1. What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
   
2. Dental Care for Your Baby
   
3. Thumb, Finger and Pacifier Habits
   
4. Regular Dental Visits
   
5. Sealants, do they work?
   
6. X-ray Use and Safety
   
7. X-rays in the Digital Age

1. The Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the oral health and unique needs of young people. After completing a four-year dental school curriculum, two to three additional years of rigorous training is required to become a pediatric dentist. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the unique needs of your infants, children and adolescents, including persons with special healthcare needs.

Dr. Libby completed five years of pediatric specialty training.

Pleasant visits to the dental office promote the establishment of trust and confidence in your child that will last a lifetime. Our goal, along with our staff, is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and teach them how to care for their teeth. From our special office designs to our communication style, our main concern is what is best for your child.
Back to Top

2. Dental Care for Your Baby

Q: When should my child first see a dentist?
A: "First visit by first birthday" sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future.

Q: Why so early? What dental problems could a baby have?
A: The most important reason is to begin a thorough prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (also known as 'baby bottle tooth decay' or 'nursing caries'). Your child risks severe decay from using a bottle during naps or at night or when they nurse continuously from the breast.

The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.

Q: How can I prevent tooth decay from a bottle or nursing?
A: Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup.

Q: When should bottle-feeding be stopped?
A: Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.

Q: Should I worry about thumb and finger sucking?
A: Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants; most stop by age 2. If your child does not, discourage it after age 4. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. Your pediatric dentist will be glad to suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit.

Q: When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?
A: The sooner, the better! Starting at birth, clean your child's gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water. Remember that most small children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively. Unless it is advised by your child's pediatric dentist, do not use fluoridated toothpaste until age 2-3.

Q: Any advice on teething?
A: From 6 months to age 3, your child may have sore gums when teeth erupt. Many children like a clean teething ring, cool spoon or cold wet washcloth. Some parents swear by a chilled ring; others simply rub the baby's gums with a clean finger.
Back to Top

3. Thumb, Finger and Pacifier Habits

Q: Why do children suck on fingers, pacifiers or other objects?
A: This type of sucking is completely normal for babies and young children. It provides security. For young babies, it's a way to make contact with and learn about the world. In fact, babies begin to suck on their fingers or thumbs even before they are born.

Q: Are these habits bad for the teeth and jaws?
A: Most children stop sucking on thumbs, pacifiers or other objects on their own between 2 and 4 years of age. No harm is done to their teeth or jaws. However, some children repeatedly suck on a finger, pacifier or other object over long periods of time. In these children, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip and not come in properly.

Q: When should I worry about a sucking habit?
A: Your pediatric dentist will carefully watch the way your child's teeth come in and jaws develop, keeping the sucking habit in mind at all times. For most children, there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until the permanent front teeth are ready to come in.

Q: What can I do to stop my child's habit?
A: Most children stop sucking habits on their own, but some children need the help of their parents and their pediatric dentist. When your child is old enough to understand the possible results of a sucking habit, your pediatric dentist can encourage your child to stop as well as talk about what happens to the teeth if your child doesn't stop. This advice, coupled with support from parents, helps most children quit. If this approach doesn't work, your pediatric dentist may recommend a mouth appliance that blocks sucking habits.

Q: Are pacifiers a safer habit for the teeth than thumbs or fingers?
A: Thumb, finger or pacifier sucking all affect the teeth essentially the same way. However, a pacifier habit is often easier to break.
Back to Top

4. Regular Dentist Visits

Q: How often should a child see the dentist?
A: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental checkup at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene. Your pediatric dentist will let you know the best appointment schedule for your child.

Q: Why visit the dentist twice a year when my child has never had a cavity?
A: Regular dental visits help your child stay cavity-free. Teeth cleanings remove debris that build up on the teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child's brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

Tooth decay isn't the only reason for a dental visit. Your pediatric dentist provides an ongoing assessment of changes in your child's oral health. For example, your child may need additional fluoride, dietary changes or sealants for ideal dental health. The pediatric dentist may identify orthodontic problems and suggest treatment to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth.

Q: What happens in a dental checkup?
A: The pediatric dentist will review your child's medical and dental history. He or she will gently examine your child's teeth, oral tissues and jaws. The teeth will be cleaned and polished, followed by the application of a fluoride solution.

Your pediatric dentist won't talk just to you about dental health. He or she will talk to your child with easily understandable words, pictures and ideas. Your child will be motivated to take responsibility for a healthy smile.

Q: Will X-rays be taken at every appointment?
A: No. Pediatric dentists, acting in accord with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, recommend X-rays only when necessary to protect your child's dental health. For example, X-rays may be needed to diagnose tooth decay or abnormalities. Or, they may be required for orthodontic treatment. Your pediatric dentist will discuss the need for X-rays with you before any are taken.

