Dublin Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is excited to announce that our office is now open for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff.
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Dublin Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is excited to announce that our office is now open for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff.
read more
AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommends establishing a dental home by the age of one to set a solid foundation on keeping good oral hygiene practice and healthy dietary habits.
The short answer is the sooner the better! There are rubber or silicone toothbrushes for infants that you can start rubbing on the gum area before their first tooth erupts. If you know your baby is teething, this brushing sensation can be a soothing remedy for sore gums. There is no need to use toothpaste on a baby who's toothless, but after the first tooth comes in you can start using children’s training toothpaste so you don’t have to worry about them swallowing. Aim for 30 seconds of brushing to start, then go up to a minute and eventually 2 minutes. When a toddler’s teeth are touching you can begin flossing! Using a floss stick might be an easier way to start, and as children get older you can introduce string floss. We are happy to practice all of this at our toothbrushing station when you’re here!
X-Ray images are an important part of making sure your child's teeth are developing normally and remaining healthy. Without the x-ray images, we cannot fully assess the location and size of cavities. For example, we would not be able to check if there are cavities in between the tight contacts of the teeth without taking x-rays. They also aid in diagnosing any missing or impacted teeth in the jaw bones. Depending on your child's cavity history, we would recommend to update x-rays every 6-12 months. We use digital scanning technology that makes x-rays quick, easy, and safe for everyone!
If a cavity is left untreated on a primary tooth, it can lead to infection, swelling of the gums and face, or cause severe pain. There’s a strong likelihood that untreated cavities affect the development of permanent teeth as well. Primary molars don’t typically fall out until children are 12 or older and can have a big influence on overall oral health if they are left untreated. Getting a cavity filled might be a little scary for your young children, which is why we use various sedation options, distraction methods (TV, fidget toys), and we take our time explaining and talking to your child to make sure the experience is as comfortable and gentle as possible. We will walk you through the entire process and talk about at home care in order to prevent future cavities.