Early Pediatric Dental Visits And What To Expect From Them
Early dental care can help ensure that your child's teeth remain healthy and strong. Nevertheless, some parents may be apprehensive about taking their little one to see a dentist.
Many parents believe that a child should only be treated by a dentist if they are experiencing pain or discomfort from an oral condition. The parents conclude that since the primary teeth will eventually be shed, there is no need to perform preventive or restorative services on the teeth.
However, primary teeth are the precursors of the permanent teeth. They serve as placeholders, and their early loss can result in the crooked presentation of the adult teeth. Additionally, if the primary teeth develop cavities, the decay can spread to the underlying adult teeth that have not even broken through the gums yet. As a result, the pediatric dental care needed to keep a child's teeth healthy is important.
Here is a bit of information about early pediatric dental visits and what to expect from them.
When Should the First Pediatric Dental Visit Occur?
Children should attend their first dental visit around the time that their first teeth erupt. Thus, most youngsters should have their first visit scheduled during their first year of life.
What Happens During a Baby's First Dental Visit?
During a baby's initial dental visit, the dentist reviews the child's dental and medical history with the parents. Additionally, they thoroughly examine the little one's teeth and gums. The provider also assesses the child's risk of oral issues and diseases to develop an appropriate plan of prevention. The dentist may also provide guidance to parents concerning the care of the little one's teeth.
What Are Some of the Risk Factors for Tooth Decay in Babies?
There are multiple risk factors that increase a child's likelihood of developing decay. Here are a few of them:
- Maternal dental health issues. Often, if a mother has a significant number of dental health problems, the child is likely to also incur issues.
- Lack of maternal dental knowledge. Mothers who are not well educated concerning dental care may not know how to care for their baby's teeth properly.
- Prolonged bottle usage. Prolonged use of the bottle may result in baby bottle decay, a serious form of pediatric dental decay.
- High intake of dietary sugar. Since oral bacteria release decay-causing acids after feeding on sugars in the mouth, high levels of simple carbohydrates in the child's diet may encourage cavity formation.
- Poor dental hygiene. A child's teeth should be clean regularly and thoroughly to avoid decay.
To schedule a pediatric dental appointment for your child, contact the office of a dentist in your local area.