FAQ

Just as a pediatrician treats your child’s health needs, a pediatric dentist is trained to treat your child’s oral needs. Some Dentists are not well equipped with pediatric instruments or adept at handling behavioral issues that come with treating little “Sprouts.” Our office is a vibrant place where your son or daughter will be welcomed and encouraged to learn and practice great oral hygiene habits.

Teething, the process of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. In general, the first baby teeth that appear are usually the lower front teeth and they begin erupting between the ages of six and eight months.

Age 1. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend having your child’s first dental checkup at age 1 or when the first tooth erupts.

Play mimicking games with your child to “open wide.” Use a washcloth to wipe your child’s teeth after each feeding. Have your child see you actively participating in good oral habits like brushing and flossing. Most importantly, maintain a positive attitude! A child will notice apprehension and fear from a parent.

If you or your child are nervous about his or her first visit, you can bring your child in for a pre-tour of our office. Also, show your child pictures of our office and team on our website. Let your child know that it is important to keep his or her teeth and gums healthy, and that Dr. Amanda is excited to meet them and is there to help!

Primary or “baby” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew, they also assist in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to come in. It is important to start introducing your child to good oral hygiene habits and regular dental check-ups when they are little sprouts, to ensure a long life with good oral health.

Dental caries (dental decay) is the most common chronic disease of childhood. If your child is diagnosed with cavities, a comprehensive treatment approach will be employed. Since the cause of the dental decay is bacterial in nature, restoring the cavities is not enough. The comprehensive approach must address controlling the bacteria and identifying the steps for prevention of future decay. If this is not done, your child will continue to develop new cavities in untreated areas.

You can definitely play a role in decreasing your child’s risk for baby bottle tooth decay. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as he or she approaches their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle containing anything but water.

Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is two years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child’s teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used after age two, the child should be supervised to make sure he or she uses a ‘smear’ of toothpaste, just enough to create foam on the toothbrush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing. After age three, a pea-sized amount is recommended.

After feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down and place the child’s head in your lap. Children and adults should have their teeth brushed at least two times every day.

Fluoride helps your child’s teeth remain strong and healthy. Getting an appropriate amount of fluoride until the age of 16 is necessary to allow proper enamel development.

X-rays (radiographs) are an important 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. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child and more affordable for you. Pediatric dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. At Sprout, we use digital technology and have the most state of the art dental X-rays equipment available. 

We invite you to accompany your child during his or her checkup appointments. As the little Sprouts gain confidence, we request that you allow your child to come back with our dental team for future appointments. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult. We are happy to talk to you about our privacy policy for treatment and sedation appointments.

Very important. A daily diet should include all the major food groups of meat/fish/eggs, vegetable/fruit, bread/cereal, as well as milk and other dairy products. Snacking and high sugar content items should be limited for Sprouts.

A sealant refers to a plastic material that bonds into the grooves of the chewing surface of a tooth to prevent the formation of dental decay.

A mouthguard protects teeth from possible sports injuries. In addition, it also protects the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw bone. Most injuries occur to the mouth and head area when a child is not wearing a mouthguard. A custom mouthguard can provide the most comfort and best fit for your child’s mouth. Ask Dr. Amanda if a mouthguard will be beneficial for your child!

Every six months. By seeing your child every six months, we can clean the teeth so they are free of plaque and tartar before serious problems develop. Children grow and change very quickly, so with regular check-ups, Dr. Amanda will not only check for dental decay, but also observe any irregularities in the teeth spacing, bite, tooth mobility, and facial structure.