall and hit their mouth, see a Pediatric Dentist for an evaluation of the teeth and bone surrounding the teeth.
Can
decay be
"sealed out"??
YES.
As soon as the permanent molars (ages 6 to 12) and bicuspids (also
called premolars) erupt, thin plastic-like coatings, called
sealants, can be placed over the deep grooves and fissures on the
back teeth. The protective covering shields the tooth surface from
bacteria that combines with sugars to cause cavities. It is painless
to apply, costs less than a filling, and protects the teeth during
the cavity prone years. Sealants can last between 8 and 10 years.
Dysplastic
and
Hypoplastic Enamel
The outer
layer of each tooth is formed by cells working in a coordinated
fashion to make a "diamond-like" protective layer called enamel.
Disturbances in a child's health or development can arrest this
process temporarily. Sometimes, the cells lose their rhythm and
create weak areas that are less dense ( hypoplastic ) or have
outright microscopic holes affecting their shape (dysplasia ) that
allow bacteria to decay the tooth, even in an extremely clean mouth.
These defective areas usually require professional attention to save
the tooth from massive decay.
What is the
Tell
Your Friends Program?
Our practice
philosophy has always recognized that our growth and success hinges
on having satisfied families refer their friends to us. We realize
that it requires a special commitment on our part to deliver the
best service possible to your child. As a way of saying "thanks"
for your confidence, we raffle a large stuffed animal each quarter
to a family who has thought well enough of us to send a friend!
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