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Pediatric Dentist

Nov 09

Should a pediatric dentist or a pediatrician apply fluoride varnish?

By Pediatric Dentist

Should a primary care dentist or a pediatric dentist do fluoride varnish on my kids’ teeth? I took my 2 kids for their annual physical and the doctor did an oral exam for both of them. She suggested that I schedule an appointment for them to get fluoride varnish on their teeth. Neither of the kids have been to the dentist yet. They are 1 ½ and 2 ½ years old. Did I wait too long to take them to a dentist. I’m not going to let a primary care doctor do any dental work. Is this common? Should I take them to a pediatric dentist or can they wait to get fluoride varnish? – Galina

Galina – Both pediatric dentists and pediatricians coat kids’ teeth with fluoride varnish. It’s safe, preventive care to help prevent tooth decay. The entire white surface of teeth is coated with the varnish.

How Pediatric Dentists Apply Fluoride Varnish

It’s easy:

  • Your kids’ teeth will be cleaned and dried.
  • Varnish is painted on the teeth—from the gumline to the top.
  • The varnish will harden in a few minutes.
  • The varnish needs time to penetrate the teeth, so you’ll wait until the next day before brushing your kids’ teeth.
  • Although the outer layer of varnish will brush off, the varnish itself will have penetrated your kids’ teeth and help protect them from cavities.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist when their first tooth erupts. Tooth eruption allows a pediatric dentist to see if teeth are developing properly. The dentist can also look for signs of disease or improper spacing or eruption. Any problems can be caught early so permanent teeth can be healthy and correctly positioned.

Schedule Consultations

Schedule consultations with two or three pediatric dentists and take your kids with you. It will give you a chance to see the office, meet the staff, and determine if you and your children will be comfortable there.

Aug 16

Does My Breastfed Baby Need a Pediatric Dentist Checkup?

By Pediatric Dentist

Do breastfed babies really need to see a pediatric dentist for a checkup? I’m getting conflicting information. My son is nine months old and has been exclusively breastfed the entire time. We’re now starting to introduce some table foods when he shows an interest in them.

He has only had teeth for a couple of months and, because nursing is not the same as formula feeding, I don’t see any value in scheduling a visit. Is there a real reason a checkup is recommended regardless of how the baby is fed, or is it ok for low-risk groups (like breastfed babies) to skip the one-year checkup? – Alya

Alya – This is a great question! Many parents wonder when they should take their child for a first pediatric dentist’s visit. You made a lot of good points. Breastfeeding is totally different from formula/ bottle feeding.

First, the content is naturally different. Secondly, the mechanics are different. Instead of bringing the formula into his mouth where it would pool with a bottle, he pulls it farther back, which stimulates the natural swallow response, and very little (if any) tooth exposure happens.

Moreover, there is mounting evidence that breastfeeding may actually protect children against cavities. If the mom has built up enough cavity-fighting bacteria, she can share that in her milk, so it would seem these little ones have a whole lot going for them and might not need to see a pediatric dentist. But, it’s never that simple.

Breastfed Babies Need to See Pediatric Dentists for Checkups

There are many reasons why it’s wise to get your son’s teeth checked out by a pediatric dentist.

Genetics: Your baby’s teeth started developing in the womb. If there’s anything abnormal about his oral development, it’s good to catch and treat it early.

Bacteria: Parents usually share food with their kids. What they don’t realize is that they are sharing bacteria as well. This can be beneficial because some bacteria are good and help keep your oral health balanced. It fights off the bad bacteria that cause cavities. On the other hand, it can be bad, because you’re also sharing cavity-causing bacteria. Studies have shown that parents with periodontal disease and cavities have higher levels of bad bacteria. And they almost always pass it off to their kids through kisses and sharing food.

Cavities: Even exclusively breastfed (EBF) babies who haven’t received cavity-causing germs can still get cavities. At this point, there’s nothing to suggest they are at a higher risk, but it is possible that an EBF baby could still pool milk in his mouth if he falls asleep eating. That ferments and goes bad. Whether or not it causes cavities, science has not conclusively decided, but it certainly has the potential.

Follow Good Oral Hygiene Practices to Be Safe

The first pediatric dental visit is quick, and most insurances cover it in full. If spending a few minutes in the office can help you and your child avoid future dental problems, it’s well worth it. Yes, you’ll likely be told your son is fine, but how would you feel if he wasn’t and you could have helped him before something became a real problem?

Meanwhile, be sure you’re brushing your son’s teeth or using a special wipe/tool to clean his teeth after he eats and before bed. You can also offer him water after meals to help rinse away residue. Although these are only his primary teeth, they will impact the health of his adult teeth. It’s important to establish good practices early.

Jul 26

Three tips for finding a new pediatric dentist

By Pediatric Dentist

Since May, I’ve been looking for a new pediatric dentist for my kids. I thought I found the right one, so I scheduled an appointment for my kids in mid-June. They went for their first cleaning appointment, but the kids don’t like the dentist and neither do I.

I think that the dentist seems too much in a hurry. She seems like she really doesn’t like kids either. I asked her how many children she has, and she looked at me and said, “Are you kidding? None.” Why would I have been kidding, and why would she respond like that to me as the parent of her patients? It was rude. Based on her response with my children I was wondering if she likes kids at all. It does help me understand her behavior toward her patients, though.

Now my search is back on, but I don’t want to keep putting my children through experiences like these. I want to get it right before their next cleaning in December. How can I find the right pediatric dentist for my kids? Thank you. – Xenia

Xenia – There are several ways to find reliable information on a pediatric dentist. There is a lot of information online and there are other things you can do to help make your search successful. We have several suggestions:

Patient reviews – You can find candid patient reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Read each review carefully, and look for details provided about the care received. Keep in mind that for each dentist, you can find good and bad reviews, but the negative reviews should be few. Don’t be overly alarmed about a few negative reviews, but pay attention to details given for reasons that a patient or parent isn’t satisfied. Ensure the dentist has plenty of reviews for you to be able to make a good decision.

Recommendations from people you know – If you have friends, family members, or co-workers who have children, ask them about their pediatric dentist. If you know their kids, ask the parent for permission to speak with the kids about their dentist. Ask them what they do or don’t like about their dentist. Sometimes the best recommendations come from referrals.

Request a complimentary visit – It provides an opportunity for you and your kids to see the dentist’s office, meet staff members, and meet at least one dentist in the practice before you schedule exams for your kids. Let the scheduler know you are looking for a new dentist. If an office refuses to schedule a complimentary visit, it’s probably not the best option for you and your kids anyway. A complimentary visit will give you a chance to see how your children respond in the environment and how staff members respond to children.

Best wishes.

Jun 28

How long can my teenage twins stay at the pediatric dentist?

By Pediatric Dentist

I have 17 yr old twins who still see their pediatric dentist. I’ve tried to encourage them to start going to my family dentist but they don’t want to do it. I’ve spoken with their pediatric dentist about it too but she doesn’t seem to see the need for them to change. I am concerned about the wisdom teeth stage and any other adult oral health problems that might come up and the pediatric dentist isn’t trained to handle them. Then the girls will have to switch to my dentist and there will be no transition time. Does this make sense? I’m trying to be reasonable about this, but at the same time just need to know if there are some factors I haven’t considered. Do we need to switch the girls to my family dentist? Miriam

Miriam – There are no age rules for when your teenagers have to switch from a pediatric dentist to a family dentist. Many family dentists see children from their early years through adulthood. As children mature, a pediatric dentist’s office environment and young patient base often make them want to progress to a new dentist. But if your children are still comfortable there, it’s not necessary for them to move on just yet.

Generally, after age 18, a pediatric dentist will refer children to a general dentist. Some offices allow them to stay longer. Although it’s not the case with your children, some pediatric dentists even retain certain special needs patients.

Over the next year or two, on occasion, you can speak with your children about their transition to your family dentist. Ask them to come with you to a dental appointment so they can see the office and meet the staff. When the time is right, their pediatric dentist can also explain why it’s time to switch.

If your teenagers aren’t experiencing any major dental issues, it’s best to let the switch happen naturally. They will gradually become more comfortable with the idea of going to your family dentist.

May 15

Pediatric dentist doesn’t know how to fix my son’s teeth with bonding

By Pediatric Dentist

I took my son to the pediatric dentist after he chipped 3 of his top front teeth while playing basketball. He is 14 yrs old. Caps aren’t necessary and there was no internal damage to his teeth. The dentist basically said, “No problem. I can make it look like his teeth were never chipped.” She was so confident that I didn’t ask any questions about how much bonding experience she has or anything. Last week my son got the bonding. When the dentist was finished, I thought it was a joke. It looks like she didn’t even try to match the bonding with my son’s teeth and it’s lumpy. I wanted to cry for my son, but I was trying to be strong for him. Truthfully, it’s the hottest mess I’ve ever seen. I can’t ask her to do it over because I don’t trust her.  How do we get the bonding off? I would rather see my son with chipped teeth than globs of bonding that look like gravel on his teeth. Thanks. Tabitha

Tabitha – Your son’s experience is unfortunate. Chipped teeth can be traumatic enough, but when a pediatric dentist tries to restore them, and it goes bad, it can make the situation worse.

You won’t be able to remove the bonding. If you try to, it can damage your son’s teeth even further. We recommend that you find a pediatric dentist with post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, or find a cosmetic dentist who accepts teenagers as patients.

A cosmetic dentist has a variety of composite colors and tools to ensure the restoration is seamless. That’s something you won’t find in the vast majority of pediatric dental offices. The good news is that chairside bonding can be completed in a single appointment. After you find a trained cosmetic dentist, your son can leave the office with a restored smile and more confidence.

Schedule consultations with two cosmetic dentists first. It will help you select the right dentist to remove the bumpy bonding and conceal your son’s chipped teeth.

You can kindly explain to your son’s pediatric dentist that it’s important to you and your son for the restoration to be invisible. A reasonable pediatric dentist will understand.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Apr 11
A picture of a little girl holding big fake teeth for a blog post about pediatric dental x-rays on a 4 year old

Should the pediatric dentist do x-rays on a young child?

By Pediatric Dentist

Starting at age 2 I take all of my kids to the pediatric dentist. X-rays are not something that any of my older children got when they were so young. But my youngest daughter is now 4 years old. Over the past 2 dental checkups, she has had 4 cavities. On her last appointment, our pediatric dentist took x-rays.

I know she is concerned about the cavities, but why can’t she just fill the teeth without the x-rays. Naturally, I’m concerned about the radiation on a young child.

Is it normal to do x-rays on young kids? I’m not really sure why my daughter is getting cavities. I don’t give my kids sugar at all and I make sure all of their teeth are brushed and flossed every day. I’m just concerned. What’s your take on the x-rays? Simone

Simone – Your concern about your children’s oral health and overall health is completely understandable. Your daughter’s pediatric dentist likely took x-rays for good reasons.

Reasons a Pediatric Dentist Might Take X-rays

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) doesn’t have set guidelines on age for dental x-rays. The Guideline on Prescribing Dental Radiographs for Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Persons with Special Health Care Needs states that diagnostic studies should be based on each patient’s needs, not on age alone.

The AAPD has recommendations for when dental x-rays for a child patient might be needed, regardless of age. The recommendations are based on certain conditions, some of which are listed below:

  • A history of dental caries, or cavities – Posterior bitewing x-rays every 6 to 12 months if the teeth can’t be examined visually or with a probe.
  • Tooth pain or trauma
  • Family history of unusual dental issues
  • Periodontal (gum) disease
  • Loose teeth
  • Unexplained bleeding or sensitivity
  • Unusual characteristics of teeth, including abnormal eruption, growth/development, color, or other unusual factors
  • Erosion
  • Swelling

Some Interesting Facts

  • There is minimal radiation exposure with dental x-rays.
  • Every year, we are exposed to natural background radiation from air, wind, water, the ground, and other environmental factors. Millisievert (mSv) is the measurement used for radiation exposure.
  • The mSv of natural background radiation is greater than the exposure from dental x-rays.
  • Visit the Image Gently website for a comparison chart of natural background radiation and dental x-rays.

