FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions For Children
The same reason you bring your child to a pediatrician instead of an internist or family physician. A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist who is well-trained to treat infants, children, adolescents, and children with special needs. Pediatric dentists complete an additional two years of postdoctoral education. This extensive training provides pediatric dentists the knowledge to treat children’s dental needs, provide a positive dental experience, and to educate children on the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.
It is important to establish a dental home by age 1, just like you establish a medical home (pediatrician) before your child is born. Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend that a child’s first dental visit be scheduled by his/her 1st birthday. This visit will enable Dr. Christina to evaluate your child and introduce you to proper oral hygiene. Diet, fluoride, finger and pacifier habits, and tooth eruption will be discussed to insure optimal dental health.
Dr. Christina has found that younger patients are more focused in the morning. Appointments scheduled at the end of the day and after school are usually more difficult for your younger child because he/she is tired at the end of the day and their ability to cooperate can be even more challenged. We try to schedule your child’s appointment at a time that’s convenient for both of you. Certain times of the day may enhance your child’s ability to cooperate and allows for a positive dental experience.
About 6 months the two lower front teeth begin eruption and the remainder of the 20 primary teeth erupt during the next 24- 36 months. Keep in mind that every child is genetically unique in their eruption development. These are merely guidelines!
In most cases, the answer is yes. When left alone, most cavities will become bigger and start to cause pain, and the treatment can change from a simple filling to something more invasive and cosmetically undesirable like a root canal with a stainless steel crown or an extraction.
Don’t panic. It’s a relatively common occurrence in children, and although it can look scary, it’s easy to treat and not a problem. This may happen if a child’s mouth is overcrowded or the permanent teeth may not be in proper alignment causing them to erupt out of the natural position.
You are welcome to accompany your child into the treatment area during the initial examination and all appointments. This allows your child to feel comfortable and for us to discuss dental findings and treatment directly with you.
Sometimes it is more beneficial if you wait for him/her in the reception area during the appointment. This will help us build a trusting relationship with your child. By staying in the waiting room, your child will place their trust in us, and he/she will feel comfortable coming back to the office. It is also a strong statement to your child about the trust you have in us to create a positive and caring experience for them.
We do ask that if you accompany your child you assume the role of a silent observer. It can be confusing if more than one person is speaking to your child. When we ask your child a question, please allow your child to answer. This will help create an open dialogue, and the child will feel comfortable talking to our dentists and staff!
Frequently Asked Questions For Adults
Regular dental visits are important because they can help the dentist spot problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. Regular visits also help prevent many potential problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist can also be important for your overall health because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.
Flossing and brushing your teeth at home can only remove soft plaque. If you are not doing a good job cleaning at home or if you unknowingly miss some spots in your mouth when you brush, the soft plaque on your teeth can harden into something called calculus or tartar. Once hard plaque has developed on your teeth, your toothbrush can’t get it off the tooth or clean underneath it, which can lead to cavities. Professional cleanings, two times a year, can help remove hard plaque buildup and keep your teeth clean.
Yes. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still have dental problems that only a dentist can diagnose. Many dental diseases don’t begin to hurt until many months or years after they develop. Many times, waiting until you have obvious dental problems or pain in your mouth can be too late and may result in loosing a tooth.
We recommend that you schedule your first visit at a time when you can come to the office without your children. This will allow you to have one-on-one time to meet Dr. Blair and complete a full exam. Afterwards, you will have time to discuss suggested treatments and ask any questions you may have without interruptions.
If you are scheduling for treatments like fillings or crowns we suggest that you do not bring your children with you, as these appointments can sometimes be longer in duration.
If you are scheduling six-month cleanings for both you and your children we are happy to coordinate them so your family can all come in together and have your checkups and cleanings done at the same time.