Dentistry For Kids
10. Mar, 2010 
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Our goal is to develop a strong partnership with each of our patients. It is important to us that you understand the importance of your child ‘s dental health. We want to work closely with you to obtain optimum dental health and beauty for your child ! That way, your child will be on his or her way to a lifetime of trouble-free teeth and gums. Contact us any time you have a dental-related question for your child.
How to Prepare Your Child for a Trip to the Dentist:
Fear of the unknown is a big reason why kids can be anxious or even frightened about an upcoming dental visit. To ensure that your child has a positive experience at the dentist, it’s important that you’re sensitive about the words you use when you talk about dental visits. The goal is not to mislead the child, but to avoid the formation of any negative attitudes about dentistry.
The best way to prepare a child to go to the dentist is to keep it simple. Dr Barnes does a very good job at communicating with her young patients in a way that puts them at ease.
It’s best to let Dr Barnes and her staff communicate the details of what is going to happen while your child is in the dental chair.
Baby Teeth Are Important!
A child’s baby teeth, also called primary teeth, are as important as the permanent adult teeth. Primary teeth help children chew and speak. They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are developing under the gums. Cavities left untreated in children can not only cause pain, they can also damage permanent teeth. Untreated cavities can lead to lasting problems with the child’s permanent teeth.
You Can Help Your Child Be Cavity Free
Brush your child’s teeth at least once a day. Kids over 2 years old should be using a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Kids need help brushing their teeth until they are about 6 or 7.
Sealants
Sealants are liquid coatings that harden on to the chewing surfaces of teeth and are showing a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities-even on teeth where decay has begun.
The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
The sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces and are designed to prevent the intrusion of bacteria and other debris into the deep crevices on the tops of teeth.
Sealants actually were developed about 50 years ago, but didn’t become commonly used until the 1970s. Today, sealants are becoming widely popular and effective.
Children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants (especially on molars) because in many cases, decay has not set in. Even on teeth where decay is present, sealants have been shown to fight additional damage.
Application
Applying sealants is generally quick and painless. Sealants are applied by first cleaning the tooth surface with a chemical which allows the sealant to adhere. Next, the the sealant is applied to the chewing surface. Then, a special light is directed to the site which hardens the sealant.
Primary Teeth Eruption Chart
Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart
