Pediatric Dental Center is a dental and orthodontic practice providing services for children from infancy through adolescence and also orthodontic services for adults.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recomments an Infant Oral Examination by age one

Your child's introduction to oral care should actually begin soon after birth. Gently clean your baby's gums after feedings with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze. This will get your child used to having fingers in his mouth and having his mouth looked at.

A child's introduction to professional dental care should ideally take place between six months and one year. Oral infectious diseases (cavities) begin in infancy when bacteria start to inhabit the mouth. These bacteria produce acids and toxins harmful to the teeth and gingiva (gums). They increase in number as more teeth erupt and dietary practices become more sophisticated. Therefore, traditional first dental visits at age 3 years is no longer appropriate. Most cavities in 5 year old children start to develop before age 3. The earlier your begin, the better chance your pediatric dentist has to prevent problems.

Dentist and Baby

An oral examination by 1 year of age is based on the same premise as a well-child care medical visit. Preventive education given at this visit may involve oral development, nutrition and diet, oral hygiene, fluoride assessment, injury prevention, and the importance of the primary (baby) teeth. Also, by starting dental visits at an early age you will help your child develop a lifetime of good dental habits.

Your one year old is not expected to sit in the dental chair and have his teeth cleaned and fluoride applied. Instead, the hygienist will ask you questions about his development, medical history, nursing and eating habits. Another important part of the first visit is counseling you, the parent. The hygienist will demonstrate the best way and the best time to brush your child's teeth. She will also consult with you on his diet. This includes what foods are eaten and how often. Your child will then lie down on your lap and the pediatric dentist will perform an oral exam. The doctor is checking to see how his teeth are developing, looking for decay, and the detrimental effects of oral habits, such as thumb-sucking and pacifiers. The doctor will also identify your child's fluoride needs. If you don't live in a fluoridated water community, fluoride drops or tablets might be prescribed.

The most frequent sentiment expressed by parents of young children undergoing extensive dental treatment is the lack of preventive information readily available to them. A visit to the pediatric dentist by age 1 will give you the information needed to avoid many of these problems. The well-child care dental visit could turn out to be your child's single most important dental visit of his lifetime, possibly saving your child many less pleasant and more costly dental visits later.

Talk to your child in a positive matter of fact way about going to the pediatric dentist.
Emphasize that a pediatric dentist is a doctor who helps kids take care of their teeth.
If the doctor prefers, let your child go into the treatment room alone.
Set a good example – brush and floss your own teeth daily and visit the dentist regularly.

Bribe your child into going to the pediatric dentist.
Use a dental visit as a punishment.
Let your child know you feel any anxiety about going to the dentist.
If possible, don't let anyone tell your child scary stories about dental visits.
Use words like hurt, pain, needle, drill, shot, etc.

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