Pediatric Dentistry

Healthy kids are happy kids. And when you help them form self-care habits in early childhood, like taking care of their teeth, they become healthy adults. When you introduce them to the best pediatric dentistry practice in New York State, you give them that head start. They won’t be afraid to go to the dentist, but instead know how to prevent most dental problems and where to go when they need help — quickly and efficiently.

 

Your children’s first visit to the dentist should be fun, an adventure that they look forward to experiencing, not a scary trip to be anxious about. Kids aren’t born with a natural fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. And they often develop that fear based on ideas that you may impart.

Being able to bring your kids to a pediatric dentistry practice that also provides family dentistry, restorative services, orthodontic treatments and cosmetic procedures gives you the opportunity to build your own trusting relationship that you can then pass on to your children. The team at Albany County Dental Associates does their part to ensure your kids have a pleasant experience.

Kids’ Comfort Equals Enjoyable Visits

The Albany Dental team uses simple words to describe each treatment, helping kids understand what’s happening. The early exposure and dental treatment prepare your children for a lifetime of good dental health, so it’s vital that the visits are accepted by kids.

As written in Parents magazine magazine states: “Going to the dentist, as we all know, is an important part of keeping our kids’ mouths healthy. Still, it typically doesn’t rank very high on any parent or child’s want-to-do list. Being asked to sit still — often tipped back in a big chair with a bright light in their eyes and someone poking around in their mouth — can rattle even the calmest of kids.”

To help your child prepare:

  1. Visit a pediatric dentistry team that knows how to ease children’s fears and gently approach treatments.
  2. Bring your child with you to one of your own appointments. Or better yet: schedule a time for your child just to meet the dentist and hygienist before the actual first dental appointment.
  3. Stay with your child during the appointment, even holding hands if it helps relieve nerves. Remain close to offer assurances that everything is going smoothly and will be OK.
  4. Allow the pediatric dentist and his team to talk to your child and build that important rapport. That means that you have to let go enough to allow this to happen.
  5. Take advantage of any distractions offered in the office — such as TV or magazines — or even bring in a portable music player and headphones to keep your kid’s attention elsewhere.
  6. Don’t make false promises. While your pediatric dentistry team does everything possible to make the treatments painless, they may be uncomfortable. So don’t tell your kids that the dentist never hurts, because sometimes it does a little.

When to Start

One of the best moves you can make to set your kids up for a lifetime of regular dental care is to start early. Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It’s important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth, which begin at six months of age, receive proper dental care and benefit from important daily oral hygiene habits. Right from the beginning, even at six months.

Your child should visit the pediatric dentist every six months after that first visit for regular dental cleanings and checkups. Fluoride treatments twice a year also work to keep teeth at their strongest. Tooth sealants are recommended because they seal the deep grooves in your child’s teeth and prevent decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants last for several years, but are monitored at your child’s regular checkups.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth decay has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Nothing should keep you from visiting your dentist, especially when you’ve found a pediatric dentistry team willing to work within your schedule and your budget.

Pediatric Dentistry Designed for Teens Too

Since your Albany Dental pediatric dentist works with your entire family, your adolescents can receive the services they need as they grow. Incorrectly grown teeth can now be adjusted with advanced orthodontics. In addition to filling cavities and getting braces, your pediatric dentistry experts offer safe sedation when necessary.

Your pediatric dentistry office provides other treatments and services, such as:

  1. Offering emergency dental care for those unavoidable sports injuries or other accidents
  2. Fixing chipped and broken teeth with cosmetic procedures suitable for younger people
  3. Treating jaw pain that’s often directly related to teen dental problems
  4. Carrying clear braces when your teenager refuses to undergo teeth straightening because of worries regarding looks and social stigmatism
  5. Doing more extensive procedures such as root canal procedures when decay is more advanced
  6. Saving natural teeth with dental crowns, as needed