• Why should I choose a pediatric dentist?
• What to expect on your first visit?
• Why are primary teeth so important?
• When will my child's teeth start To come in?
• How do I take care of my baby's (or toddler's) teeth?
• Is thumb sucking okay?
• How do I help my child maintain a great smile?
• What is fluoride?
• What are sealants?
• What can be done to help straighten my child's teeth?
• Is there a sugar that is better for my child?
• My child seems so afraid. How can you help them relax?

Why should I choose a pediatric dentist?

We understand that choosing a dentist for your child is a very important decision and we want you to be confident in your choice. A pediatric dentist, or pedodontist, receives two additional years of post-doctoral training solely focused on dental problems specific to infants, children and adolescents. Because a pediatric dentist understands that every child's needs are different, they know how to make children (and their parents) feel comfortable during treatment, guide their dental growth and development, and help to avoid future dental problems.

You can be assured that our expertise in this area means that your child is receiving the best information and treatment from our specialist, Dr. Donald Ritchie. We focus on caring for children's teeth, staying informed of the most recent advances in dental procedures for kids, and making sure that you are our top priority.

What to expect on your first visit?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children should see a dentist before their first birthday. No matter what age, you can expect your child's first visit to be a positive one making sure that your child's oral health is headed on the right track. We will go over your child's health history, interact with your child, and eventually count their teeth. We also answer any questions that you may have about taking care of your child's teeth.

You, as a parent, can do many things to prepare your child for their dental visits. Practice counting their teeth and use positive language when discussing the dentist. There are also books that you can read that discuss a dental visit. Don't use words like "shot", "pull", "hurt", or "pain". These words will increase the anxiety in your child. We explain to your child what we are going to do in "kid friendly" language, so they know what to expect without increasing their fears.

We are committed to making your child's visit a pleasant one. We allow parents to come back into the treatment area, but we also like to have your child build a relationship with us. Sometimes this means having the child come back on his or her own or the parents leaving the treatment area once their child is settled. You are free to come back and check on your child at any time. We will escort you back to where you can see your child and see how they are doing. We look forward to working with you and your child to take care of their dental needs and making sure they stay healthy.

Why are primary teeth so important?

A healthy smile starts at birth. And it's very important to maintain dental health as soon as your child's first tooth appears. It is misleading to think that when baby teeth aren't in great shape, then we can wait to take better care of the new permanent ones that come in. However, neglected cavities in baby teeth can and frequently do lead to problems which affect your child's 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. Waiting to take care of these teeth can become quite painful, and costly, to treat down the road.

When will my child's teeth start to come in?

The teeth begin forming before your child is even born. The lower front teeth can start to come in as early as 4 months of age, but typically come in around 6 to 8 months of age. The timing can vary quite a bit even between siblings. However, all 20 primary teeth will normally have come in by the age of 3.
Permanent teeth start to erupt around age 6. The first ones to come in are usually the first molars in the back or the bottom two in the front. The process of losing teeth and having teeth come in will continue until around the age of 21, when the third molars erupt. However, as with the primary teeth, when the teeth come in will vary with each child.

It is important that as your child has teeth coming in, that they are evaluated on a regular basis. By doing regular evaluations, we can make sure that your child's teeth are developing properly and give tips on how to care for your child's teeth. We've included charts that show when teeth typically erupt and when they are lost, as your child continues to grow. These are just guidelines, though, so if your child doesn't follow this exactly, your child is more than likely still developing normally. If you do have questions or concerns, then call our office and we can take a look for you and address any concerns that you have.

Information about Tooth Eruption

 

 

 

 

How do I take care of my baby's (or toddler's) teeth?

Even with infants, it's important to start off with good oral health. You will want to keep your newborn's gums clean by gently rubbing them with a wet cloth. This will help your child to adjust to having his or her teeth brushed as they come in. Your child's teeth will start to erupt at about 6 months of age. At this point, you will want to use a flexible, soft-bristled child toothbrush and non-fluoridated toothpaste (Orajel training toothpaste, Tom's toothpaste, etc.) At the age of 3, begin using a pea size drop of toothpaste with fluoride. Make sure your child does not swallow the toothpaste and wipe out any excess after brushing.

It is also important to stop using a bottle by the age of 1 transitioning to a sippy cup. Whether you use a bottle or sippy cup, do not put your child to sleep with any drinks other than water. Milk, juice, or other sugary drinks will cause cavities to form in their teeth. Always remember to clean your child's teeth before placing them to bed.

Since some medications are more than 50% sugar, they can also cause cavities to form, Be sure to have your child rinse or brush after taking medications.