Safety First

Although dental x-rays are safe, extra care is taken with radiographs for children. For example:

  • X-rays are not given as a routine, but only when necessary.
  • Patients are protected with a thyroid shield and an apron to minimize exposure.
  • Exposure parameters are set as slow as possible.
  • X-ray exposure time is shortened because children have smaller teeth than adults.

Speak with your children’s pediatric dentist for additional information on why x-rays are needed for your daughter. Learn about the safety precautions that are taken to minimize your daughter’s exposure. Cooperate with the dentist to help identify underlying causes of the recurring cavities to help limit future cavities and improve your daughter’s oral health.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 23

Can a pediatric dentist help my daughter stop swallowing toothpaste?

By Pediatric Dentist

My 4 year old daughter likes to swallow toothpaste. Can a pediatric dentist help her? I’ve already talked to her, given her time out, and taken her to our family dentist, but she keeps swallowing it. I do only give her a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on her brush, so it’s not much, but she swallows it almost every time. She puts the toothbrush in her mouth, swallows the paste, and then brushes her teeth. She thinks it’s funny for some reason. I’m not sure what to do about this other than take her to a pediatric dentist for a second opinion. Your thoughts? Thanks. Jill

Jill – We understand your concern. It’s good that you’re taking precautions by only giving your daughter a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. But it shouldn’t be swallowed on an ongoing basis. If it contains fluoride, swallowing large amounts of toothpaste can cause stomach pain, intestinal problems, breathing problems, and other medical issues.

Usually, an experienced pediatric dentist has treated many more children than a family dentist. He or she might have helped other patients with the same issue. Also, a pediatric dentist has experience with different behaviors in children and can offer practical suggestions.

We have a few suggestions, too:

  • Closely supervise when your daughter brushes her teeth.
  • Reward her with something meaningful when she doesn’t swallow her toothpaste.
  • Time-outs aren’t working, so consider withholding a privilege she really enjoys if she swallows toothpaste.
  • Instead of allowing her to brush her own teeth, brush them for her until the habit is under control.
  • Keep the toothpaste out of your daughter’s reach.
  • Choose a toothpaste flavor that your daughter doesn’t like.
  • Use organic or natural toothpaste. Your dentist can ensure your daughter’s teeth have enough fluoride.
  • Be patient, kind, and consistent with helping your daughter make improvement.

If you schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist, he or she can give you more suggestions to help your daughter break the habit. Your daughter might respond better if the dentist speaks with her about the habit. It’s likely a temporary phase that will improve with time.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jan 24

Should I take my son to the pediatric dentist when he loses a tooth?

By Pediatric Dentist

I am wondering if I should take my son to the pediatric dentist if he loses another tooth. He is 7 yrs old and has lost 2 baby teeth this month. I am starting to worry that if he is going to continue to lose multiple teeth that something might be wrong. Am I over reacting or is this okay as long as the teeth that are lost are replaced with permanent teeth? Thank you. Danielle

Danielle – When a child loses a primary tooth naturally, generally there is no reason to see a pediatric dentist. If your child loses a tooth prematurely or from trauma, or if there appears to be unusual complications associated with the tooth loss, call your son’s pediatric dentist.

You might benefit from reviewing the Permanent Tooth Eruption Chart from the American Dental Association. It provides a diagram of the teeth and their numbers, and it shows when primary teeth are placed by permanent teeth.

