Patient Information
FIRST VISIT
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit the dentist by age one. The most important reason to begin this early is to begin a thorough prevention program by teaching you the best ways to provide the proper oral care for your child.
Your child’s first visit to the dental office needs to be a positive experience. The pediatric dental office environment is geared directly to making your child feel comfortable. The office is populated with their peers so it is normally a less threatening environment than they may encounter in an office where only adults may be present. Also, in case a child needs restorative care, the pediatric dentist is highly trained in techniques so that treatment can be accomplished safely and quickly with minimal emotional stress to your child.
At your child’s first visit, the main emphasis will be on teaching you how best to take care of your child’s teeth. A big concern is called early childhood caries (also known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). Children risk severe decay from using a bottle during naps or at night or when they nurse continuously (on-demand or at will feeding) from the breast. Drinking juice, soda or tea from a bottle should be avoided and when juice is offered it should be from a cup. Before the teeth come in, a soft cloth can be used to massage the gums and then after the teeth appear, a soft infant toothbrush and water can be used to brush the teeth. Begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they appear. The sooner the better! Do not use fluoridated toothpaste until your child is able to successfully spit out the toothpaste every time (usually around 3 years old).
If your child is apprehensive about the first visit, we allow a complimentary walk-through first visit where the child can come to the office and observe what goes on. Subsequent visits can then be scheduled so that the child is gradually introduced to necessary treatments.
Early introduction to professional dental care is the key to a lifetime of good oral health. A positive first visit is the first step to prevention of dental disease, early intervention of problems and development of trust in the dental professionals.
We look forward to meeting you at your first visit! To print off our new patient forms, please click [here]
EMERGENCY
CARE
There are a few things a parent can do to evaluate
the emergency and make your child more comfortable.
The first thing to remember is to stay calm. Injuries to the mouth, face and teeth happen frequently in children. Remaining calm and taking prompt action will help minimize the damaging effects of the injury, and lessen your child’s discomfort.
Second, assess whether or not your child’s injury involved hitting
the head causing them to lose consciousness even for a brief moment. If
this is the case, your child should see a physician immediately. Worry about
the mouth and teeth later. Third, try to stop any bleeding with a clean
washcloth or gauze. As you do this, check for broken teeth and/or missing
teeth. If there are missing teeth, look for them.
Broken Tooth
Gently clean or rinse dirt from the area around the break. Place a cold compress on the face in the area of the broken tooth to minimize lip or facial swelling. If the fracture is more that one-half of the tooth, call the dentist immediately.
Knocked Out Tooth
For permanent teeth-find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it in cold water, but DO NOT scrub or handle the root unnecessarily. Try to replace the tooth into the socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by closing on a gauze pad or washcloth. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a cup of milk, or if this is not available, cool water. Go to the dentist immediately. Time is important for saving the tooth, less than 30 minutes is the best.
For primary (baby) teeth- Teeth are not re-implanted. The tooth fairy will be at work prematurely.
Toothaches
Clean the area around the tooth. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water and use dental floss to remove any trapped food between the teeth. DO NOT place aspirin on the gums or tooth. This will cause a burn to the gum tissues. If there is swelling, apply cold to the outside of the face. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Call the dentist.
Bitten Tongue or Lip or Cheek
If there is bleeding apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. Apply an ice compress to the injured area. If bleeding does not stop, call the dentist.
Possible Broken Jaw
Do not move the jaw. Stabilize the jaw by tying a towel, necktie, etc., over the top of the head. Apply cold compresses. Go to an oral surgeon or hospital emergency room immediately.
Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls
Out
Fold a gauze pad or clean washcloth over the bleeding area. Keep it in place for 15 minutes, then repeat as necessary.
Cold or Canker Sores
Some children will get these periodically. Usually over-the-counter preparations give some relief. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist.
We reserve time every day for emergency care. After scheduled office hours, call the office. The answering machine will give you the phone number to reach Dr. Ward.
FUN FACTS:
George Washington's
dentures
were made
from walrus, hippopotamus,
and cows' teeth,
as well as elephant tusks.
Crocodiles don't clean their
own teeth - they let a
plover (little bird)
pick their teeth
for scraps of leftover food.
The first dental toothbrushes
were actually tree twigs.
Chewing on the tips of the
twigs would spread out
the twig fibers.
The twig was then used
to clean teeth.
Each person's set of teeth is different and unique-
even identical twins.
During the Middle Ages in
Germany, you would have
been advised to kiss a donkey
in order
to relieve
your toothache.
An elephant’s molars
measure
one foot across
and
weigh between eight
and ten pounds each.
China sets aside September
20thas a national
holiday known as
“Love Your Teeth Day.”
78% of Americans
have
had at least
one cavity by age 17
Horses teeth are extremely
long and grow continually.
They wear down, change
shape
and become discolored
as they grow,
so we can really tell a horse's
age by looking at his teeth.
In 200 AD, the Romans
used a mixture of bones,
eggshells, oyster shells
and honey to clean their teeth.
If you're right handed,
you will chew your food
on your right side.
If you're left handed,
you will tend to chew
your food
on your left side.
Americans spent $21 billion
on candy in 2001.
That is more than the
gross national products of
Lithuania, Costa Rica and Mozambique combined.