Limit your child's snacking and limit cereal, crackers, and sweets that can cause tooth decay. Click here for to read tips and advice from Dr. Ritchie on smart snacking.

Remember, we will review these topics with you as you bring your child in for regular visits and check-ups. If at any time you have questions about your child's oral health, please feel free to give us a call.

Is thumb sucking okay?

Thumb sucking or pacifier use is a completely normal habit for younger children and newborns. It provides security and most children stop between the ages of 2-4 years. If your newborn has the habit of sucking on his or her thumb, try to introduce a pacifier. A pacifier can be kept cleaner than their thumb. They are also easier to give up once the child reaches 3 -3 ½ years of age.

Some children, however, do not stop the habit. If they continue past the age of 4, then the upper front teeth may start to tip forward and the back teeth may start to develop a cross bite. We don't recommend trying to stop thumb or finger sucking until after the age of 4 ½. Everyone tends to get frustrated and the habit can actually become worse.

The best way to stop thumb sucking is to use positive reinforcement. Start out slowly in hourly increments and work your way up to daily increments. Give them a reward when they do not suck on their thumb. The reward can be as simple as a sticker to place on a sticker chart. Also, use gentle reminders as band aids or a sock on their hand. We can also encourage your child by discussing what can happen to their teeth if they continue to suck on their thumb. Usually with this discussion and the encouragement of the parents, the child will stop the thumb sucking habit.

If your child continues after these efforts, then an appliance may be recommended to help break the habit. The first molars are used to cement in an appliance that fits in the roof of the mouth. It is a reminder to the child not to place their finger or thumb in their mouth. It is usually worn for 3 to 6 months. We easily remove it once the habit is broken.

We work with the child and the parents to help stop the thumb sucking, so the teeth will come in properly. Bringing your child in for regular check-ups helps us to regularly evaluate your child and the development of their teeth. If we notice a habit causing a problem, then we will bring it to your attention and come up with solutions to help you and your child.

How do I help my child maintain a great smile?

There are many ways to help assure that your child has a healthy smile. One of the easiest ways is to make sure that proper brushing techniques are used. Children under 6 years of age should have an adult brush and floss their teeth. Children 6-8 should have an adult supervise them when brushing and flossing. Like children, adolescents and teenagers should brush twice a day and floss once a day. Adolescents should use a kids fluoridated toothpaste and teenagers can use an adult fluoridated toothpaste. It is also important to check and replace their brushes regularly. A new one should be provided every three months. You will also want to replace their toothbrush after a sickness.

Your child should visit the dentist every 6 months for a regular exam and cleaning. It is also important to watch for excessive tooth crowding and ask his or her dentist if an orthodontic consultation is needed. When visiting your dentist, he or she may recommend sealants to place on their adult first molars. This can help to prevent cavities from forming in the deep grooves and pits of their teeth.

At home, it is also important to avoid "sticky" snacks and drinks with lots of sugars. Too many of these will cause cavities to form. When playing sports, your child should also wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth. This can prevent damage to the teeth and also avoid dental emergencies.

With teenagers, parents need to monitor the eruption of their wisdom teeth and discuss with their dentist if they need to be removed. Parents also need to discuss the effects of smoking and other tobacco products. It is also important to discourage oral piercings. They can cause damage to the gum tissue and wearing away of tooth structure.

By taking these steps, and seeing the dentist regularly, we can avoid the problems associated with cavities and other dental needs. This will set your child on the right path to dental health as an adult and help prevent future dental work needing to be done.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a great way to strengthen the teeth and prevent decay. At our office, we have a new and improved way of providing fluoride treatments to your child. We use a fluoride varnish. It is gently painted onto the teeth and most kids prefer the flavors over other types of fluoride treatments. The varnish stays on the teeth for a longer period of time allowing the teeth to receive more of the benefits of the fluoride. They are able to drink and eat after it is applied without having to wait as with other fluoride treatments.

After the fluoride varnish is applied, there are some recommendations to make sure that your child is getting the maximum benefits from the application. We do ask that they eat a softer diet for the rest of the day and that they do not brush or floss the night after the fluoride varnish is applied. They can resume regular brushing and flossing the next morning.

Fluoride treatments are a great way to prevent cavities and the new fluoride varnish is a great way to make sure that your child is getting the maximum benefits from a fluoride treatment.

What are sealants?

Sealants are a great way to help prevent cavities from forming in your child's teeth. They are easy to place and less expensive than having fillings done. There are deep grooves and pits in the teeth that are difficult to keep clean. The sealants are flowed into these grooves and are hardened, making a nice smooth surface. This keeps food and bacteria that cause tooth decay from getting into these hard to clean areas.

