Finding a pediatric dentist is important because children have unique dental needs that change as they grow. Pediatric dentists are specially trained to care for developing teeth, manage habits like thumb sucking, and create positive early experiences that shape a child’s attitude toward dental care for life. By choosing a pediatric dentist, you’re ensuring your child receives gentle, expert care in an environment designed to make them feel comfortable and safe.

Visiting the dentist during pregnancy is super important for both your health and your baby’s. Hormonal changes can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay, which have been linked to complications like preterm birth and low birth weight. Regular dental checkups help prevent and treat these issues early, keeping your mouth healthy and supporting a safer pregnancy. A healthy smile during this time also sets the foundation for your child’s oral health after birth.

Children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth coming in. Early visits allow the dentist to check for healthy growth and development, provide guidance on proper oral care, and help prevent future problems. Starting dental care early also helps children feel comfortable in the dental setting, creating positive habits that last a lifetime.

Most children start getting their first teeth between 6 and 12 months of age, with the lower front teeth usually appearing first. Every child is different, so some may get teeth a little earlier or later. By age 3, most children will have a full set of 20 baby teeth. These early teeth are important for eating, speaking, and guiding the permanent teeth into place, so caring for them from the start is essential.

Taking care of baby teeth is important because they play a big role in your child’s overall health and development. Healthy baby teeth help children chew food properly, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. They also hold space for the permanent teeth, guiding them into the right position. Even though baby teeth eventually fall out, keeping them healthy prevents pain, infection, and problems that could affect the adult teeth later.

Bring the tooth fragment/whole tooth in milk or saliva (not water) and make an appointment to see the pediatric dentist ASAP.

Timing is everything. Try to schedule an appointment with a dental provider as soon as you can, preferable within the hour of the incident, unless your child lost consciousness or is experiencing nausea/dizziness, in which case they should go to the emergency room. For a knocked out ADULT tooth, you can gently rinse the tooth with water if dirty and place the tooth right back into the socket to preserve the health of the tooth until you are able to visit a pediatric dentist. If unable to replace, bring the tooth in a container of milk or with your child’s saliva (not water!). Sounds gross, I know, but that will help maintain the health of the root which can increase the success rate of reimplantation and decrease adverse effects.

Bring back the fractured piece in a container of milk or water and we can attempt to bond it back to the tooth! An exam and radiographs may be taken to determine if further follow up and treatment will be needed.

Leave it out and do not attempt to replant! This can cause harm to the growing adult tooth.

First, stop any bleeding by applying pressure. Clean off affected areas and, based on extent of injury, determine whether home care, dental office, or emergency room visit is warranted. If you are unable to stop the source of bleeding, visit the emergency room. Home care entails stopping the bleeding, using pain analgesics and/or applying ice to provide palliative care.

Come in for an appointment ASAP so an exam, radiographs (as needed), and proper treatment can be determined for your child. As in most injuries, timing is important to increase tooth success and prevent adverse effects.

An app I recommend downloading if your child plays sports or is accident prone, is ToothSOS. This app can provide easy to understand instructions for most dental related incidents (DISCLAIMER: instructions for baby teeth sometimes differ from adult teeth). In case of emergencies, determine whether the emergency room or dental office should be the first priority visit. If your child experienced any loss of consciousness or is exhibiting signs of nausea/vomiting or dizziness, visit the ER. For most other events, make an appointment with us as soon as you can.

This is the most common “dental emergency” we see but don’t fret! This is a natural event typically associated with the bottom front teeth, called Shark Teeth. Once the baby teeth are removed, either at home (recommended if wiggly) or in the office, the tongue forces push the adult teeth back into the arch.

Dental X-rays help us see what we can’t with the naked eye, like cavities between teeth, infections, bone health, and tooth development, so we can catch problems early and plan the best care. They are very safe, using only a tiny amount of radiation. We follow the “as low as reasonably achievable” rule, meaning X-rays are taken only when necessary and with protective measures. While we keep exposure minimal, the benefits of detecting and treating dental issues far outweigh the risks. See the chart below to compare everyday radiation exposure with dental X-rays.

For most children, we recommend visiting the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning. These regular visits help us monitor your child’s dental development, keep teeth sparkling clean, and catch any potential issues early. However, every child is unique. For little ones who are still getting comfortable with dental visits or who have a higher risk for cavities, we may recommend more frequent visits, usually every three months. This helps us provide extra preventive care and positive reinforcement, making each visit an opportunity to build trust and great habits.

