Pediatric dentistry is a branch of preventative dentistry which directs special focus towards a child’s baby teeth and emerging adult teeth in order to prepare them for a lifetime of good oral health. But why invest in a child’s baby teeth if they are just going to fall out and give way to new teeth? Baby teeth serve as placeholders and guides for when adult teeth come in, so the placement of baby teeth can tell us a lot about a child’s developing dental health. Here at Christian Johnson DMD, your local dentist in Waldorf, Maryland, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to have a healthy and beautiful smile, and we want to help your child have that chance! Check out our youth and teen preventative dentistry treatments below and learn everything you need to know about pediatric dentistry.
Why Pediatric Dentistry?
As we mentioned before, caring for your child’s teeth is a way of caring for the future of their dental health. There are many painful and damaging conditions that we can catch early by means of preventative dentistry. Similarly, your child will develop his or her speaking, eating, and smiling habits with their baby teeth, and if something is awry your child could develop a permanent disability in one of those essential areas. As a dentist in Waldorf, Dr. Christian Johnson offers a wide array of general dentistry treatments, many of which can be used to improve your child’s dental health:
- Topical Fluoride Treatment: Make a child’s teeth more resistant to decay
- Dental Sealants: Protect teeth from cavities
- Dental Bonding: Repair chips and minor fractures to front teeth
- Root Canals: Save a rotted or dying tooth
- Mouth guards: We make custom mouth guards in case your child participates in sports
Caring For You Child’s Teeth
Besides receiving preventative dentistry treatments, there are many things you can do to take care of your child’s teeth. Between the six and nine months your child’s baby teeth will begin to erupt, after which they should begin an oral hygiene regimen:
- Once baby teeth emerge you may wipe your child’s teeth with a wet gauze cloth after each feeding
- Once your child has more baby teeth (around age 2), you can use a soft bristled brush with a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste to brush their teeth
- Make sure you supervise your child’s brushing until the age of six to make sure they are brushing for 2 minutes and developing good oral hygiene habits
Visit Your Local Dentist in Waldorf, MD
The best thing you can do to care for your child’s teeth and to prevent the development of unwanted dental conditions is to bring your child in to the dentist once they turn one year old. By that age we will be able to complete a preventive dentistry and general dentistry screening and evaluate whether your child is showing signs of malocclusions or misalignment. Don’t delay—your child will thank you for it when they have a smile of beautiful straight teeth. Contact Christrian Johnson DMD, your dentist in Waldorf, to schedule an appointment!
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