Gentle Dental Care for Children

Dr. Corina Ramirez is committed to providing quality general dentistry services for the complete oral health and wellbeing of your children in a gentle, fun, and positive environment. Proper oral hygiene is critical to the health and wellbeing of your child.

Good dental care habits reduce the risk for the formation of cavities and requirement for costly dental restoration treatments. This requires a combination of proper at-home care and regular dental checkups and professional cleanings.

The first dental visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children visit a dental practitioner before their first birthday.

Usually the first visit to a pediatric dentist is scheduled at the age of between 6 months and 1 year, as soon as the first tooth erupts. This is a critical checkup to ensure that your baby’s mouth has no existing or looming problems. Subsequent visits should be scheduled at age 2 and 3, and then every 6 months thereafter.

Before the first visit (or even during subsequent visits), you should prepare a list of questions and concerns that you have about the oral health of your child. Your dentist will automatically provide you with some basic oral care education, so you will leave the office well-informed anyway.

Regular checkups

Prevention is a key component of general dentistry for children as it allows the dentist to diagnose and treat problems early before they become more serious and demand more invasive and costly procedures.

Dental checkups should be scheduled at least every six months in order for the dentist to:

• Examine your child’s teeth and gums
• Check for decay and other issues of concern in the mouth
• Check your child’s bite, spacing for permanent teeth, and proper alignment of the jaw
• Perform thorough cleaning and polishing
• Perform an oral exam by assessing the condition of the teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and mouth
• Check any old fillings and restorations for signs of damage (chips, cracks, wear) from chewing, grinding, or clenching
• Perform x-rays to check for hidden decay, as well as the position of developing adult teeth

The pediatric dentist will also educate you and your child on proper at-home care habits, such as brushing techniques, flossing, use of mouthwash, use of fluoride, and proper nutrition, as well as potential problems to watch out for, such as thumb-sucking and pacifier habits, sugar concerns, and nursing decay.

Dental restoration

When your child has a dental problem, it is important to visit a dentist for consultation and diagnostics such as CAT scans and x-rays to identify the tooth problems before treatment.

Schedule your appointment today

If you have any questions or concerns about the oral health of your child, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ramirez.

Set Up an Appointment Today