Should you take your child to the dentist when their first tooth erupts? Or, do you wait until all of your child’s baby teeth have come in? First birthday? Second birthday? Birth? Does anyone really know when the right time is to take your child to the dentist to begin regular checkups?
Dr. Jason Horgesheimer recommends that parents bring their child in for their first dental check-up between 12 and 18 months. Either way you look at it, it’s apparent that the sooner you start bringing your child in for regular dental checkups, the better. Here are five reasons why you should start bringing your child to the dentist as early as possible.
1. Get Your Child Used to the Dentist
Dr. Chuck Odion explains that there’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding when you should bring your child to the dentist. Many people falsely think it’s best to wait until the child’s teeth have all come in or that you should wait until the child is older so that they are not scared of the dentist. As he explains, “you’ve got to break that ice and the more you do it, the more often something becomes a habit.”
By introducing your child to the dentist office experience at a young age, you are helping them get used to the setting and the procedures common to a dental practice visit. These younger children will become more accustomed to their dentist and the staff and they will grow to trust their pediatric dental professionals more.
2. Preventative Pediatric Dental Care Saves Money and Teeth
It’s important that you start bringing your child in for regular dental checkups every six months at an early age in order to prevent future tooth decay and cavities. In fact, if you bring your child in for one dental visit while they have only one tooth, this means you can ensure they have and maintain zero cavities, as suggested by the AAPD.
In addition to taking your child in for regular dental checkups every six months starting as soon as possible, this also includes taking care of your child’s teeth until they are able to do so independently. When you make it a habit to bring your child in for regular dental checkups at a young age, your dentist can determine fluoride needs and you will receive instructions on how to perform proper dental care on young teeth, and receive information on proper oral and facial development.
3. Intercept Small Problems to Avoid More Serious Dental Issues
At South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we aim to intercept little problems before they become big problems. If you want to decrease dental treatments and prevent extensive needs down the road, it’s important that you begin appropriate preventative dental care as early as possible. Dr. Chuck talks about the importance of early identification of oral health problems:
“For the child’s oral health, we are able to identify things younger. We can only prevent cavities through instruction and good oral habits, and those habits start at seeing your dentist every six months. It’s a battle that we can win and it’s structured around early intervention with the dentist.”
4. Kids Enjoy Their Visit at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry
Your child will enjoy their experience at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. Our pediatric dentists and professional staff members have specialized working only with kids and know how to treat them in order to make your child feel comfortable and to decrease their fears and anxieties about seeing a dentist. Dr. Chuck explains in the video:
“They actually like to come. They like to see the fish tank. They like the prizes. They like to laugh. They like to talk about princesses and superheroes, and that makes them comfortable and familiar.”
4. Babies’ Teeth are More Susceptible to Cavities
Baby teeth are highly sensitive to tooth decay. This is because, in comparison to adult teeth, baby teeth have a very thin layer of enamel (the hard outer surface of the teeth) covering them. Cavities can be infectious and spread, even causing infection in the adult teeth growing beneath them in certain cases.
First teeth usually make their appearance sometime between six months and one year of age, and they are vulnerable to tooth decay from the very moment they erupt in your baby’s mouth. Many problems can result from the associative pain that comes from tooth decay, including:
The child may experience difficulty eating correctly
The child’s overall health and development may be impacted
Untreated tooth decay can lead to infection, loss of teeth, and expensive restorative interventions
Early identification of pediatric dental problems and proper preventative treatment can prevent tooth decay and its associated issues.
5. You Can Save Money When You Take Your Child to the Dentist By Age One
A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics showed that children who first saw their dentist before age one had dental costs that were 40 percent lower in their first five years of life, than children who did not. The reason is most likely because the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary due to poor oral health can be quite costly. A scientific paper published in the journal Pediatric Dentistry revealed that children who wait to have their first dental visit until age two or three are more likely to require restorative and emergency visits than those who started seeing the dentist by age one.
Set Up an Appointment for Your Child at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry
Ready to “Get it Done in Year One?” Call us today at (801) 294-8880 to set up an appointment. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Do I need a pediatric dentist? What’s the difference between a general dentist and pediatric dentist anyway?
Parents come to our pediatric dentistry with these questions often. Many times, the thought of using a dentist specifically for children doesn’t even cross one’s mind until they become a parent themselves.
Maybe your child’s teeth are just coming in and you want to get them started on routine cleanings as soon as possible. Perhaps your child is dealing with tooth decay and in need of dental treatments. Whatever the case may be, we are happy to educate you!
Check out our video where Jason Horgesheimer, DDS and Chuck Odion, DDS explain the difference between a general dentist and a pediatric dentist:
What is a General Dentist?
