Pediatric Dentistry

Your child's first visit

Dr. Palmer recommends that your child’s first visit be around the age of 18 months to two years. This most important first dental visit is usually short and involves very little to no treatment. Usually the parents will sit in the dental chair and hold their child while the hygienist or assistant shows how “Mr. Thirsty” drinks water out of a cup. The goal of this visit is for you and your child to feel comfortable in the dental environment. We will not push or force treatment on your child. If possible, we will gently examine your child's teeth and gums. We may clean your child's teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child's teeth.

Here are some "First Visit" tips:

• Take your child for a "preview" or online tour 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 preventive care?

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We will counsel you on how to take care of your child’s teeth from tooth brushing to proper nutrition. We use sealant technology to protect your child's teeth. Sealants are resins that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of back teeth that are prone to decay. These are just some of the ways we will set the foundation for your child's lifetime of good oral health.

Tips for cavity prevention:

• Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
• Encourage brushing and flossing.
• Avoid soda and high sugar fruit drinks
• Avoid sticky foods.
• Make treats part of meals.
• Choose nutritious snacks.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important for chewing, speech, and appearance. It is important to have a healthy diet and maintain daily hygiene in order to keep the baby teeth until time for them to come out.