Pediatric Dentistry in Florida

Pediatric Dental Care: What Is It?

When it comes to dentistry for kids, you need a pediatric dental office. These dentists have completed four years of dental school and two extra years of training for this speciality. They’re dedicated to caring for children’s teeth from infancy through adolescence. Part of their training involves ensuring that kids are comfortable during their treatment. Our dentists also provide guidance for having proper dental hygiene at home.

When Should Kids Visit a Dentist?

Parents are encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to make an appointment with a pediatric dentist before their kids’ first birthdays. Cavities can develop as soon as children’s teeth break through. For example, baby bottle tooth decay can develop from sugary drinks sitting on their baby teeth. When two teeth are touching, the risk increases, which is why flossing is important.

Also, it’s essential for children to see pediatric dentists for help protecting their baby teeth. They have a vital role in the mouth despite only being around for a short while. For example, primary teeth help kids chew to attain good nutrition and allow them to develop good facial structures and clear speech. In addition, baby teeth allow permanent teeth to develop properly. Talk to our dentists about having good at-home dental hygiene.

What Happens During a Child’s Dentist Appointment?

We demonstrate our dedication to kids dental care by conducting a full assessment of your kid’s jaw and teeth alignment. Then, we can see issues before they can develop into serious problems. At that point, we’ll explore the issues further with X-rays.

Since kids don’t always cooperate, our pediatric dentist in South Ocala can do the exam while the child sits in their parent’s lap or the dental chair. This option ensures that they’re comfortable during the visit. In addition, we decorate our lobby and exam rooms with children in mind.

To further ensure comfort and reduce anxiety during procedures, we now offer pediatric sedation in partnership with a certified anesthesia group.

Which Services Are for Pediatric Dentistry?

Oral assessments, gum disease management, and tooth repair are a few of the services that make up dentistry for children. Our office uses a variety of procedures for kids, including

• Teeth Cleaning – Regularly cleaning children’s teeth is important to avoid decay. With our gentle hands, your kids will feel at ease during our professional cleaning.
• Fluoride Treatment – Fluoride for children’s teeth is another preventive treatment that fights tooth decay. It binds with enamel to help teeth resist cavities.
• Dental Sealants – Our dentists use sealants for kids to fill in the grooves of rear primary and permanent teeth. Doing so protects the teeth from the bacteria and food that cause decay.
• Fillings – Before filling cavities in children, our dentists must remove the damaged inner parts. Then, we repair the remaining hole with a tooth-colored or an amalgam filling.
• Children’s Crowns – If your child’s cavities are too large for fillings to repair, we’ll set crowns on baby teeth to safeguard them from more damage.
• Mouthguards – During athletic sports such as football and gymnastics, protecting baby and permanent teeth is important. A mouthguard softens blows to the face, which reduces the risk of teeth breaking or falling out. At night, it can protect teeth from the damage caused by grinding while sleeping.

When Do Baby Teeth Break Through?

Your kid’s first appointment with a pediatric dentist should be around the age of 6 to 10 months, when their lower central incisors break through. The next set of baby teeth coming in will be the upper central incisors around the age of 8 to 12 months. Every six months, about four teeth will push out so that the remaining primary teeth emerge by the age of 3 years.

When Do Children Get Permanent Teeth?

The jaw and facial bones begin to grow shortly after kids turn 4 years old. This makes space for the permanent teeth to emerge. When they turn 6 or 7 years, the front baby teeth start to fall out. By the age of 12 years, all of the primary teeth have usually fallen out. Children need to see a kid’s dentist at every stage of this development to ensure proper tooth growth. Consult our dentists for more information about baby tooth loss.

What Can Cause a Kid’s Toothache?

A lot of issues can cause toothaches in kids, including cavities, gum disease and emerging teeth. Mouth pain might also be the result of an earache, mouth sore or sinus infection. Our childrens dentist can identify and treat whatever is the cause. Call our practice in South Ocala to schedule a visit for your kid.