Calming Children's Fears: Making the First Dental Visit a Fun One

As soon as a child grows his or her first teeth, a trip to the dentist's office is warranted. The child may be barely two years old, however, so any examination by a stranger is an intimidating experience. Make the first dental visit a fun one by trying these basic tips. Children's fears will fade away.

Choosing a Kid-Friendly Office

Perform some research by visiting several pediatric dental offices in your area without your child. Walk in and survey the interior space. Try to put yourself in your child's shoes. If you don't feel instantly comfortable in the office, your child will have the same sensation.

A kid-friendly office won't look like a dental facility. Brightly colored walls, toys and even playground equipment might dot the waiting room. These distractions make the facility look welcoming to every child.

Trying a "Visit" First

Making a traditional appointment with a dentist may not work for your child. The act of physically walking into the office can be stressful enough for some children. Think about making an appointment where you and your child merely visit with the dentist. A short chat is a great way to create a relationship. The meeting doesn't feel intimidating. The child simply learns the dentist's name and favorite things to do. The next visit can entail some evaluations.

Stepping Into the Dental World

Explain to your child that the next appointment will involve an evaluation of the mouth. Because the child sees the dentist as a friend from the first meeting, an evaluation isn't too stressful to think about. Make your second appointment and show up a little bit early. Allow the child to play and enjoy the surroundings. You might introduce the child to the dental chair as you walk into the backroom. Creating a casual atmosphere puts everyone at ease, including the child.

Finishing off the Appointment

Leave the child with a positive feeling after the first dental visit is over. The dentist should give the child a treat or prize from a treasure chest. Rewarding the child healthy foods that improve dental health can be a very positive gesture. During the next appointment, the child will have practically no stress regarding the visit. The dentist's office is a fun place to go.

If you're wondering if there's a kids dentist near me, be proactive and perform an online search in your area. Many dental professionals gear their practices toward children, which makes your visit an easy one to complete. Simply try a dentist that you've researched as thoroughly as possible. You may find the perfect individual after only one try.

Five Ways To Fight Enamel Demineralization And Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

As a parent, you spend a fair amount of time thinking about your kids’ teeth. Are they brushing right or are they just chewing toothpaste? When they do brush, is it long enough? All these concerns can be addressed once they get them into the habit of good dental hygiene. You can try to keep them from eating too much candy and sweets, but chances are they will go out of their way to satisfy those cravings.

Despite your best efforts, your kids’ teeth can develop stains due to what’s known as enamel demineralization.  How then, is it possible to keep those little teeth healthy and clean without turning into a drill sergeant? There are some simple steps you can take to keep those teeth strong and white for as long as possible.

What Causes Enamel Demineralization?

Demineralization happens when acid attacks the tooth enamel, which causes it to erode and eventually leads to staining and cavities. As the enamel breaks down, the teeth begin to discolor and turn yellow. Your kids may also complain of sensitivity when chewing or you may notice white spots on your kids teeth. The most popular culprits of erosion-causing acids are found in the foods and drinks we consume, especially sodas and fruit juices.

Limit Fruity Drink Intake

Keep your kids away from sugary drinks as much as possible. Help them become more accustomed to drinking water and low sugar alternatives. If they must have a soda or juice here and there, steer them towards those that do not include citric acid. Insist upon rinsing as best you can.

Increase Water Intake

Besides the fact that it doesn’t contain citric acid, another benefit to your kids drinking plenty of water is that it increases saliva production. Saliva helps to clear debris away from the teeth and restore a normal pH balance in the mouth.

Brush and Floss

You may not be able to watch everything your kids consume but making sure they brush and floss regularly is critical. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes at least twice a day can help stop them from developing white spots on baby teeth and dealing with demineralization.

Calcium is known as an enamel protector and is a great neutralizer of erosion-causing foods. You can also add more dairy, almonds or kale to your kids’ diet to increase calcium intake.

Pediatric Dentist Office Check-ups

Whether it’s preventing erosion before it starts or treating white spots on teeth, your pediatric dental group can certainly help protect your kids’ smile. Regular check-up appointments every six months are usually the recommended check-up schedule.

What To Do When Your Baby Is Tongue Tied

You've probably heard the expression "tongue tied," meaning that a person doesn't know what to say. However, did you know that the same expression can also describe a genuine medical condition? It is called ankyloglossia, a condition that is congenital, or present at birth. Ankyloglossia is potentially serious, as a tongue tied baby may have difficulty breastfeeding. However, if your baby has ankyloglossia, the good news is that it is usually fairly easy to treat.

