Maintaining a Healthy Smile: First Time at the Dentist
When and why should you schedule your child's first dental checkup? Why is it important to care for baby teeth? How can you ease a child’s fear of treatment? Dr. Beatrice Greenberg-Freezer, Director of the Children's Dental Clinic at Maccabi Dent Assuta Tel Aviv, provides vital information to help you ensure your child maintains a healthy smile.
When should you schedule your child's first dental visit?
It is recommended to schedule your child's first dental visit between the ages of one and a half and two years old.
What is the first visit for?
- Familiarizing your child with the dental clinic environment and procedures, fostering a sense of security and reducing anxiety about the unknown. During the examination, your child will become acquainted with the clinic, the dentist, and the dental tools, enabling a positive experience that reduces fear of future visits and potential treatments.
- Instilling proper habits for dental and oral health, as they are influenced by daily habits such as eating, drinking, and brushing teeth. During the visit, the connection between oral health and various habits will be discussed, starting from pacifier use to nutrition and hygiene practices, underscoring the importance of early attention to these habits.
- Performing an examination of the teeth and mouth: During the first assessment, the dentist will evaluate the structure and number of teeth, jaw structure, and the overall health of oral tissues. The dentist will also check for any conditions requiring treatment, such as the presence of cavities (dental decay) or tooth discoloration. Subsequently, based on the child's age and the examination findings, the dentist will advise if further treatment or additional tests, such as X-rays, are necessary.
Why is it important to care for baby teeth?
The assumption that issues with baby teeth will resolve once they fall out is incorrect. Baby teeth issues can significantly impact not just oral health and quality of life, but also overall health and even development:
- Preventing infection of neighboring teeth: Early childhood caries has serious consequences requiring attention. Caries is a dynamic decay of the tooth that can worsen and cause severe pain, disrupting the child's daily activities. Caries can spread to neighboring teeth, including the permanent tooth buds connected to baby teeth inside the jaw.
- Preventing the need for complex and challenging treatments: Delayed treatment can exacerbate issues, potentially requiring more complex interventions in the future, including extractions.
- Preventing aesthetic issues: Every parent desires a healthy and attractive smile for their child. In cases requiring extraction, a gap will remain where the affected tooth once was. This can cause neighboring teeth to shift or "migrate" into the empty space, potentially affecting tooth alignment and necessitating orthodontic treatment later.
Preventing multiple sources of infection that could delay growth and development: Chronic infection can trigger the release of growth-inhibiting substances in the body. As a result, severe dental infections can impede growth and lead to failure to thrive. In many instances, comprehensive dental treatment can restore a normal rate of development.
What if a child is anxious about the necessary dental treatment ?
Today, advancements in medicine, technology, and therapeutic approaches have made dental treatments easy, comfortable, and nearly painless. One effective method to ease the dental treatment process is the TSD (Tell, Show, Do) approach. This involves explaining the procedure to the child beforehand, demonstrating what will occur, and allowing them to interact with the tools to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Young children who struggle to cooperate or require complex dental treatments are referred to pediatric dental specialists. The specialists will tailor the treatment accordingly, using sedation and laughing gas as needed, and in some instances, recommending treatment under general anesthesia.
Please note:
- All dental treatments for children aged 0-15, including those involving laughing gas and sedation, are covered in the health plan.
- Anesthesia for early childhood caries treatments is provided free of charge up to the age of 5.
And one last thing... when should you start brushing teeth?
It's recommended to start brushing the gums even before the first teeth come in, using a gauze pad. After the first tooth erupts, it is advisable to use a small, soft toothbrush with toothpaste. The amount of toothpaste should be small - about the size of a pea. The toothpaste should be selected based on the child's age (toothpaste labels typically indicate the intended age range). For effective cleaning, it is recommended that parents assist with teeth brushing until the child reaches the age of 7-8.
For more information about pediatric dentistry, visit the Maccabi Dent website
For information about Maccabi Dent Clinics nationwide
To locate a clinic, schedule an appointment, and find specialists, visit the Maccabi Dent website
