Pediatric CHILDREN’S Dentist near Chicago

Your child’s first visit

The first “regular” dental visit should be just after your child’s third birthday. The first visit with our pediatric dentist in Chicago is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask that you sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. You may also wait in the reception area during a part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and Dr. Dani, our dentist in Chicago.

We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken to reveal any decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums. We may clean your child’s teeth and apply a topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay as well as make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most importantly, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest that you prepare your child the same way you would before his or her first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his or her first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

During the first visit, the dentist will:

• Examine your child’s mouth, teeth, and gums.
• Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
• Check to see if fluoride is necessary.
• Teach your child about cleaning his/her teeth and gums.
• Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.

What about preventative care?

Tooth decay and childhood no longer have to go hand-in-hand. At our office, we are most concerned with all aspects of preventative care. We use the latest dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surface of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health.

Cavity prevention

Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting your child’s sugar intake and instilling healthy brushing habits will go a long way towards preventing cavities. Everytime someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside the mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. The reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time, the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, leading to cavities.

The consistency of a person’s saliva also makes a difference. Thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars, his or her saliva tends to be thicker, which allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.

The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will be the four upper front teeth, and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2 ½ years old.

At around 2 ½ years old, your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6, the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth, and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth, but they are essential to chewing, biting, speech, and appearance. For this reason, it is essential for your child to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.