A general dentist is one who does not specialize in a particular area of dentistry, such as pediatrics, endodontics, or orthodontists, rather they provide a wide range of services. The primary goal of a general dentist is to prevent oral health diseases and promote healthy teeth and smiles. In fact, according to a study published by the Journal of the American Dental Association, nearly 65 percent of all dental procedures are diagnostic or preventative.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric dentists must complete a two-year residency program after they’ve completed the education required to be a general dentist. During this time, a dentist will acquire experience and skills working with young patients. Knowledge is gained during residency programs for pediatric dentists in the areas of:
Child psychology
Child-related pharmacology
Child development
Safe pediatric sedation practices
Dental Care is Important for Babies
Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children should see a dentist when their very first tooth comes in? At the earliest, the recommendation is six months, and at the latest, by their first birthday. It’s during this time in life that your child’s first teeth are making their appearance. During the first visit, your dentist will be able to assess the health of those teeth. Following that visit, it’s recommended that they see their dentist every six months.
Sadly, many children never see a dentist until there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Anxiety, stress, and unnecessary fear of the dentist may result in children who were not given a proper introduction and an opportunity to get familiar with the staff and setting of a dental office until they are actually in pain or require treatment.
What are the Advantages of Taking Your Children to a Pediatric Dentist?
Despite the fact that specialized pediatric dentists are available, many parents only take their children to a general dentist, or worse, no dentist at all. A general dentist is able to provide care for your child, but the following are several advantages of using a pediatric dentist.
Pediatric Dentists Can Help Prevent Dental Problems
Like general dentists, pediatric dentists also promote and teach the importance of preventative care with their patients. Children are highly susceptible to tooth decay for a variety of reasons. Dentists who specialize in pediatrics can offer treatments designed to help prevent tooth decay in young patients, such as:
Sealants
Fluoride Treatments
Space Maintainers
In the long run, it’s much easier and less painful to prevent tooth decay rather than to treat and react to problems after they arise. Pediatric dentists are quite familiar with the types of dental problems children deal with, which makes them highly trained to help prevent these from occurring.
Pediatric Dentists Have More Experience Working with Children
Pediatric dentists work exclusively with children. As such, it goes without saying they will most definitely have more experience working with kids than would a general dentist who works with people of all ages.
Why do you want a dentist with lots of experience working with children? Children have unique dental needs. Their teeth are more susceptible to cavities. For children, losing teeth is a normal part of growth and development. This is vastly different from adults whose teeth will be their last set in life!
In addition to having unique dental treatment needs, they also behave differently than adults. Some pediatric patients experience a great deal of stress and fear when it comes to dental treatments. This anxiety is enhanced when they are not used to visiting the dentist, or they have extensive dental treatment needs. Pediatric dentists, such as Dr. Jason Horgesheimer, Dr. Clark Walker, and Dr. Chuck Odion have unique experience in:
Talking with children
Dealing with their emotions around dental treatments
Easing their fears
Working with children who have cognitive, behavioral, or developmental special needs
Both of our pediatric dentists gained experience by working alongside hundreds of patients in a children’s hospital for training, making them well prepared to deal with pediatric dental patients every day.
Pediatric Dentists Know How to Help Children with their Dental Habits
Adults already know how to brush and floss their teeth regularly. As general dentists will typically re-iterate the importance of these habits, it’s unlikely they need to provide instructions on how to do so. With kids, it’s a bit different.
Children typically need a lot of help when it comes to learning how to brush and floss their teeth regularly. Pediatric dentists need to consistently work with their young patients to help them develop healthy dental habits for life. In addition to providing things like fun toothbrushes and toothpaste, pediatric dentists can also help parents develop plans to encourage children to properly care for their teeth.
Pediatric Dental Offices are (Usually) Less Scary than General Dentist Practices
Visiting the dentist can be scary. Even for adult patients, stepping into a dentist office can cause a bit of anxiety. Pediatric dentists are quite aware of this stress and go the extra mile to make sure kids are comfortable when visiting the dentist.
At South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we use smaller dental equipment that is specially designed to fit comfortably in children’s mouths. Each piece of equipment is introduced to the children just one tool at a time and an explanation is given as to why they are needed. By speaking with children and explaining each piece of equipment to them, the fear of the process is erased, without overwhelming the child all at once.
Pediatric Dentists Have More Training than General Dentists
All dentists have a bachelor’s degree and four years of dental school education, but pediatric dentists go even further in their training. In addition to the foundational education requirements, pediatric dentists go through an additional two years of specialized training, just as Dr. Jason and Dr. Chuck explain in the video.
During those additional two to three years of training, there is a special focus given to:
The treatment of developing teeth
Child psychology and behavior
How to make children comfortable at the dentist
Children’s physical growth and development
Special requirements for children’s dentistry
Treatment of children with special needs
Safe and effective pediatric sedation techniques
Are You Searching for a Pediatric Dentist in Davis County?
We can’t wait to talk to you! Children visit us from North Salt Lake, West Bountiful, Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, and Kaysville for their pediatric dental needs. Get in touch with us today at our pediatric dentistry to set up an appointment for your child. Call us at (801) 294-8880.
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