As the chart shows, there are several permanent teeth that erupt between 6 and 7, and 7 and 8 years of age. Compare the teeth numbers on the chart with the teeth that your son has lost. This guide will help you determine if your son’s tooth loss is natural or if there might be an underlying problem.

At this point, it doesn’t seem necessary to contact your son’s pediatric dentist. But sometimes, peace of mind is the best resolution. You can decide if there are other circumstances that are causing your concern. Don’t hesitate to contact the dentist just to check for underlying problems with your son’s oral health. If there is a problem found, early treatment can prevent it from becoming worse.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 07

Can I get a pediatric dentist to do porcelain crowns for my 10 yr old’s front teeth?

By Pediatric Dentist, Porcelain Crown

My 10 year old had an ice skating accident 3 weeks ago and chipped her front teeth almost in half. The pediatric dentist put crowns on her teeth but they don’t look good. My daughter is self-conscious about her appearance. There is enough stress for kids in school without her worrying about her teeth. She is hesitant to smile because she thinks people are looking at her teeth. I guess our dentist did the best she could but I am really thinking about getting another dentist to do porcelain crowns for my daughter. Do pediatric dentists do porcelain crowns for front teeth? Thanks Elaynna

Elaynna – Our first concern is the health of your daughter’s teeth. When a tooth is broken in half, there might be nerve damage to it. If so, a root canal treatment is needed. Has the pediatric dentist determined if there is any internal damage to your daughter’s teeth? If not, you should request a thorough examination.

Most pediatric dentists are not trained in cosmetic dentistry. But you can visit a cosmetic dentist to receive ceramic crowns for your daughter’s teeth. Before you request certain cosmetic treatment, schedule an appointment for an examination.

Before you make a final decision, there are several things to consider:

  • As your daughter grows, her teeth and jawbone will also get larger. Porcelain crowns will need to be periodically replaced.
  • Your daughter’s natural teeth will need to be tapered so the crowns will fit over them.
  • Depending on the extent of damage, an alternative is to use direct dental bonding to restore the broken teeth. A talented cosmetic dentist can use bonding to seamlessly fill in the missing portion of each tooth.
  • When your daughter’s physical growth is complete, porcelain crowns can be used to restore her teeth—if that’s necessary at all.

We suggest that you schedule appointments with two or three cosmetic dentists or prosthodontists. Compare the options provided by each dentist to determine the best way to restore your daughter’s teeth based on her age.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 25

Why does my daughter’s pediatric dentist keep finding cavities?

By Pediatric Dentist

Every time I take our 9 yr old to her pediatric dentist for a checkup and cleaning, she has at least one new cavity. I don’t understand this, because every day I watch and assist her as she flosses and brushes her teeth, and still she gets cavities. The pediatric dentist’s questions make me feel like she thinks we don’t know how to floss and brush correctly.

I took the extra step to ask the dental hygienist to make sure we were doing things the right way. She was very kind and gave us some tips, but there is nothing major that we weren’t doing. By the way, I strictly limit my daughter doesn’t drink soda, and I limit her sweets to one day twice a month. Why is she getting so many cavities? Thank you – Nevis

Nevis – It is frustrating to be proactive about your daughter’s oral health and still see her have repeatedly have cavities. Speak with your daughter’s pediatric dentist about your concerns and ask for her help.

If she is maintaining good oral hygiene, there may be other factors that are contributing to the cavities. Diet, medication, health issues, vitamins, and genetics can affect our oral health. Ensure that your daughter drinks plenty of water throughout the day to reduce the amount of acid in her mouth, which promotes bacteria and decay.

It is also possible that your daughter’s cavities are related to a medical condition. Ask your daughter’s dentist for recommendations on extra steps that you can take to help fight cavities, or that the dentist can provide to help. If the pediatric dentist is unable to determine the cause of the cavities, your daughter’s pediatrician can look for medical conditions that might be contributing to tooth decay.

If no problem is found with your daughter’s physical health, the problem might still be related to oral health. If her pediatric dentist can’t seem to identify the source of the issue, consider getting a second opinion.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

 

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