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How often should I have my teeth cleaned?
Every patient (even denture patients) needs to be seen at least once a year, and the vast majority of patients should visit their dentist two to four times a year. Studies show that calculus (tartar) begins to accumulate on tooth surfaces between 90 and 120 minutes after professional cleaning. Many patients benefit from professional cleanings that are more frequent than every six months, especially those who does not floss daily.
How old should my child be at her first dental vist?
When should your child first see a dentist, and why? Unless you see problems, we feel the best time to see your child is when all their baby teeth are erupted, which is between 2 ½ – 3 years old. This time frame is the perfect opportunity for the dentist to carefully examine the development of your child's mouth. Because dental problems often start early, the sooner the visit, the better. To safeguard against problems such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking, the dentist can provide or recommend special preventive care.
How do I prepare my child and myself for the visit?
Before the visit, ask the dentist about the procedures of the first appointment so there are no surprises. Plan a course of action for either reaction your child may exhibit; cooperative or non-cooperative. Very young children may be fussy and not sit still. Talk to your child about what to expect and build excitement as well as understanding about the upcoming visit. Bring with you any records of your child's complete medical history.
What will happen during my child's first dental exam?
Many first visits are nothing more than introductory icebreakers to acquaint your child with the dentist and the practice. If the child is frightened, uncomfortable or non-cooperative, a rescheduling may be necessary. Patience and calm on the part of the parent and reassuring communication with your child are very important in these instances. Short, successive visits are meant to build the child's trust in the dentist and the dental office, and can prove invaluable if your child needs to be treated later for any dental problems.
It is recommended that a child appointment be scheduled early in the day, when your child is alert and fresh. Parents may be asked to wait in the reception area so a relationship can be built between your child and the dentist. If the child is cooperative, the first session often lasts 30 minutes and may include the following, depending on age:
- A gentle but thorough examination of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral tissues to monitor growth and development and observe any problem areas
- If indicated, a gentle cleaning, which includes polishing teeth and removing any plaque, tartar build-up and stains
- A demonstration on proper home cleaning
- Assessment of the need for fluoride
The dentist should be able to answer any questions you have and try to make you and your child feel comfortable throughout the visit. The entire dental team and the office should provide a relaxed, non-threatening environment for your child.
How do I help protect my child's teeth?
Parents typically provide oral hygiene care until the child is old enough to take personal responsibility for the daily dental health routine of brushing and flossing. A proper regimen of home preventive care is important from the day your child is born. Listed below are five ways to protect your child's oral health at home.
- Clean your infant's gums with a clean, damp cloth. Ask your dentist if you may rub a tiny dab of infant toothpaste on the gums.
- As soon as the first tooth comes in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristledtoothbrush and pea-sized dab of non-fluoride infant toothpaste. Remember, most children are also getting fluoride from the community water supply.
- To avoid baby bottle tooth decay and teeth misalignment due to sucking, try to wean your child off of the breast and bottle by one year of age, and monitor excessive sucking of pacifiers, fingers and thumbs. Never give your child a bottle of milk, juice or sweetened liquid as a pacifier at nap time or bedtime.
- Help a young child brush at night – the most important time to brush, due to lower salivary flow and higher susceptibility to cavities and plaque. Perhaps let the child brush his teeth first to build self-confidence, then the parent can follow up to ensure that all plaque is removed. Usually by age 5 or so, the child can learn to brush his or her own teeth with proper parental instruction.
- The best way to teach a child how to brush is to lead by good example. Allowing your child to watch you brush your teeth teaches the importance of good oral hygiene.
Guidelines to follow for your child's oral health
- Schedule your child's first dental visit no later than their first birthday.
- Put only water in the bottle that your child uses at bedtime.
- Provide a well balanced diet for your child. Limit snack and sugar intake.
- Brush your child's teeth in the morning and at bedtime. Floss daily.
- Ask your dentist about fluoride supplements or rinses for your child.
- Seek regular 6 month dental check-ups.
- Monitor harmful oral habits such as thumb-sucking and pacifier use.
- Ask your dentist about dental sealants.
- Ask your dentist about mouth guards if your child is involved in sports.
Sources:
Peter G. Sturm, DDS, MAGD, Cranbury, NJ;
Kevin Boyd, DDS, University of Chicago;
Mario Gildone, DDS, Reno, NV;
June Owens, DDS, MScD, Nashville, TN;
B.J. Mistry, DDS, Tarrytown, NJ;
Allan R. Pike, DDS. MS, Portland, OR
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
What are sealants?
A dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars (the teeth directly in front of the molars). Sealants have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention of cavities. They were developed whrough dental research in the 1950's and first became available commercially in the early 1970's. The first sealant was accepted by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Therapeutics in 1972.
How effective are sealants?
Scientific studies have proven that properly applied sealants are 100 percent effective in protecting the tooth surfaces from caries. Because sealants act as a barrier to decay, protection is determined by the sealants' ability to adhere to the tooth. As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot penetrate through or around a sealant. In fact, research has shown that sealants actually stop cavities when placed on top of a slightly decayed tooth by sealing off the supply of nutrients to the bacteria that causes a cavity. Sealant protection is reduced or lost when part or all of the bond between the tooth and sealant is broken. However, clinical studies have shown that teeth that have lost sealants are no more susceptible to tooth decay than teeth that were never sealed.
How are sealants applied?
Sealant application involves cleaning the surface of the tooth and rinsing the surface to remove all traces of the cleaning agent. An etching solution or gel is applied to the enamel surface of the tooth, including the pits and grooves. After 15 seconds, the solution is thoroughly rinsed away with water. After the site is dried, the sealant material is applied and allowed to harden by using a special curing light. Other sealants are applied and allowed to harden much the same way nail polish is applied to fingernails. Sealant treatment is painless and could take anywhere from five to 45 minutes to apply, depending on how many teeth need to be sealed. Sealants must be applied properly for good retention.
Sources:
American Dental Association;
The National Institute of Dental Research;
Leslie V. Margens, DDS, MPH, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota;
Leonard Cohen, DDS, MPH, MS, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Education and Instructional Resources, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
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