West Hills Dentist | West Hills dental care | | FAQ'S

What is a Pediatric Dentist?

What is a pediatric dentist and how do they differ from "regular dentists"? Well, in a nutshell, a pediatric dentist is a specialist who is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years. During this "growth" phase of a child, special approaches are needed in dealing with their behavior, and guiding their dental growth and development in order to avoid future dental problems. Children are our only patients, and all our training is devoted to meeting their specialized needs.

Did you know pediatric dentists have an additional two to three years of post-doctoral training to acquaint them with the special needs and remedies available to children? That's right! In addition to learning the most up-to-date treatments available for a wide variety of children's dental problems, we also learn how to deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable about the treatment they are receiving, and to make the experience pleasant, and not fearful! Additionally, we are trained and qualified to treat special needs and medically compromised patients.

There are many areas of prevention and care that are unique to children which the pediatric dentist is specifically trained to identify, treat, and prevent. Just as parents would choose a pediatrician for their child's medical needs, it is important to see a pediatric dentist early so that you can get information and guidance on the unique needs of your growing child, what to anticipate, and how to prevent problems.

Your Child's First Dental Visit

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions.

Why Are The Primary Teeth So Important?

It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front 4 teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) aren't replaced until age 10-13.

Dental X-Rays

Radiographs (X-Rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child's dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed.

X-Rays detect much more than cavities. For example, X-Rays may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. X-Rays allow dentists to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child and more affordable for you.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends X-rays and examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. On average, most pediatric dentists request radiographs approximately once a year. Approximately every 3 years it is a good idea to obtain a complete set of radiographs, either a panoramic and bitewings or periapicals and bitewings.

Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, the dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today's equipment filters out unnecessary X-rays and restricts the X-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film and proper shielding assure that your child receives very minimal radiation exposure.

What's the best way to brush?

Technique is important:

For infants dentists often recommend that parents use a simple gentle, short back and forth motion to brush and remove plaque.

On outer and inner surfaces. Place tooth brush at a 45 degree angle, start along the gum line, and use gentle, short, tooth wide strokes against the gum line. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt the brush vertically, use gentle up and down strokes with the toe of the brush. Brush the tongue. Use a back and forth sweeping motion to remove food particles and freshen your child's mouth. Remember to gently brush the roof of the mouth. Brush teeth long enough to thoroughly clean all tooth surfaces. The brushing motion itself helps remove stains, so don't under-estimate the effectiveness.

What's the best way to floss?

Proper flossing is important in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If you have trouble reaching the back areas of your child's mouth ask your dentist about the use of a floss holder or other types of interdental cleaning aides.

	1. Wind adequate lengths of floss around your middle fingers.
	2. Gently glide floss between teeth. To remove plaque and debris gently move floss up and down, against the tooth. As you move from tooth to tooth use a fresh section of floss each time.

Good Diet = Healthy Teeth

Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese which are healthier and better for children's teeth.

Soft Drinks:

Excessive Carbonic and Phosphoric Acid from soft drink consumption can literally eat away tooth enamel. These teeth usually have a polished appearance, which is the inner portion of the tooth called the dentin. Dentin, unlike enamel is very soft and susceptible to cavities. Once a cavity begins in the dentin it can spread very rapidly. The phosphoric acid in soft drinks can make a considerable contribution of phosphorous to a diet when consumed on a daily basis. Investigators at Washington state university measured the phosphate content of 13 widely distributed soft drinks. They found that the phosphorous content was highest in cola drinks and lower in fruit and spice flavored beverages.

Eruption of Your Child's Teeth

Children's teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.

Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.

Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).

When will my babies teeth come in?

Primary Teeth	Eruption Begins	Shedding Begins
Central Incisors	6-8 Mos.	6-8 Yrs.
Lateral Incisors	7-9 Mos.	7-8 Yrs.
Cuspids	16-18 Mos.	9-12 Yrs.
First Molars	12-14 Mos.	9-10 Yrs.

Anatomy of a Tooth

What Dental Decay looks like


Baby Bottle Decay