What Is Ankyloglossia?

The term "ankyloglossia" comes from two Greek root words: "glosso," meaning "tongue" and "ankylo," meaning "fused" or "fixed." Thus, ankyloglossia is a tongue that is fused to the bottom of the mouth and unable to move freely.

The frenulum is the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the lower jaw; you can see it if you curl your tongue backwards while looking into a mirror. In order for a baby to have full range of motion of the tongue, the frenulum is supposed to loosen and separate from the tongue during development in the womb. However, sometimes the frenulum remains attached to the bottom of the tongue, resulting in ankyloglossia. It is not known what exactly causes ankyloglossia, although boys seem to be affected more often than girls and genetics seem to play a factor as well.

What Are the Symptoms of Ankyloglossia?

A baby with ankyloglossia may be unable to place his or her tongue in the proper position (over the lower gum) to breastfeed. Difficulty breastfeeding may lead to "failure to thrive," meaning the baby is not getting enough nourishment to gain weight and develop properly.

If your baby tries to chew on your nipple instead of sucking it, this may indicate ankyloglossia, as a tongue tied baby may resort to this in order to compensate for breastfeeding difficulties. However, chewing on the nipple will actually impede the baby's ability to get milk, as well as being painful for you.

Other symptoms of ankyloglossia include the shape and movement of your baby's tongue, which may appear heart-shaped or notched when your baby sticks it out. Your baby may also have trouble sticking out the tongue, lifting it to the upper jaw, or moving it from side to side.

How Is Ankyloglossia Treated?

Once the condition has been diagnosed and you decide to fix the issue, an ankyloglossia surgery dentist can perform a simple outpatient procedure called a frenotomy in which the frenulum is cut free using a Laser Frenectomy procedure. This procedure is virtually pain free and requires no anesthesia. If this simple tongue tie procedure with a laser is not sufficient, a surgical procedure called a frenuloplasty, or reconstruction of the frenulum, may be an option.

If your baby is having difficulty breastfeeding, contact your pediatrician or lactation consultant right away.

Laser Frenectomy May Ease Breastfeeding Frustrations for Tongue-tied Babies

New mothers know that breastfeeding is often not as easy or natural as it looks; it takes a while to figure out positioning and how to properly latch the baby onto the breast. Once you figure it out though, breastfeeding can be a wonderful way to bond with your baby. But for some newborns, that proper “latching-on” just never happens, leaving moms and infants frustrated. There can be many reasons, but for four to 10 percent of newborns, this improper latch is due to tongue-tie, a condition that can now be quickly and easily resolved with a laser frenectomy procedure.

What is Tongue-Tie?

Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is a condition where the frenulum, the soft tissue connecting the underside of the infant’s tongue to the bottom of the mouth, is too short or thick, limiting movement. For about half of the babies with this condition, this makes it difficult for the infant to latch properly and breastfeeding becomes complicated.

How Does Tongue-Tie Affect Breastfeeding?

Without a proper seal babies aren’t able to nurse efficiently and this leads to slow growth and improper nutrition. For mothers, this uneven latching means that the milk ducts aren’t being emptied properly, causing a decrease in milk production, sore nipples and often mastitis (breast infection). Though sometimes the frenulum stretches and some infants are able to breastfeed even though they have this tongue-tie condition, more severe cases often require a laser frenectomy procedure to correct the problem, allowing a better latch and proper suction.

How Can Laser Frenectomy Help?

In the past, ankyloglossia surgery involved anesthesia, scalpels and stitches, but with the advancement of laser technology, trained professionals within a pediatric dental group can now use a laser to loosen the frenulum with little pain in a matter of minutes. There are a few side effects to a laser frenectomy procedure and recovery is very fast. Infants who undergo this procedure are usually able to breastfeed immediately afterward. Professionals debate about how soon ankyloglossia surgery should be done. Some think it should be done even before the newborn leaves the hospital, while others prefer to see how much the condition will affect breastfeeding.

The benefits of breastfeeding abound. For babies, breastmilk provides the perfect nutrition, bonding time with mom and an added dose of antibodies. For mothers, breastfeeding increases bone mass, decreases cancer risks, releases oxytocin and saves money. With all these benefits, it may be worth the effort to consult with professionals about a laser frenectomy procedures on babies to see this may help your tongue-tied infant.