Q: How can I help my child enjoy good dental health?
A: The following steps will help your child be part of the cavity-free generation:

1. Beware of frequent snacking.
2. Brush effectively twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
3. Floss once a day.
4. Have sealants applied when appropriate.
5. Seek regular dental checkups.
6. Assure proper fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products or fluoride supplements.
Back to Top

5. Sealants

Q: What are sealants?
A: Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free.

Q: How do sealants work?
A: Even if your child brushes or flosses carefully, it is difficult -- sometimes impossible -- to clean the tiny grooves and pits on certain teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices, placing your child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants "seal out" food and plaque, thus reducing the risk of decay.

Q: How long do sealants last?
A: Research shows that sealants can last for many years if properly cared for. So, your child will be protected throughout the most cavity-prone years. If your child has good oral hygiene and avoids biting hard objects, sealants will last longer. Your pediatric dentist will check the sealants during routine dental visits and can recommend reapplication or repair when necessary.

Q: What is treatment like?
A: The application of a sealant is quick and comfortable. It takes only one visit. The tooth is first cleaned. It is then conditioned and dried. The sealant is then flowed onto the grooves of the tooth and allowed to harden or hardened with a special light. Your child will be able to eat right after the appointment.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The treatment is very affordable, especially in view of the valuable decay protection it offers your child. Most dental insurance companies cover sealants. Some companies, however, have age and specific tooth limitations. Check with your benefits provider about your child's coverage and talk to your pediatric dentist about the exact cost of sealants for your child.

Q: Which teeth should be sealed?
A: The natural flow of saliva usually keeps the smooth surfaces of teeth clean but does not wash out the grooves and fissures. So, the teeth most at risk for decay -- and therefore, most in need of sealants -- are the six-year and 12-year molars. Many times, the permanent premolars and primary molars will also benefit from sealant coverage. Any tooth, however, with grooves or pits may benefit from the protection of sealants. Talk to your pediatric dentist, as each child's situation is unique.

Q: If my child has sealants, are brushing and flossing still important?
A: Absolutely! Sealants are only one step in the plan to keep your child cavity-free for a lifetime. Brushing, flossing, balanced nutrition, limited snacking and regular dental visits are still essential to a bright, healthy smile.
Back to Top

6. X-ray Use and Safety

Q: How often should a child have dental X-ray films?
A: Since every child is unique, the need for dental X-ray films varies from child to child. Films are taken only after a complete review of your child's health and only when they are likely to yield information that a visual exam cannot.

In general, children need X-rays more often than adults. Their mouths grow and change rapidly. They are more susceptible to tooth decay than adults. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends X-ray examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. Children with a low risk of tooth decay require X-rays less frequently.

Q: Why should X-ray films be taken if my child has never had a cavity?
A: X-ray films detect much more than cavities. For example, X-rays may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury or plan orthodontic treatment. X-rays allow dentists to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable and affordable.

Q: Will X-rays films be taken routinely?
A: No. X-ray films are recommended only when necessary to protect your child's dental health. The frequency of X-ray films is determined by your child's individual needs.

Q: How safe are dental X-rays?
A: Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.

Q: How will my child be protected from X-ray exposure?
A: Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today's equipment filters out unnecessary X-rays and restricts the X-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film and proper shielding assure that your child receives a minimal amount of radiation exposure.
Back to Top

7. X-rays in the Digital Age

At Desert Ridge Pediatric Dentistry, we only utilize low-dose digital X-rays, which are the newest improvement in dental diagnostic imaging. Now you can have your dental X-rays done electronically, almost instantly appearing on our computer screen with up to 80 percent less radiation. The benefit to our patients is that you would need eight years of these new state-of-the-art low-dose digital X-rays to equal one year of the regular dental X-rays. And the X-rays are better because we can optimize the brightness and contrast as well as enlarge them for easier viewing.

To emphasize the safety of dental X-rays, I quote from an article by Drs. Truhlar, Morris and Ochi in the Journal of Implant Dentistry, Vol. 2, No. 21993. "The calculated risk of cancer to a patient from a panoramic X-ray or series of cavity detecting X-rays is less than one in a million. To lend perspective on the relative risk of one in a million, compare to the following activities that are estimated to have a one in a million risk of causing your death."

1. 20 minutes as a 60-year-old man (natural death)
2. Two months in Denver (cosmic radiation)
3. 10 miles by bicycle (accident)
4. 300 miles by car (accident)
5. 10 days of typical factory work (accident)
6. One cigarette (chemical carcinogen)
7. 500 ml of wine (alcohol)
Back to Top

 

Q. How do dental X-rays compare to other sources of radiation?
A. We are exposed to radiation every day from various sources, including outer space, minerals in the soil and appliances in our homes (like smoke detectors and television screens).

Source: Adapted from Frederiksen NL. X-rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dentist Journal. 1995; 112(2): 68-72.

* A millisievert (mSV) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as radiographs).
Back to Top