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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Calming the Anxious Child | Preventive Dentistry | Dental Care for Baby | Esthetic Dentistry | Nitrous Oxide | General Anesthesia | Mouth Protectors Q. How does a pediatric dentist help with dental anxiety? A. Pediatric dentists have special training in helping anxious children feel secure during dental treatment. Pediatric dental offices are designed for children. Staff members choose to work in a pediatric dental practice because they like kids. So, most children are calm, comfortable and confident in a pediatric dental office. Q. How will a pediatric dentist help my child feel comfortable? A. Pediatric dentists are trained in many methods to help children feel comfortable with dental treatment. For example, in the "Tell-Show-Do" technique, a pediatric dentist might name a dental instrument, demonstrate the instrument by using it to count your child's fingers, then apply the instrument in treatment. Q. Should I accompany my child into treatment? A. Infants and some young children may feel more confident when parents stay close during treatment. With older children, doctor-child communication is often enhanced if parents remain in the reception room. Mild sedation, such as nitrous oxide/oxygen or a sedative, may benefit an anxious child. If a child is especially fearful or requires extensive treatment, other sedative techniques or general anesthesia may be recommended. Q. What is preventive dentistry? A. Preventive dentistry for children includes:
Your pediatric dentist practices preventive dentistry. Q. Why is preventive dentistry important? A. Preventive dentistry means a healthy smile for your child. Children with healthy mouths chew more easily and gain more nutrients from the foods. they eat. They learn to speak more quickly and clearly. They have a better chance of good general health, because disease in the mouth can endanger the rest of the body. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry means less extensive and less expensive treatment for your child. Q. When should preventive dentistry start? A. Preventive dentistry begins with the first tooth. Visit your pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in. You will learn how to protect your infant's dental health. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental disease and helping your child belong to the cavity-free generation. Q. What role do parents play in prevention? A. After evaluating your child's dental health, your pediatric dentist will design a personalized program of home care for your child. This program will include brushing and flossing instructions, diet counseling and if necessary, fluoride recommendations. By following these directions, you can help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits. Q. How do pediatric dentists help prevent dental problems? A. Tooth cleaning, polishing, and fluoride treatments are all part of your child's prevention program. But there's much more! For example, your pediatric dentist can apply sealants to protect your child from tooth decay - help you select a mouth guard to prevent sports injuries to the face and teeth - and provide early diagnosis and care of orthodontic problems. Your pediatric dentist is uniquely trained to develop a combination of office and home preventive care to ensure your child a happy smile. Q. When should my child first see a dentist? A. "First visit by first birthday" sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between six and twelve months of age. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future. Q. Why so early? What Dental problems could a baby have? A. The most important reason is a practical prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is nursing or baby bottle tooth decay. Your baby risks severe decay when he or she nurses continuously from the breast or from a bottle of milk, formula or juice during naps or at night. Another concern is gum disease. Recent studies show nearly half of all children aged two and three have at least mild inflammation of the gum tissues. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits. Q. How can I prevent tooth decay from nursing or a bottle? A. Don't nurse your child to sleep or put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or sweetened liquid. Use only water in the bottle, or give your baby a pacifier. Check with your pediatric dentist to make sure you child is getting enough fluoride for decay protection. Lastly, learn how to brush and floss your child's teeth. Q. When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth? A. The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your baby's gums with a clean damp wash cloth. Use a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste if your pediatric dentist advises fluoride protection. Later, brush your child's teeth with fluoride toothpaste and a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. Remember that most small children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively. Q. What causes discolored teeth? A. There are many possible causes. Trauma to a tooth can cause discoloration. Severe illness during tooth development can discolor areas of teeth because of disruptions in tooth development. Additionally, an entire tooth might discolor if exposed to certain medicines or minerals during development. Lastly, poor oral hygiene, especially during orthodontic therapy, can lead to discolered areas on teeth as well. Because of advances in techniques and medications, today there is usually little discomfort during dental visits. When patients are anxious or if relaxation techniques fail, your dentist may use sedatives or anti-anxiety agents such as nitrous oxide to help your child relax. Nitrous oxide is a commonly used dental sedative that produces a giddiness or euphoria, which is why people frequently call it " laughing gas". Nitrous oxide, a sweet smelling gas, is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen. It is inhaled, along with oxygen, through a nasal mask. It is used for patients of all ages. It is also used in a number of dental treatments such as tooth restoration, placement of crowns, or for minor surgical procedures. Nitrous oxide is often used along with local anesthetics and pain medications. It has the effect of raising the pain threshold and may even make the time appear to pass quickly. Q. What is general anesthesia? A. General anesthesia provides a way of effectively completing dental care while a child is unconscious. Q. Is general anesthesia safe? A. An experienced health care provider, specifically trained in delivering general anesthesia, is responsible for the general anesthesia delivery, monitoring and medical care of the child. Many precautions are taken to provide safety for the child during general anesthesia care. Patients are monitored closely during the general anesthesia procedure by anesthesia personnel who are trained to manage complications. Your pediatric dentist will discuss the benefits and risks involved in general anesthesia and why it is recommended for your child's treatment. More information about Sedation and Anesthesia for Pediatric Dental Treatment. Q. What are athletic mouth protectors? A. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. Q. When should my child wear a mouth guard? A. Whenever he or she is in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, and even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball. (Information provided by American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association.) �1999 Designed for Dr. Maria by GlobalG |