Dentist Serving Children With Special Needs

Do you have young children with down syndrome or social phobias? If so, then it is important to find a special needs dentist who is prepared to accommodate you and your child. If you search online for a “kids dentist near me,” how can you know if the dentist will be one who is trained to serve children with special needs? There are several items you can look for to assess whether the pediatric dental group will be able to support your family.

1. Offers pre-appointments. A pre-appointment is a time for your child to discover that the dentist’s office is a safe place. Your family will get the chance to see the spaces your child will encounter, meet the special needs dentist, and familiarize yourselves with any tools that the doctor utilizes to help children through the appointment. This experience will allow your child to feel comfortable in the dentist’s environment.
2. Provides a dentist with specialized training.Only a few pediatric dental groups in your area will have a dentist who is specifically trained to work with children who have special needs. You could even ask the dentist what types of special needs children is he or she accustomed to working with.
3. Maintains accessible office space.If your child is in a wheelchair, accessibility is most likely very important to you. Visit the office prior to your 1st appointment to ensure that your child can get around the office space without too much disruption. Check that the office has adequate thresholds, doorway widths and stability equipment to care for all your child’s needs.
4. Gives sedation if needed. Often, a special needs dentist offers various levels of sedation to adequately care for your child during should anxiousness or proceed complexity appear to be an issue. Options range from mild sedation to general anesthesia. Discuss your needs and preferences with your dentist.
5. Cites various experience. If the dentist and staff have worked extensively with a range of children with special needs, they may have strategies to handle common and unexpected needs. They will be more likely to have the ability to support your child. The pediatric dental group might even offer advice on oral care at home for your child with special needs.

Watch this video: Special Needs Dentist in Bucks County

The special needs dentist that is right for you is willing and eager to serve your family. Find someone who will meet you, who shows training and experience, and who operates in a supportive space with the sedation options your child needs. Search “kids dentist near me,” and check out the results to find the pediatric dental group that is right for you.

Why Dental Sedation Might Be Right for Your Anxious Kid

If your child is terrified of visiting the dentist, it’s important to find a solution that works for your family. Your toddler needs to see a dentist on occasion to ensure their teeth and gums are developing the way they should be and no issues are apparent. However, if you can’t get your child to cooperate at your family dentist, a pediatric sedation dentist might be just what you need.

Goals of Dental Sedation

Before you take to the internet looking for a “kids dental office near me,” you need to understand what dental sedation is all about and how to know you’ve chosen a dentist who will fit your toddler’s needs. Here are some of the things you can expect from an excellent pediatric sedation dentist.

• Keeping your child safe throughout dental exams and procedures
• Controlling anxiety and minimizing trauma with the best chance of post-dentist amnesia
• Lessening any pain or discomfort associated with the dentist office
• Controlling movements and behavior while the procedure is safely completed
• Returning the child to a state where safe discharge with no further professional supervision is needed

Levels of Sedation

There are four different types of dental sedation for kids. The first is mild sedation, which puts the child in a state where they can respond normally to verbal commands but may have impaired coordination and cognitive function. This is often the best choice for children.

The other types of sedation include moderate, deep, and general anesthesia. Each involves progressively stronger drugs and requires more care during and after the procedure that is taking place. The medications, depending on sedation level, may be oral, intranasal, intramuscular, or intravenous.

Deciding if Sedation is Right

In the end, as a parent, you are the one who determines the final treatment offered for your child. However, you can expect that your pediatric sedation dentist will offer guidance and education to help you make the right decision. An experienced dentist will explain the risks to your toddler and explain what practices are in place to avoid bad reactions.

Choosing the Right Pediatric Sedation Dentist

When you look for a dentist for your child, be sure they are experienced in dental sedation for young children. You want a pediatric dentist office staff who are pleasant and friendly in order to avoid additional anxiety for your kid. Be sure to ask questions and listen to your gut when making this important decision. Your child will be happy that you did.

How Smart Moms Choose a Kid-Friendly Dentist

Modern moms must wear many hats. Not only do they work hard at developing children into well behaved teens, they must instill a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, if you start early, you can likely teach your young ones the importance of good oral health. Finding an affordable dentist for kids that stresses healthy oral habits is a good step in the right direction. To reduce your anxiety throughout the day, you need choose a kids dental office that’s fun and close to school and other errands you may have throughout the day. Here are some ways smart moms choose a kid-friendly dentist.

