Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (mandible), the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent.
An Interview with Dr. Jacqueline Carney on Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Jacqueline Carney is a pediatric dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Pediatric Dentistry.
Q. When should parents take their children to have their first checkup?
A. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children receive their first visit by their first birthday, even if they don’t have teeth. This appointment evaluates the entire mouth and provides guidance for the parents on the best ways to care for their child’s mouth.
Q. What should be used to clean a baby’s teeth?
A. Even before the teeth grow into the mouth, oral care should be occuring. From the start, after each feeding, the caretaker should wipe out the infant’s mouth with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze. There are some baby finger wipes designed for this purpose as well, but are a costly alternative to a washcloth or gauze. Wiping the gums removes any liquid residue and helps the infant become comfortable with oral care. Once the first tooth erupts, a soft baby toothbrush dampened with water should be used after each feeding to gently scrub in small circles all along the gumline and the various surfaces of each tooth. No toothpaste is necessary at this time.
Q. What is a Pediatric Dentist?
A. A pediatric dentist is a licensed dentist that has completed 4 years of dental school focusing on general dentistry as well as an additional 2 years of training focused on the special needs of pediatric patients. During those two years of pediatric dental residency, a resident spends time learning about pediatric dental research, growth and development, behavior and psychology of pediatrics and clinical experience limited to children. Additionally, there is a large component of the pediatric dental program that focuses on the medical topics that relate to pediatric dentistry. Residents spend six weeks learning and performing general anesthesia in a hospital setting in order to become an expert on managing a child’s airway and starting IVs. Rotations take the residents through pediatric emergency medicine, cardiology, cancer care and other medical specialites with large pediatric populations. Pediatric dentists leave the educational environment well versed in children’s health.
Q. What should a parent do if their child has a toothache?
A. Administer over the counter pain medications and contact a dentist. If the child experiences difficulty breathing or swallowing in association with a toothache, the parent should seek immediate care at an emergency room.
Q. Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child’s teeth?
A. Yes and no. If your child sucks a thumb or pacifier while they have baby teeth, typically any changes in the way their mouth grew around the pacifier or thumb can be overcome with the nornaml movement of the permanent teeth as they grow into position. If your child continues to suck on a thumb or pacifier after their permanent teeth start to grow into the mouth, then permanent changes in the structure of the bones may occur.
Q. How can a mom prevent decay caused by nursing?
A. Always wipe out your child’s mouth with a gauze or washcloth after they nurse and never allow your child to nurse on demand throughout the night while the two of you sleep together. Breast milk is the perfect food for your child’s body and I’m a huge supporter of breastfeeding. However, breast milk has a very low mineral content and natural sugars are present. Those natural sugars break down the enamel and allow the bacteria in your child’s mouth to create dental decay. There aren’t enough minerals in breast milk to repair the areas of damage caused by the bacteria and the teeth break down with cavities.
Q. How often does a child need to see the pediatric dentist?
A. I like to see my patients around their first birthday and every six months after. The enamel on baby teeth is much thinner than the enamel on permanent teeth. We like to see it often so we can catch areas with a problem early. Finding and repairing cavities when they are very small often means I don’t have to numb your child’s mouth and that makes a much more pleasant experience for all of us. Additionally, growth and development occurs rapidly at various ages and catching a growth problem early means less invasive treatments that are easier on your child.
Q. How to contact Dr. Carney if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
1470 Pantops Mountain Place
Charlottesville, Virginia 22911
Phone: 434-817-1817
Fax: 434-817-1819
Email:email@childrensdentistryofcharlottesville.com
Website:http://childrensdentistryofcharlottesville.com/
