 Dentistry for the Kids in Your Life
Maybe you've never considered how important a child's baby teeth are. They not only provide the ability to properly chew food, they also are important to proper speech development. The teeth are essential in creating the boundaries for formation of many sounds we make when we talk. The baby teeth are also important for aesthetic reasons—some children who lose teeth early become self-conscious and won't smile.  Another purpose for the baby teeth is to hold the space which will be needed by the permanent teeth which will replace them. If a tooth is lost too soon, the teeth on either side of it may shift over, stealing the space the next tooth will need. This may create the need for braces in a child that otherwise would not have needed them. First Dental Appointments: Like everything else your child does for the first time, the first visit to the dentist can be important in shaping subsequent attitudes. So it is important to make sure the first visit is a successful one. Start by preplanning. Don't wait for an emergency. When you schedule the visit, let us know that it's your child's first time. We'll tell you what to expect. Usually, an introductory visit simply involves letting your child sit in the dental chair or having their teeth cleaned. This gives the young patient a chance to get acquainted in a positive way. Be careful not to communicate any anxiety to your child. Don't promise treats: that tells the child the visit is something unusual. Don't say, "It won't hurt" or mention the possibility of pain or discomfort. Instead, just tell your child something like "We'll be visiting the dentist. You'll get to sit in a special chair and help the dentist count your teeth."  If you don't communicate anxiety, your child won't feel anxious either. Kids are pretty good at sensing what you're feeling and reading between the lines. We always explain to them exactly what we're going to do and then show them what we're going to do. After that they're ready to go ahead with what we've explained. What's the best age for a child's first visit? Generally, around the age of two and a half, when all twenty primary teeth should have erupted. Of course, we'd want to see any child you suspect has cavities or who's injured a tooth. The best idea is to schedule the first visit early before your child has a toothache, an accident, or any type of dental problem. By following these guidlines that we've developed over the last 18 years, we've been very successful at helping create little dental patients who not only have healthy smiles, but also look forward to coming to see us! 
TOOTH TIMESThe following chart will let you track the progress of your child's teeth. The times are just averages and they may vary significantly among your children. Remember that the first permanent tooth to arrive is the 6-year molar, which slides in BEHIND the child's back baby teeth. It doesn't replace a baby tooth, so check periodically to see if it is erupting even though no baby teeth have come out. |
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For more information on dentistry and your child, call the Dentistry and Implantology Group of Orland Park, PC at (708) 429-5575. |
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15750 S. Harlem Avenue, Suite 36
Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 429-5575