Ask Other Moms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX6rZpd9D94

Successful mothers usually aren’t shy about sharing insights and advice with other moms. If an online search for “dentist for kids near me” produces too many results, we recommend you take a deeper dive into the reviews and comments being shared for each pediatric dentist near your home. Even if you don’t ultimately decide to visit a recommended dental office, you may learn what you need to watch out for.

Look at the Décor

Before you schedule your child’s appointment, you should plan to visit the dentist’s officeyou are considering on your own just to see how inviting the environment is and how welcoming the staff is. Have a child-friendly waiting room alone is just not enough. In addition to colorful décor, the dental office should have exam rooms that are pleasant to the eye, clean floors, story books for a young mind and meet your insurance needs.

Talk to the Staff

Visiting the dentist can be unpleasant at any age. For young patients, it can be downright terrifying. Before you decide on a dental office for your kids, be sure you speak to the receptionist, assistants, dentists and other staff members. If the personnel in the office have a kind, caring demeanor, you have probably found the right childrens dentist near you.

Think About Location

Some children simply don’t travel well. If you have kids that become irritable in the car, you are setting yourself up for failure if you choose a dentist that is too far away. Even if your child doesn’t mind doing errands with you, asking him or her to devote a significant amount of time traveling to and from the dentist may be unreasonable. Try to find a provider that is near your home or your child’s school.

Don’t Forget Insurance

Finally, you can’t forget about the costs involved so looking for an affordable dentist for kids, make sure the places you consider accept the insurance plan you have. If you have a strict policy, speak with a representative of the insurance provider before scheduling your first dental visit.

Smart moms know they must encourage their children to have good oral health. To help your young ones put their best tooth forward, find a kids dental office that’s fun and welcoming. While your search may take a while, the benefits of finding the best pediatric dentist in Langhorne, Levittown area are impossible to overstate.

Kids With Special Needs Need Dental Specialists

Children with special needs must see dentists just like any other child, but not all dentists have been trained to care for patients with special needs. That’s why your child deserves to see a dentist who is specifically trained to cater to children with special needs. When you’re asking, “What’s the best children’s dentist near me?” you’ll want to go to a practitioner who understands and accommodates the issues your child faces.

It’s About More Than Dental Care

Dental services for children with special needs should be more comprehensive. When doctors, hygienists, and assistants know how to accommodate emotional, physical, cognitive, developmental, mental, or sensory impairments, it makes all the difference to you and your child. Of course, the oral treatment includes the necessary exams, cleanings, and fillings, but special needs dentists are uniquely trained to understand how certain conditions may affect treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbdk5eLkeAA

How An Appointment Differs

When you go to an appointment with a special needs dentist, you’ll notice that the dentist’s approach is different than a typical dentist. In general, there may be a slower and more gentle approach. It’s even better when the pediatric dental office isn’t busy. Some dentists will provide special needs patients with general anesthesia as a surgeon would in an operating room. This is very wrong but it does happen.

Choosing the Right Dentist

The parent should take several things into consideration when it comes to deciding on a dentist for your special needs child. It’s great if the office staff is well-trained to identify children with special needs. Choose a dentist whose receptionist will make the proper accommodations, such as making the appointment slightly longer.

Another important factor is whether the childrens dental practice has specialized equipment. For example, you may want a dentist who has a theater set up in the exam room. This way, your child will get to watch his or her favorite movies or TV shows, making the experience much more pleasant. The dentist should also provide unique advice for dental hygiene with your kids. For instance, he or she may advise you to use a toothbrush with a cartoon character on it.

You Should Feel Comfortable and Confident

Taking your child to the dentist shouldn’t be a stressful or an uncertain process. You deserve to go somewhere where you and your child feels welcomed and accommodated. The right dentistry practice will go above and beyond to ensure your child’s needs are met.

Raising a child with special needs is rewarding, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. Going to just any pediatric dentist near me shouldn’t be one met with challenges. The right one will make it an easy and fulfilling experience.

