Patient Information

Child Dentistry

Your child's first visit

The first dental visit should be just after your child's third birthday. This visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. Our hope is that your child can handle being in the clinical area alone for part of the exam, so we may ask you to stay in the reception area at first. This is to allow your child to feel comfortable with our team as well as build their confidence in themselves. However, there are times when a child is not comfortable with this approach.

We will examine your child's teeth and gums, X-rays may be taken to reveal decay and check the progress of the permanent teeth. We may polish and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. Most important of all, we will educate you and your child on how to take care of their teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child's reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here are some "First Visit" tips:

  • Take your child for a "preview" of the office.
  • Read books with them about going to the dentist.
  • Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
  • Speak positively about your own dental experiences.

What about preventative care?

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. Legends Dental focuses on long term comprehensive dental care, regardless of the patients’ age. Our goal is for you and every member of your family to keep their natural teeth for their entire life. This is accomplished by starting early and learning how to care for your mouth. Tooth decay and early loss of teeth in children has detrimental effects on the developing permanent teeth.

Cavity prevention

Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly can help. Brushing your child’s teeth after meals is the first step in the prevention of cavities. The longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.

Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digest the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acidic environment can destroy the enamel, eventually leading to cavities.

Consistency of a person's saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria to remain on the teeth.

Tips for cavity prevention

  • Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
  • Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
  • Watch what your child drinks. Soda, even diet, sports drinks and juices are at the top of the list for causing tooth decay.
  • Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
  • Never allow your child to go to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
  • Make treats part of meals.
  • Choose nutritious snacks.

The first baby teeth that erupt are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby's teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2 1/2 years old.

At around 2 1/2 years old your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6 the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don't. Don't worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space and guide the permanent teeth into the correct place, but they are important for chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.