Patient Education

Children’s Teeth

When Should My Child First Been Seen
Here at Rymal Square Family Dentists, we love to see children of all ages. The best time to bring a child in is between 3 or 4 yrs. depending on whether you think you child will be ready to sit through an appointment. It is important to be looking in your child’s mouth on a regular basis, to check for any tooth decay at an early stage. If you spot any concerns it is important that your child be seen by a dentist as soon as possible, don’t delay treatment because of age. Let a dentist decide what treatment can wait and what treatment needs to be taken care of immediately.

 

Why Do Baby Teeth Need To Be Filled?
Children need their teeth as much as you do to chew and smile. If the teeth are allowed to become decayed, that child will suffer pain and an inability to eat properly which can lead to lifelong eating disorders, or at minimum poor nutrition for the time during which the child is unable to eat properly. Children with blackened and stumped teeth or bad breath could be teased at school and in turn, could affect the child’s social development.

Finally, baby teeth are essential for holding the spaces open so that the adult teeth can come into the correct position when they are finally developed enough to erupt. Decay if left in a baby tooth could spread to the adult tooth causing the adult tooth to grow in with decay already present.

What Can Be Done At Home?
Practice good oral hygiene with your child at home. Help your child and supervise while he/she brushes to confirm they are doing it properly. Children don’t understand the consequences of not brushing their teeth and eating too many candies. Limit your child’s sugar intake and never allow a child/baby to go to bed with a bottle filled with milk, juice or anything containing sugar.

What If My Child Is Afraid?
Here at Rymal Square, we are trained and equipped to deal with children of all ages and fears. We have options including oral sedation and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help perform treatment on children that have a fear or are unable to keep still during dental treatment. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you have with us and we will be happy to help you and your child.