Understanding General Dentistry for Children

General dentistry practices that cater to children often focus on creating a relaxing, playful environment that helps kids of all ages learn to care for their teeth, gums, and oral health over their lifetimes. These dental providers understand the importance of establishing a positive relationship and forging healthy habits early to last a lifetime. Consider the age of the child in question before making a cleaning appointment, and speak to a licensed dentist about treating any outstanding dental issues if there are concerns.

Parents often wonder if it would be appropriate to take children to a general dentistry practice. Often, general dentists cater to the whole family. Depending on the age of the child patient, general dentists may provide one or more of the following services:

• Advice on tooth eruption and loss: Parents of babies and young toddlers may have specific questions related to the eruption of teeth, thumb sucking, drinking from bottles, and pacifier use.
• Education: A general dentist can advise on proper dental tools and assist the child in learning how to brush, floss, and rinse correctly to prevent cavities.
• Cleaning: Children, like adults, should start receiving regular, twice-yearly cleanings at a young age. Toddlers who are still experiencing tooth eruption may visit the dentist for fluoride treatments and well-checks without undergoing a full cleaning.
• Sealants: Sealants are a pain-free, fast, easy, and relatively inexpensive method of preventing cavities. Applied to permanent back teeth, sealants are shown to provide protection against 80% of cavities for the first two years after application. After the first two years, sealants provide an additional 50% protection for another two years. This procedure can reduce the need for more invasive and expensive future treatments, such as crowns or fillings.
• Dental repairs: Active children may experience broken or chipped teeth due to a sporting injury or a bicycle accident. These occurrences are normal parts of childhood, but tooth loss is taken seriously by a general dentistry practice, especially if it is the result of an accident. 
• Management of dental conditions: It is not as common for kids to have dental conditions such as gingivitis when compared to adults, but these conditions do happen occasionally. A general dentistry practice well-versed in the care of children’s teeth will make sure that parents and kids understand how the dental condition affects the mouth and what the patient can do to care for teeth and gums at home.

The general dentist is available for regularly scheduled cleanings as well as for treatment of irregularities whenever the need arises.

Babies who do not yet have teeth do not need to receive a cleaning, but a parent may wish to speak to a general dentist about tooth eruption if the child is extremely fussy or seems to be in abnormal pain when getting new teeth. Toddlers may benefit from visiting the dentist with parents simply to become more familiar with a general dentistry practice and prepare for a visit in the future. Parents should take care to engage in enjoyable activities with their young children in the waiting area and provide a reward for a successful visit to ensure that the dentist’s office is associated with positive experiences.

Young children may be able to undergo a cleaning, if necessary, or receive fluoride treatments to protect the teeth before good brushing habits are established. Elementary school children and teenagers, like adults, should visit the general dentist at least twice a year to maintain good oral health and develop sustainable habits at home. By visiting the dentist regularly and making the visit an enjoyable experience, parents are helping their children to establish positive oral health habits that will benefit them for their lifetime.