A kid friendly dentist assists parents and their child through each step of teeth development, from the first emerging tooth to the removal of wisdom teeth if necessary during the teenage years. It is helpful for parents to learn more about dental milestones for chilren and how a kid friendly dentist can help with each one.
Of course, every child will have a unique set of treatment needs and goals, but there are common milestones that parents can expect to occur. The following is a review of four of the more notable dental milestones for children that a kid friendly dentist can assist with and potentially provide treatment for.
Baby teeth eruption, also called teething, is the first major child dental milestone. Parents are encouraged to visit a kid friendly dentist for the first time within six months after baby teeth erupt. The visit allows the dentist to check on the early development of the baby teeth and ensure there are no complications. They can also provide information for the parent on how to deal with the teething stages and how to care for their child’s teeth properly between dental visits.
Perhaps the child’s favorite milestone is the loss of their first baby tooth, especially if it means a visit from the Tooth Fairy. The first tooth loss typically occurs around the ages of five or six. Some children may experience tooth loss later. Permanent teeth will grow soon after the loss of primary teeth, which may cause some normal discomfort. Even though losing a baby tooth can be an exciting milestone, it is encouraged to protect baby teeth through dental sealants, cavity treatment and by wearing a mouthguard during sports.
Some kid friendly dentists recommend phase I orthodontics, which can occur around the same time permanent teeth come in. However, phase II orthodontics is far more popular. This can occur at any point during the teenage or adult years, although earlier is often better since the jaw and teeth structure is more malleable at a younger age. Most kid friendly dentists recommend parents begin thinking about phase II orthodontics for their child between the ages of 10 and 14.
Many people will not see their wisdom teeth come through until their adult years, but some may experience at 16 or 17. In other instances, a kid friendly dentist may recommend having wisdom teeth removed during the teenage years if they are impacted by or become problematic in phase II orthodontics. Although it might not be necessary until the child is an adult, it is helpful for parents to plan for the possibility that their child may need to have their wisdom teeth removed during their teenage years.
If your child’s baby teeth are starting to come in or if there are dental or orthodontic concerns, we encourage you to either give our kid friendly dental team a call today or reach out through email to arrange a time for a visit.
Request an appointment here: https://www.gatewaydental.org or call Gateway Dental Dr. William Swann DDS at (301) 485-7492 for an appointment in our Bowie office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Kid Friendly Dentist in Bowie, MD.
Kid friendly dentist offer a range of services to improve oral health for children. This includes preventive and restorative care. Many also offer select cosmetic treatments and orthodontic services such as braces and clear aligners. Of course, every kid-friendly dentist has a unique set of services that they offer. Kid-friendly dentists offer services for children, whereas…
Wanting some beneficial information on bulimia, anorexia and teeth problems in children from a kid friendly dentist? Is it because you have a child that has been diagnosed with one or both of these eating disorders? According to National Eating Disorders, eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect people of every…
A kid-friendly dentist is the way to go if you want your child to grow up with a good attitude about dentists. Many of us have a visceral fear of dentists, but we were not born with it. That fear comes from the negative experiences, sights and smells that we associate with the dentist’s offices.The…
As children grow older, they develop a key trait and slowly learn to perfect it over the years. It starts with the sigh, then a shrug of the shoulders and finally a roll of the eyes. The eye roll is a common form of communication that children use to state that they are annoyed, bothered,…
Periodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating issues that affect gum tissues and the other structures…
Professional teeth whitening treatments are the ideal way to get teeth whitened and they lead…
A bridge might be your best option if you have one tooth that's damaged or…
Invisalign® treatment can be used to gradually align your teeth through plastic trays that your…
A family dentist focuses on treating oral health conditions for all members of a family,…
One of the advantages of dental bonding is that a defect in the tooth can…