Dental Sealants Help Kids Avoid Cavities

While teaching children the proper way to brush and floss is key to encouraging a lifetime of healthy dental habits, professionals working in pediatric dentistry will likely agree there are few ways more effective at preventing cavities early in life than dental sealants. Sealants are also safe, affordable and easily applied in a relatively quick and painless procedure.

Sealing a Tooth’s Natural Fissures

When a dentist applies a sealant, he applies a thin coating over the tooth. This coating smooths natural pits and fissures, usually found on molars. Those fissures and grooves serve a purpose. They help grind food. Pits in and around those grooves can trap food, however, which can lead to tooth decay.

This begins with the buildup of plaque. Typically, young children brush poorly and incompletely. Many skip brushing altogether. When this happens, plaque develops along the teeth, especially in the gaps and spaces between teeth and near the gums. Dental sealants in kids helps eliminate this plaque buildup because of the protective film that forms is designed to minimize the buildup of plaque.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUcVOYWtZg

Helps Defend Against Gum Disease

Because it contains various forms of bacteria, excess plaque can lead to oral hygiene issues and signal the start of gum disease, or gingivitis. Left untreated, plaque buildup will wreak havoc on tooth enamel, a tooth’s natural protective barrier, and can lead to cavities. Too much bacteria can even lead to advanced periodontitis, which attacks both gum tissue and the bone that lies underneath.

It is easy to deal with plaque and prevent those possible outcomes. Once gum, bone and enamel is damaged, however, that damage cannot be reversed. Sealants, however, provide a way to easily prevent plaque buildup. Sealants on molars and premolars stop plaque in its tracks.

Encourage Good Dental Hygiene

Sealants can prevent many dental issues, but it should not be the only defense against oral disease. Parents should always teach young children how to take care of their teeth by properly brushing, rinsing and flossing.

When searching for a children’s dentist near me, make sure you ask if they do dental sealants. Not all pediatric dentists employ dental sealants in kids. Once you find the right dentist, ask about the dental services for children that are provided and ask if you can have the child’s molars and premolars evaluated to determine if they are good candidates for sealants.

Dental sealants are usually applied early in a child’s life, often between the ages of 5 and 7. This is when a child’s first permanent molars are expected to erupt. Secondary molars arrive between ages 11 and 14 and signify another good time to have teeth examined for sealing.

Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist – What To Expect

Children should see a dentist for the first time before their first birthday. They may not even have all their baby teeth at this point, but it is vital for an experienced dentist to inspect your child’s oral health to ensure the teeth will be healthy when they do come in. There are certain things you need to anticipate in order to have a productive meeting and to ensure your child receives the best dental treatment. We feel each parent must have a good positive attitude about the dentist they choose for their child.

This Video Portrays One Parent’s View of Her Pediatric Dentist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqDWH38HAao

What Can A Parent Expect?

You may be wondering what exactly happens at a child’s first dental appointment. For the most part, you dentist will most likely not do anything extensive to the teeth or gums. Instead, this visit is meant to acclimate the child to the dentist’s office and to get him or her used to all the various sights, smells and noises. During the oral examination, your new pediatric dentist will evaluate the tooth eruption progress and any structural or developmental red flags that may need closer examination.

You will sit next to your child as the dentist examines the gum tissue and any teeth that have come in so far. The dentist will also most likely clean the gum tissue. These initial examinations helps your child overcome any dental phobias and provide the reassurance your child needs to feel comfortable with oral exams.

How Can You Prepare Your Child for the Visit?

The best way to help your child feel more at ease is by appearing calmer yourself. If you personally have dental anxiety, it is very important that your child does not adopt those feelings so positive body language helps you communicate a positive message to your child. Children, even when they are only one year old, are very perceptive and will take note if you appear nervous or exhibit apprehension before their first dental visit.

You should also practice brushing your child’s teeth before the first appointment. Your child may be resistant at first, so try to make the experience fun. Play a song as you brush your child’s teeth. After brushing, play a fun game so that your child associates brushing with positive experiences.

What Should You Tell the Dentist?

This visit is also an opportunity for you to increase your own dental knowledge. The dentist will tell you if there are any areas of improvement concerning your child’s oral health. The pediatric dentist near you will ask you if your child still sucks his or her thumb and what kinds of food make up your child’s diet. Take all of these dental hygiene tips for kids to heart because it could vastly help your child down the line.

Find an experienced children’s dentist in Levittown who can help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout his or her life. The first few years are critical to developing good oral hygiene habits. After your child’s first appointment, you should schedule the next one six months in the future.