It is important to place sealants as their molars come in. The sooner they are placed, the less likely they will get decay in these teeth. Sometimes, we may recommend placing sealants in some of the other teeth that have deep grooves. This could be their "baby" teeth or their premolars. Anything we can do to prevent decay, will benefit your child in the long run. It prevents them from having to undergo dental procedures and will avoid them having toothaches. We are here to take care of your child's dental problems, but our main goal is to prevent them from having any. Sealants are a great way to help us do that.

What can be done to help straighten my child's teeth?

A baby tooth usually stays in until a permanent tooth underneath it pushes it out and takes its place. Unfortunately, at times a baby tooth may be lost too early due to an accident or decay. If this occurs, then we may recommend a space maintainer. This will help to prevent future space loss and orthodontic problems. Baby teeth maintain the space necessary for the permanent teeth to come in. If this space is lost, then the permanent tooth might not come in or the tooth may come in out of its normal position. This can lead to braces being required for a long period of time to correct the problem.

Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They maintain the position of the teeth allowing the proper space needed for the permanent tooth to come into place. Once the permanent tooth is in place, then the space maintainer is easily removed.

There are different types of space maintainers. We will decide which space maintainer is needed, depending upon which baby tooth or teeth are prematurely lost.

With space maintainers, there are rules for taking care of them. We advise children to avoid sticky sweets or chewing gum and to avoid tugging or pushing on it. This could cause it to come off. It is also important to keep it clean with good brushing habits. We also need to check it regularly, so keeping up with 6 month check-ups is important.

Space maintainers are important if your child loses a baby tooth too early. This way we can ensure that your child's teeth will come into the proper space and hopefully avoid extensive orthodontic problems in the future.

Is there a sugar that is better for my child?

Sugar substitutes are being used in many different foods and drinks. They help to reduce calories and they also help to reduce cavities. Xylitol is one of the sugar substitutes that is being used today. It is found naturally in fruits, fibrous vegetables, and trees.

Xylitol is especially useful when used in chewing gum. It has been shown to demonstrate a dramatic reduction in tooth decay. Studies show that 4 to 12 grams of xylitol a day is the most effective at preventing tooth decay. Most of the xylitol mints and gum contain about 1 gram in each piece. Using these mints and gums after meals and snacks is a good way to reduce your child's chances of getting decay in their teeth.

My child seems so afraid. How can you help them relax?

Most children are calm, comfortable and confident while in Dr. Ritchie's care. However, in general, children have very short attention spans and most children feel some anxiety during treatment. Your child may need more support than a gentle, caring manner to feel comfortable. Sedation dentistry is a safe, effective technique that we offer to calm a child's fear during their dental visit and to increase attention span to allow for completion of treatment. At Healthy Smiles for Kids, we prefer to use nitrous oxide and conscious sedation treatments to help a child relax during dental procedures. Dr. Ritchie has comprehensive specialty training and he will recommend the sedation method that is right for your child.

• Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen sedation (laughing gas) is a blend of two gases-oxygen and nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is perhaps the safest sedative in dentistry. It is non-addictive. It is mild, easily taken, then quickly eliminated by the body. We will give your child the opportunity to choose a "flavor" of air to breathe. Your child will smell this "flavored air" and experience a sense of well being and relaxation. Your child remains fully conscious-keeps all natural reflexes- when breathing nitrous oxide/oxygen.
  
  Before administering nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, we recommend that you give your child little or no food before the dental visit. Occasionally, nausea or vomiting occurs when a child has a full stomach. We also ask that you tell Dr. Ritchie about any respiratory condition that makes breathing through the nose difficult for your child (a common cold, asthma, sinus problems, etc.). It may limit the effectiveness of nitrous oxide/oxygen. Also, be sure to let us know if your child is taking any medication on the day of the appointment.
  
  
• Conscious Sedation: Conscious sedation is a way of using medication to relax a child without the loss of consciousness. It aids in calming a child so that he or she can accept dental treatment in a more relaxed state. This prevents injury to the child and provides a better environment for delivering quality dental care.
  
  We recommend that children with severe anxiety and/or the inability to relax are candidates for sedation. Usually, these children are young or have trouble managing their anxiety. At Healthy Smiles for Kids, we have many different agents that are used for conscious sedation, from inhalation agents (laughing gas) to medicines that are drunk from a cup. None of these sedatives render the child unconscious. We base our recommendation of the proper medication for your child based on age, level of anxiety, amount of dental work that needs to be completed and length of appointment.
  
  Dr. Ritchie has had 3 years of advanced training to administer, monitor and manage sedated patients. And he exceeds the standard of care in monitoring and emergency equipment. Dr. Ritchie is trained and certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support.