This is determined on an individual based level depending on the type of growth guidance or orthodontic issue presented. Pediatric dentists are able to provide space maintenance in the event baby teeth are lost too early to mitigate the need for further orthodontic treatment.

Each treatment plan is considered on an individual level. Even with the same number of cavities, the size of the cavity, dental age, symptoms present, and the child’s behavior indicate which plan is indicated. If you have specific questions as to why a certain plan was made for your child, ask the provider and we will be happy to clarify. Review the Learn section for additional information.

Children typically use pacifiers or have sucking habits to self sooth and prior to the age of 24-36 months can be a useful tool. However, past the age of 36 months, those habits can have an effect on a child’s dentition and facial structure. There are many strategies to try to stop these habits but the best one depends on when the habits occur, how often, and why.

While some children may grow out of snoring, there could be signs to indicate a sleeping disorder (ie sleep apnea). If your child is showing signs of disturbed sleep, such as having long pauses in breathing, tossing and turning, bedwetting, night sweats or chronic mouth breathing, a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor may be recommended for further evaluation. Untreated pediatric sleep apnea may have neurological effects long term so it is important to determine the underlying causes.

Grinding in children is typically self-limiting, meaning most kids tend to grow out of it. There could be many reasons as to why kids grind but it is important to monitor for dental attrition, headaches, jaw issues, and soreness. Whether a nightguard or intervention are needed are evaluated on an individual basis.

There are several anatomical reasons why kids breathe mainly through their mouth! Identifying this is critical to determine which interventions are necessary to guide growth of the patients face and teeth which has many long-term implications. Sometimes, a referral to see an orthodontist or even an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor may be recommended for further evaluation.

Fighting off cavities starts at home in the bathroom and in the kitchen!

Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes at a time, morning and especially night, and flossing helps clean your teeth.

Diet:

• Drink water
• Avoid sticky foods/candies. These include cookies, crackers, and gummies (even the vitamin types!)
• NO sugary beverages are recommended under the age of 2
• Minimize frequency of access to sugar/carbohydrate throughout the day (ie if your kid likes to drink juice, reserve that for meal time and follow up with some water)

It’s never too early to begin caring for your child’s smile! Even before the first tooth appears (usually around 6 months) you can keep your baby’s gums healthy by gently wiping them with a clean, damp washcloth after feedings. This simple step removes sugars and bacteria that can cause early cavities.

When your child’s first few teeth come in (typically between 8 and 12 months), you can start brushing with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush made for babies. Use just a *tiny smear* of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). As more teeth appear (around age 3), increase to a *pea-sized* amount. Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste and rinse with cool water when finished.

Once your child’s teeth begin touching, it’s time to start flossing daily. Flossing helps clean the spots a toothbrush can’t reach and keeps little smiles bright and healthy!

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps make teeth stronger and more resistant to cavities. It works by rebuilding weak areas of tooth enamel and stopping early signs of tooth decay before they turn into cavities.

Children benefit greatly from fluoride because their teeth are still developing. Fluoride helps protect baby teeth and strengthens the adult teeth that are forming under the gums.

We use safe, age-appropriate amounts of fluoride to give your child’s smile an extra layer of protection against cavities and to help them build strong, healthy teeth for life.

A mouthguard helps protect your child’s teeth, lips, tongue, and jaw from injury during sports or physical activities. Accidents can happen even in non-contact sports, and a properly fitted mouthguard cushions the mouth to prevent broken or knocked-out teeth.

Wearing a mouthguard is especially important for children with braces or growing smiles, it helps protect both their teeth and orthodontic appliances.

Sports drinks might seem like a healthy choice, but they often contain high amounts of sugar and acid that can be harmful to teeth. For most kids, water is the best way to stay hydrated during and after sports. If your child does have a sports drink, try to limit how often they sip it and have them rinse with water afterward to help wash away sugar and acid.

A frenectomy is a simple procedure that helps release a tight frenum—the small band of tissue that connects parts of the mouth, such as under the tongue (tongue-tie) or inside the upper lip (lip-tie). When the frenum is too tight, it can restrict movement and cause challenges with feeding, speech, or oral hygiene. For babies, a tongue- or lip-tie can make breastfeeding or bottle-feeding difficult. In older children, it may affect speech development, cause gaps between teeth, or make brushing and flossing harder.

Review the Learn section for additional information regarding laser technology, indications, and pre-/post procedure instructions.