Pediatric

Dentistry

The office has state of the art equipment and they are very fair priced. The nicest dental office I've been in, office is clean and aesthetically pleasing and the staff are friendly and professional. I'm very impressed with my treatments and I will continue to use this as my regular dental office even though it is an hour from my home.

- Brian Rhodes.

4.9

A child’s first visit to the dentist should be pleasant. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear any unfamiliar person. Our Gainesville dental office makes a special effort to use friendly, non-frightening, simple words to explain each treatment. We want you and your child to feel at ease the moment your family arrives to meet our pediatric dentist in Gainesville. The more you and your child know about the first dental visit, the more comfortable it becomes.

Making your child familiar with the pediatric dentist before their first visit is needed. Using activities like reading and coloring to help you and your child talk about the dentist are great ways to introduce children to what to expect at their first dental visit and to help them follow good oral habits with fun!

First Dental

Visit

Children should visit the Gainesville pediatric dentist on their first birthday. Your child’s newly-erupted teeth must get adequate dental care and benefit from following oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.

Getting to know your teeth is fun!

When New Teeth Arrive

Your child’s first primary or baby teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of 6 and 12 months and continues to erupt until about age three. During this time, your child’s gums may feel tender and irritated. To help ease this discomfort, we recommend soothing the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You should also make your kid use a teething ring. When your child has finished teething, you can expect 20 primary teeth to erupt.

Primary teeth's shed at various times throughout childhood, and their permanent teeth start erupting at age six and continue till they are 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth, 32 including wisdom teeth.

Adopting Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits

As your child’s teeth erupt, examine them every two weeks, looking for lines and discoloration caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can target a new tooth, so take care that your child brushes after eating. We recommend brushing four times a day for the best oral hygiene: after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and before bedtime.

Brushing is fun and your child should start it as soon as the first tooth erupts. When a primary tooth erupts, parents should brush that tooth with a small soft-bristled toothbrush with a little amount of toothpaste. For children younger than two, do not use fluoride toothpaste unless instructed to do so by our pediatric dentist in Gainesville or other healthcare professional. We recommend following proper tooth brushing procedures with your child.

Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and your dentist will discuss with you the right time & age to start flossing. If you notice signs of decay, contact the pediatric dentist in Gainesville immediately.

Preventing Tooth Decay with Regular Checkups

Tooth decay is due to sugars left in your mouth that turn into an acid, which can damage your teeth. Children are at a higher risk for tooth decay for a simple cause; many children and teens do not practice regular oral hygiene routines. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits at our dental office in Gainesville help prevent tooth decay.

Your child should visit your Gainesville dentist every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We suggest fluoride treatments twice a year followed by cleanings to keep the teeth strong. Dental sealants are also advised because they “seal” the deep tracks in your child’s teeth, stopping decay from forming in these hard-to-reach zones. Sealants last for several years but need to be monitored at your child’s regular checkups.

Pediatric Dental

FAQs

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

All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school, 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 our 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 will look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If necessary, 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 website. 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 dentist is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment.

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.

Once your child has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two, because too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children. Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing, to begin a lifelong habit he’ll need when he graduates to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth for him until he is ready to take on that responsibility himself, which usually happens by age six or seven.

Be sure that your child brushes his teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, because flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement which helps tooth enamel become 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.

We recommend taking X-rays around the age of two or three. 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 one another, 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.

Give us a call to schedule your next appointment.

940-580-2856

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Let that smile shine!

Healthy teeth improve your overall quality of life, and make it so much easier to share bright, confident smiles.

We realize that not everyone is comfortable in the dentist’s chair, so rest assured, you’ll be treated with respect, dignity, and sensitivity when you choose Saddlebrook Dental & Orthodontics in Gainesville, TX for your dental services.