Encourage.Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Always tell your child how proud you are of them, and what a big, brave boy/girl they are. New experiences can be scary and any time they hand it well, we want to offer praise and encouragement.

It is beneficial for the first visit to occur within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, and no later than the babys first birthday. Consider this first visit as a well-child checkup for your childs teeth.

During this visit, your dentist will check for decay and other conditions and show you how to properly clean your childs teeth. Additionally, the dentist may recommend oral care products for your family. Heres a full summary of what you can expect at your first visit.

As part of our integral service offerings, all First Impressions staff have received advanced education and training in order to provide excellent primary and comprehensive preventative oral health care to children with special health care needs (SHCN). In agreement with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, health care for these individuals typically requires specialized knowledge, increased awareness and attention, adaptation and accommodative measures beyond what is considered routine.

Bacteria in the mouth use the sugars found in liquids and foods to produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time these liquids or foods are consumed, acids attack the teeth for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, tooth decay can develop. Tooth decay can begin as soon as teeth emerge in a babys mouth usually by age six months or so.

Ever heard of baby bottle decay? Its a specific type of tooth decay that occurs because of prolonged exposure to liquids that contain sugar. One of the more common ways this can occur is bottle propping or putting your baby to bed with a bottle.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including the ocean. Research has shown that fluoride not only prevents cavities in children and adults, it also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay is visible. During childhood, when teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay.

Baby teeth are just as important as permanent teeth for chewing, speaking, and appearance. In addition, baby teeth hold the space in the jaw for permanent teeth. Both primary and permanent teeth help give the face its shape and form.

And why are straight teeth important? Straight teeth are important for a nice smile and correct jaw positioning and well-positioned teeth are together important for chewing, digestion, speech, and good looks; in other words, for physiological and psychological health. Straight teeth are also easier to keep clean and this enhances the health of the gums and of the oral cavity in general.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, hold it by the top part (crown), rinse it gently with water, reinsert into the socket, making sure it is facing the correct direction, and take the child to the dentist immediately. If you cant replace the tooth put it in a container of cold milk or in a cold wet cloth and bring it to the dentist immediately.

Our office is committed to providing exceptional and enjoyable services in all aspects of dental care for your child. Each of our offices have been inspired by children; we intentionally designed the atmospheres of our dental offices to incorporate elements that children relate to and understand. Things like bright colors, fun textures, a play yard, video games, cartoons, books, TV programs, kid-sized equipment, and friendly faces help ease your childs fears and apprehensions.

Once a child is relaxed, we will call them back for the exam. Generally, we prefer to take your child back alone, while you remain in the waiting room. We find the children are able to relax sooner and more easily this way. Our team will explain all procedures and answer any questions your child may have. We use techniques such as tell, show, do where we name the instrument, showthem how to use it and let them experience it themselves. We are trained to give each child our full attention at their appropriate level of development. As a result, most children are more calm, comfortable, and confident during the exams and procedure.

Our team of dentists and hygienists use some of the most innovative approaches as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. New research, technology, and assessment tools are allowing us to go even further to assess your childs risk for cavities and other oral issues. A few of the things we screen for during a visit include: lack of saliva in your childs mouth, enamel defects, elevated bacteria, and plaque on your childs teeth. These advanced screenings give us an enormous amount of information about your child and whether he or she is at high, moderate, or low risk for the formation of cavities.