Dr. Stan Preece is a 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 the first dental visit occurs after the child’s first birthday. The purpose of such an early visit is to identify any problem areas in the child’s mouth and to educate the parents on proper dental hygiene and diet. Nursing caries (cavities) is a very common disease that can be identified and prevented by seeing the child at such an early age. In addition, these early dental visits help the child to become comfortable with the dentist and alleviate fears.
Q. What should be used to clean a baby’s teeth?
A. We recommend using a soft baby toothbrush with fluoride free training toothpaste or water until age 3.
Q. What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
A. A pediatric dentist has completed four years at a dental school and has an additional two years of training in pediatric dentistry.
Q. What should a parent do if their child has a toothache?
A. If your child has a toothache, have them rinse any food out of the tooth with warm water. Give them Advil or Motrin which will help with pain and swelling. You can also rub a small amount of Anbesol (teething gel) on the gums around the tooth. Finally, take them to a dentist as soon as possible because pain in a primary (baby) tooth usually indicates an abscess has formed or is forming.
Q. Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child’s teeth?
A. Many children have oral habits, such as thumb, finger or pacifier sucking, which allow them to self-soothe during their infancy. Prolonged oral habits and habits that occur throughout the day are the ones that contribute to malocclusion (crooked teeth). Generally, we would like the child to be finished with the pacifier habit by the age of two and other finger habits by the age of three.. Positive reinforcement works better than nagging or scolding in helping them break this habit. Sometimes an oral appliance is necessary.
Q. How can a Mom prevent decay caused by nursing?
A. Nursing caries is a problem frequently encountered in all pediatric dental offices. The best way to prevent it is to stop nursing-by-demand after the first baby teeth erupt into the mouth. In other words, don’t continue to nurse throughout the night. Also, it is imperative that the teeth be wiped off after nursing. Early childhood caries is also seen when the child is allowed to carry a juice cup throughout the day and when they are habitually put to bed with juice or milk in a bottle. Basically, it is not the milk or the juice that is the problem, it is the number of times the sugars in the juice and milk come into contact with the teeth. The more frequently they use milk and juice, the greater the concentration of the sugar in the mouth and, therefore, the greater the chance for nursing caries.
Q. How often does a child need to see the pediatric dentist?
A. Children and adults need to see a dentist every six months. However, it is more critical for children because the enamel of the primary teeth is so thin. Once a cavity begins to form, it can progress to the nerve of the tooth very quickly.
Q. How to contact Dr. Preece, if we have further questions?
A. If you have any questions, you may contact us at:
South Fort Worth Office – 817-292-2004
North Fort Worth/Keller Office – 817-741-6100