Mission Trips to Peru Improve Healthcare Standards

As a mother or father of a young child, you might be surprised to discover that many in this world are forced to live without healthcare professionals within a short distance from their homes. Sadly, the reality is that in many third world countries, there is a lack of medical and dental care, not only due to insufficient funding, but a lack of trained providers especially in rural areas. Peru, a multicultural, multilingual and multiethnic country located in the central-western part of South America is one country that struggles with providing quality dental care for kids.

The health indicators of Peru are slowly improving, but there are still many persistent problems, particularly in rural areas. Poverty and low education levels contribute to the health problems. The hospitals are full of patients who have illnesses that could be prevented through basic hygiene and healthy practices. Given that the medical facilities are underfunded and understaffed, it’s difficult to provide preventable medical care.

Intervention by Missionaries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY5q56Dxi1A

Although many people associate missionaries with evangelical activities, this dental student, Bari Levine, at Temple University has a desire to improve the oral health of orphans in Peru. Instead of proselytizing, this student took a trip to Peru to organize a culturally sensitive dental program for children at an orphanage. On her first trip to the country, she brought in toothbrushes, toothpaste and fluoride rinse to open the door to quality dental care for the kids in Peru.

Subsequent years were spent screening and providing oral health education. Levine also had education in public health, as well as a dental degree. She not only took mission trips to Peru, but raised the money to bring other students and supplies to the country. Levine didn’t want to just start pulling teeth when she went to Peru, but to prevent kid’s fear of dentists by beginning with education and relationships.

Growing Smiles Foundation

Levine founded a 501c(3) non-profit organization called Growing Smiles Foundation. Last year, the team provided over $130,000 in dental services. The foundations partnered with a local dental school to provide follow-up care, which keeps the program sustainable. Their mission is to continue to provide quality dental care for kids in Peru, not only for health reasons, but for self-esteem and confidence.

The healthcare problems in Peru might seem overwhelming, but Levine’s efforts demonstrate that change is possible through small steps. She is tracking her efforts in hopes of creating a model that can be replicated to help orphans around the world. For Levine, dental care is an outreach that can change people’s lives. During her time at home here in the states, Bari provides dental services for children in Bucks County with the rest of the team at Growing Smiles in Floralvale.

Preventative Dentistry for Kids Includes the Following

If you are a mother of young children, you realize the importance of helping your little ones develop good healthy habits. As part of your plan to teach your kids about oral health, we encourage you to establish a positive working relationship with your pediatric dentist. Every six months, plan to take your child for a checkup and cleaning. If your child has sensitive teeth or is exposed to sugary snacks, we often recommend dental sealants for kids that have a sweet tooth.

Dr. Ross will elaborate in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54jE9yjDHHw

Baby Teeth Establish The Foundation For Adult Teeth

Your child will have baby teeth for years, so you want to be certain they stay in good shape. With a good preventative dentistry plan, you can improve your child’s odds that they will have healthy teeth for years to come. In addition to helping encourage good oral health habits, we recommend discussing dental sealants and fluoride treatments for your children. By helping your child avoid cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease, your pediatric dentist can protect the baby teeth until adult teeth replace them. It is our experience that if the gums are in good shape prior to the arrival of adult teeth, the new teeth come in straighter and with less complications.

Establish Healthy Habits

To promote a life-long commitment to good oral health, parents must help their young children establish healthy habits. Pediatric dentists who focus on preventative care are more inclined to spend quality time teaching children how to brush properly, how to use floss, will discuss the importance of healthy snacks, rinsing behaviors and other dental hygiene practices. When instructing children under the age of 3, dentists generally make sure parents are brushing with their children so that kids can mimic parents as they brush their teeth. Some pediatric dentists may also recommend at-home fluoride treatments to help promote overall dental health. Dr. Radin and Dr. Levine are skilled at winning over the confidence of young children if they happen to be inattentive initially.

Achieving Positive Outcomes

When children have access to preventative dentistry, they generally experience positive outcomes overall. Not only are kids with healthy teeth usually more confident, they typically have more nutritious diets. Similarly, those who take good care of their baby teeth tend to have healthier permanent teeth. Because a child’s dental appointments help parents stay on top of the oral health for kids, adults experienced positive outcomes as well. At an early age, the dental services for children that a parent should be most concerned about is preventative dentistry.

