We recommend to each parent that, when their children reach the age of three, they bring them along to our office during their own regular hygiene visit. In that way, they can see it is fun to go to the dentist!
At Creekside Dental Care we address the basic dental issues of children such as cleanings, sealants and basic dental issues of children. When a referral is deemed necessary, we refer to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentistry is a recognize dental specialty that often best treats the special needs of children. These specialists have been specifically trained to address the psychological and clinical needs of children's dental care. At Creekside Dental Care we believe that a dentist best trained in an area of dentistry should treat that area. We have a few pediatric dentists that have been part of our referral team for years. If we deem it necessary a referral will be arranged. These children's dental specialists are equipped and trained to handle all children's dental situations. Through a pediatric dentist treating a child, the child has reduced trauma from a dental experience, and the work is done by a clinician specially trained.
These early visits teach your child to take responsibility for his or her own dental health and can allay any concerns that might otherwise arise. This is why these early visits are so important.
For a general guide as to when you may expect your child's teeth to come in, please refer to the pictures below. We've also included some information on sealants – which are only used on a child's teeth if we detect grooves in them – and some questions and answers about braces. (We've been working with several local orthodontists for years and routinely screen your child at the appropriate time to see if such a referral is needed.)
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 1950s and first became available commercially in the early 1970s. 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 decay. 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 and bacteria that cause cavities 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 when 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 involves 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 sealant's 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.
Sources:
American Dental Association;
The National Institute of Dental Research;
Leslie V. Margens, DDS, MPH, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis;
Leonard Cohen, DDS, MpH, MS, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Education and Instructional Resources, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland at Baltimore.
© AGD at www.agd.org
Tooth Eruption Chart
