Children & Primary Dentition

Primary Teeth

Your child’s first set of teeth, the primary teeth, are far more important to your child’s future dental health than you may imagine.

Strong, healthy primary teeth can help your child chew food more easily, and speak more clearly. In addition to this, normal healthy primary teeth act as spacers, permiting the permanent teeth which replace them, to assume their proper position in the mouth.

If a primary tooth is lost prematurely, your child may need to wear a space maintainer until the permanent tooth erupts. Otherwise, the teeth beside it may tilt toward the empty space, causing the permanent teeth to come in croocked.

Taking Your Children to The Dentist

Regular visits to the dentist are an essential part of maintaining dental health. Ideally, it is best to take your child to the dentist between six and twelve months of age.

The earlier you begin, the better chance your dentist has to prevent problems, which is a lot easier and less expensive than fixing them.

Reasons for regular visits:

• You can be reassured that the home care you are providing is working.
• Potential problems can be spotted early and corrected.
• Your child can begin to understand the role of the dental team in prevention.

The first visit…

The dentist will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums, for tooth decay and other problems. He or she may also take x-rays of your child’s teeth to see whether the facial bones and teeth are developing properly and to find any hidden decay.

The dentist may also want to have your to have your child’s teeth cleaned and a fluoride gel or solution applied.

It is important for the first visit to be a positive experience for your child. Tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help him stay healthy.
You know your child, therefore you are the best judge of how to get him or her ready for the first visit. An anxious parent can transfer anxiety to the child, so be positive, as you would be with any important new experience.

It is recommended that children visit the dentist every six months. Your dentist and other members of the dental staff can do a lot to protect your child from dental disease.

By starting dental visits at an early age and keeping them regular, you can help your child have strong, healthy teethy all throughout life.
Good oral health practices should begin in infancy and continue throughout adult life. In your child’s early years, you must provide this care.

Later you will need to instruct, monitor and motivate your child to help mainain good oral health habits.