Preventative dentistry includes more than just dental sealants for kids. While a pediatric dentist in Langhorneuses a variety of treatments to fix immediate problems, he or she helps establish the important habits your child needs to have a healthy mouth throughout life. Scheduling checkup and cleaning appointments early and often is a proven way to take full advantage of preventative dentistry for kids.

Managing Childhood Fear of Dentists

Fear of the unknown is a real emotion, whether you are an adult or a child. But for children, who have no control over the situation, the fear of the unknown can be traumatic and distressing. Many children react to fear with panic attacks and tears when they are told they must visit a dentist because it is an unknown. They may have heard an adult talk about a dental visit, or they may have seen a dentist on a television show, but the child’s perception of a dentist can often bring about the same reaction as a doctor visit. To ensure your child has good oral health, begin overcoming dental anxiety by demystifying the visit.

Reasons Children Fear Dentists

Between the ages of two and eight, childhood fear comes in many forms and for many reasons. One of the main factors for overwhelming fear of your children’s first visit to the dentist is often his or her perception of other family members feelings toward dentists. Thus, your child’s anxiety level may be based on what their belief is about your perception of a dental visit. By overcoming dental anxiety, you may be taking the first step in helping your child become less anxious.

Other reasons children may fear dentists can include:

• Emotional insecurity
• Fear of strangers
• Panic disorder
• Fear of pain
• Social anxiety
• Concern about possible threats
• Separation anxiety

Ways to Overcome Children’s Anxiety

Overcoming dental anxiety in children can often be relatively easy because they take their reaction cues from those they trust. You may be able to project positive feelings toward the dentist in a few simple ways. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Visit a pediatric dentist before baby’s second birthday.
2. Role play a dental visit with your child and their favorite doll and make it fun.
3. Keep your words simple. Don’t include shot, drill, hurt, etc.
4. Avoid bribery because kids are smart enough to know something is probably wrong if they must be bribed.
5. Find a television show they love with an episode about dentists and share it with them several times.
6. Make brushing teeth a fun experience each night.

Using Positive Reinforcement Works

Pediatric dentists are typically specially trained to deal with overcoming dental anxiety in children, so finding one you trust can be the first step in developing good oral health for your young child. Finding a dentist for children in Langhorne and talking to your child about the dentist as if he or she were a friend may ease the first office visit anxiety for both of you.

What Is the Going Rate for the Tooth Fairy?

One of the most fun milestones in a child’s life is when they begin to lose their baby pearly whites. It can lead to silly traditions, such as trying an unusual way to pull out a loose tooth, and funny memories about how the tooth finally came out. That first wiggly tooth not only brings great excitement to the family, but also an important question: how much money should you give your child for a lost tooth?

How much does the tooth fairy pay?

When you were little, you might have only gotten a quarter or a larger molar might have earned a dollar. Unfortunately for your wallet (but to the pleasure of your kids), the tooth fairy’s payments have increased dramatically since you lost any teeth and the increase does not seem to coincide with inflation! The current average in 2017 is $4–$5 in cold hard cash. Some parents even sweeten the pot with little gifts.

Some parents choose to pay more for the first and/or last tooth than for the rest. You can also use this opportunity as an incentive for your kids to improve their oral care, telling them that the tooth fairy pays more for healthier teeth. Of course, you should factor in your income and how many children you have as you decide on an amount.

Should you keep your kids’ baby teeth?

Did you ever wonder what you should do with all those baby teeth your collecting? It can be impractical, and a little creepy, to keep every single one. If you’re the sentimental type, hold onto at least one from each child. You can store them in a keepsake box, put them in baby books, or give them to your children when they’re older. There’s no obligation, however, to keep baby teeth at all.

What about kids who lose their teeth late?

When your children don’t lose their teeth at the same time their friends and classmates do, it can be a little emotional for your child. Losing teeth is like a rite of passage to becoming a big kid. Explain to your children that everyone grows at different rates and the time will come when their teeth are ready.

If no baby teeth have come out by age 7, then go to a dentist for children in Langhorne or the town near you to ensure adult teeth lie beneath the gums. Even if your kids aren’t late, lost teeth are the perfect time to visit a kids’ dental office. If you don’t already have one you go to, ask a close friend to suggest a “pediatric dental offices near me” andschedule an appointment.