Dental Treatment Just For Kids
Visiting the dentist can be scary for anyone, especially kids. At Willits Modern Dentistry, we provide treatment designed specifically for children.
Getting an early start to dental health is essential, and we’re here to help make it as easy as possible. Our doctors understand that children have different needs than adults.
We’ll explain everything we do in a reassuring and fun way, so your child knows that there’s nothing scary about healthy teeth.
Children Have Different Needs Than Adults
Pediatric dentists are specially trained to understand the unique dental needs of children, both physically and emotionally. This experience treating younger patients makes pediatric dentists better at handling the emotional and developmental issues that impact children more than adults.
Pediatric dentists make sure that children feel more comfortable during dental visits by playing games, singing songs, and letting them explore the environment. They use kid-friendly terms to describe the procedures and make sure early dental treatments are rewarding, so your child will start out with a positive perception of going to the dentist.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend that your child should first visit a pediatric dentist about six months after their first tooth erupts, and no later than your child’s birthday.
This may seem young, but finding a dental home for your child is the key to a lifetime of dental health.
We’ll examine your baby’s mouth and teeth as well as make sure you have the tools and knowledge to help prevent future dental problems.
It’s important to keep baby teeth healthy because problems with baby teeth can affect how permanent teeth grow later on. If cavities are neglected, they can cause pain and infection that can cause problems with the development of permanent teeth.
Baby teeth generally fall out between age five and twelve and are important for chewing and eating, providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into position, and helping your child’s jaw bones and muscles develop normally.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first visit will be tailored to your child’s age, personality, and individual needs. Some children need to use this time to get familiar with the room and people, while others are ready for an examination, cleaning, and topical fluoride treatment right away.
We’ll also discuss preventive measures. We try to limit the number of X-rays we take, so we’ll only take X-rays when a specific dental situation warrants it.
We understand that your child’s first dental visit can be stressful for you as a parent as well. We’re always happy to answer any question you may have and help you avoid projecting your anxieties on your child.
Contact us to learn more about how we can work together to get your child of the path to a healthy smile for life.