Chicago Pediatric Dentist in Lakeview
At Belmont Dental Care we offer pediatric dentistry in Lakeview, so you can bring your entire family to the same dentist. Whether it’s your child’s first dentist visit, teenager is considering Invisalign or you need a cleaning, we can meet all of your dental needs.
First dental visit
Even though it may seem early, a child should have their first dental visit between the ages of six to twelve months. This is the time when a child typically develops their first tooth. As soon as a tooth erupts, tooth decay can occur.
During the child’s first visit, our doctors have two main goals. The first goal; get the child acclimated to going to the dentist. With every visit we want to ensure the child feels comfortable and relaxed. If you as a parent have fears of the dentist for yourself, we have found it best not to share these with your children. Help them think of the dentist as a positive experience, even a field trip!
The second main goal; education. We will show you how to properly clean your child’s mouth and prepare for the growth of new teeth. We cannot stress enough how important it is to start brushing and flossing as soon as the child has teeth to prevent decay.
In addition, our doctors will also explain how inappropriate nursing and sippy cup habits could also cause tooth decay. There will also be many questions you have such as thumb sucking and pacifier habits. We will be happy to discuss with you any and all concerns you have regarding your child’s oral health.
Working to prevent children’s tooth decay
Early in infancy you should start cleaning your child’s mouth. A gauzed finger or damp cloth is a great way to cleanse the gum pads for your child. This will help adjust their gums to the cleaning process before they even have teeth for you to worry about. Use a soft bristled infant toothbrush on their baby teeth. Continue to assist your child in brushing until dexterity is fully developed.
Why primary teeth are important
The future of your child’s oral health is largely dependent on their twenty primary teeth. The care of primary teeth is essential to jaw development and properly positioned permanent (adult) teeth.
There are many corrections a dentist can make when your child is young to prevent major and more expensive changes later in life. For example, a “space maintainer” is used to ensure the permanent tooth erupting comes into proper placement. By doing this you can potentially avoid costly orthodontic work later.
Proper primary teeth care can assist with:
Proper chewing to help your child maintain good nutrition.
Proper speech development.
A healthy smile to assist in the building of your child’s self-esteem.
Preventing infections that could lead to other serious health issues.
Saving money on dental work down the road.
What causes cavities?
Our number one enemy in the fight against cavities is plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly, even on baby teeth. This bacteria thrives on the sugar in food, and produces acid as a by-product when breaking the sugar down. Like all acids, the acid produced by the bacteria is corrosive, which means that it dissolves other materials. In this case, dissolving enamel, causing a cavity. Regular check-ups and dental sealants are effective ways to prevent or detect cavities early.
Children’s chipped, broken, knocked out tooth
Children love to play and explore. As great as this is for their development, it does put their teeth at risk. A broken or knocked out tooth can happen easier than one would think. Sports, hard candy, a fall, can all lead to a chipped tooth. So what do you do when this happens to your child?
In some cases, the child has no idea they even chipped their tooth. Other times, if they scare themselves or the nerve has been damaged, they are upset and crying. In all cases, you as the parent must remain calm. The next step is to contact your dentist right away. Give them the scenario and schedule your visit.
Often when a tooth is chipped or broken it can be restored to its original look and feel by a process called bonding. Sometimes the chip itself can be filed down and no bonding is necessary. If bonding or filing are not possible then veneers may be the next option. Our doctors will discuss these options at the time of visit.
Knocked out tooth
If your child has completely knocked out their tooth, try and recover the missing tooth. If you can recover the tooth, rinse or place the tooth in a cup of milk. Call for your pediatric dental appointment with Lakeview dentists, Dr. Parrott and Dr. Nguyen at Belmont Dental Care. Bring both the tooth and your child into the office where our doctors will work on restoring the tooth.