Kids’ Dental Treatment BRUSHING UP ON EARLY CARE

Some parents believe that primary (baby) teeth are less important than permanent teeth because they are going to “fall out anyway.” However, primary teeth are one of the key promoters to children’s facial growth and development.

When a baby is born, they are born with the full complement of their 20 baby teeth in their jaws waiting to erupt. Traditionally, eruption of the first tooth happens within the first six months of life, with most children seeing their bottom front teeth come through first. It is at this point that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends your child’s first dental visit. Most children can expect their full complement of 20 baby teeth by age three (see chart on the right for typical eruption order).

For babies with teeth to children age three, it is pertinent to begin simple brushing with a finger brush or children’s toothbrush, whatever is most tolerable to your child. Toothpaste, in the early stages of brushing, is less important than physically removing food and plaque from teeth. Brushing in the morning and with extra emphasis at night will help reduce the incidence

Of future tooth decay. In addition to brushing, to help avoid cavity inducing foods and drink, such as candies, fruit juices or pop will limit your child’s likelihood of cavities.

Outside of brushing and avoiding sugary foods, your dental provider can help reduce the likelihood that your child will develop dental decay through various methods. A pedestrian or dentist can paint on a fluoride varnish on their teeth, which conservatively shows a 37% reduction in tooth decay. Sealing the grooves of the back teeth when they erupt into the mouth has been shown to reduce tooth decay by 81%.

But even with the best of brushing and dental care, tooth decay can happen. Your dental provider can provide options for treatment based on the size and area of the decay. White fillings or silver crowns are the most popular treatment methods, which your dental provider can offer specifics for their recommendations based on your child’s cavities.

To ensure children have the best experience possible for their dental treatment, the following are our recommendations to make your child’s visit the best it can be.

• First, spend time familiarizing your child with laying back into your lap and opening their mouth to see their teeth. Secondly, avoid words like “shot,” “hurt” and “pain.” Avoid telling them any personal stories of dentistry gone wrong or personal bad experiences. Instead, tell them the dentist is there to clean their “sugar bugs” and count their teeth.

• Next, consider playing dentist at home.

• Have your child practice looking at your teeth and counting and then trading positions.

• Finally, when at the appointment, discuss with your provider whether they think your child would do best with you watching or with you sitting in the waiting room.

In addition to pediatric dental care, Great Plains Dental offers snoring and sleep dentistry, orthodontic and Invisalign treatment, preventive dentistry, general restorative dentistry, complex restorative treatment, Botox and cosmetic dentistry including crowns, veneers and implant services. Great Plains Dental started in Sioux Falls as McKinney Family Dentistry in 1997. From a small four-chair practice and one dentist, it has grown to 19 chairs and five dentists. While the practice has grown, its commitment of treating every patient like family has remained the same. It offers services that are designed to provide patients with the best possible dental experience and the highest-rated dental care.

5121 South Solberg Ave. Suite 120

Sioux Falls, SD 57108

605.339.2955

GreatPlainsDental.com

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