F.A.Q.

We recommend that you make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as your child gets their first tooth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child is seen by six months after their first tooth erupts or age one, whichever is first.

All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school and then continue their education with several years of additional, specialized training. During training in the field of pediatric dentistry, your doctor gained extensive knowledge and experience in treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric dentists enjoy working with children, and bring to each patient their expertise in childhood development and behavior. Because our office is geared toward young visitors, you’ll find that our staff, as well as our office design, decorations and activities, all work together to provide an especially friendly and comfortable environment for children. 

The first visit is usually short and simple. In most cases, we focus on getting to know your child and giving you some basic information about dental care. The doctor will check your child’s teeth for placement and health, and look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If possible, we may do a bit of cleaning. We will also answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth as they develop, and provide you with materials containing helpful tips that you can refer to at home. 

The best preparation for your child’s first visit to our office is maintaining a positive attitude. Children pick up on adults’ apprehensions and if you make negative comments about trips to the dentist you can be sure that your child will fear an unpleasant experience and act accordingly. Show your child the pictures of the office and staff on the web site. Let your child know that it’s important to keep his teeth and gums healthy, and that the doctor will help him do that. Remember that your pediatric dentist is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment. 

We generally recommend scheduling check-ups every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits. 

Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, your child’s first teeth play an important role in his development. While they’re in place, these primary teeth help your little one speak, smile and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth. If a child loses a tooth too early—due to damage or decay—nearby teeth may encroach on that space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health is affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums. 

Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as his first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You can most likely find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore. 

Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, eventually eating through the enamel and creating holes in the teeth, which we call cavities. 

Be sure that your child brushes his teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, as flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement, which helps tooth enamel be harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings. 

Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach. 

Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about the best way to protect his teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums. 

The large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants. Most grow out of it by the age of four without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If you child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or sucks aggressively, let us know and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit and recommend treatment as indicated. 

We recommend taking x-rays when teeth begin to contact each other. The first set consists of simple pictures of the front upper and lower teeth, which familiarizes your child with the process. Once the baby teeth in back are touching each other, then regular (at least yearly) x-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six and x-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your child is at a high risk of dental problems, we may suggest having x-rays taken at an earlier age and at more frequent intervals. 

With contemporary safeguards, such as lead aprons and digital sensors, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. Even though there is very little risk, pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. In fact, dental x-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. 

If your child has bitten his or her lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is or bleeding does not stop. 

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off his or her tooth, have the child rinse out the mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Call us immediately at 508 620 5437. 

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). If you can, place the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can’t return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container with milk.In either case, call us immediately and/or go to the emergency room. If you act quickly, it’s possible to save a permanent or adult tooth. Primary teeth are generally not re-implanted. If one of your child’s primary teeth has been knocked out, you will want to schedule a visit to our practice as soon as possible so your dentist can ensure there are no fragments of tooth remaining. 

Call us immediately at 508 620 5437 and/or go to the emergency room. Displaced teeth many times need “put back into place” and splinted (fixed in place) in order to promote proper healing of the tooth supporting jawbone and gums. This procedure has the best outcome the quicker it is accomplished. 

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water and inspect his or her teeth to make sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease it. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, because this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately. If your child’s face is swollen, please  go to emergency room immediately. 

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number at 508 620 5437 and/or go to the emergency room immediately. In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life threatening. 

Fold a piece of gauze or towel and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes. If bleeding continues, call our emergency number. 

Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit our office.