Children's Dental Care

A pediatric dentist is a dentist who has finished dental school and then completed two or more years of additional training in the unique dental needs that children have. Our pediatric dentists are experienced in providing high-quality dental care to children. They also know how to make children—and their parents—feel at ease throughout their visits.

Many of our patients have found us after asking their friends, “Is there an excellent children’s dentist near me?” Once you’ve had your first appointment with us, you’ll know that we’re a trusted provider of kids’ dental care.

At What Age Should I Take My Child to the Dentist?

Your child should have his or her first visit with a dentist by the child’s first birthday. Once a tooth has erupted, it is susceptible to decay. When a child has two teeth that touch each other, they must be flossed regularly to keep cavities from developing between the two teeth.

You may have heard that should not put your child to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup. This is due to a condition called baby bottle tooth decay, which is caused by milk, juice, sugar water or juice sitting on the teeth, which leads to dental decay (cavities).

What Will Happen the First Time a Kids’ Dentist Sees My Child?

Depending on your child’s age and child’s comfort level, the dentist may perform the dental examination either while the child is in a dental chair or on your lap. The exam will consist of the children’s dentist looking at the teeth and jaw alignment to determine if there are any problems.

Most small children do not need to have dental X-rays taken. However, if the dentist determines that they are necessary to reveal decay or other issues, X-rays will be taken while you are in the office.

Our practice offers an array of services that will keep your child’s smile healthy. Our dentistry-for-children services include:

• Teeth Cleaning for Children: Our team of friendly dental experts know just what to do to get children to open their mouths wide so that their teeth can be professionally cleaned.
• Fluoride: When a dentist applies topical fluoride to the surface of the teeth, it makes the teeth resistant to decay. That’s why fluoride is known as nature’s cavity fighter.
• Dental Sealants: Another way to combat decay is to apply dental sealants. Sealants assist in preventing tooth decay by sealing the grooves on the back of the teeth with a small layer of plastic that prevents food and bacteria from becoming trapped there.
• Dental Bonding: Our children’s dentist can use tooth-colored materials to fix chips and minor fractures in teeth.
• Fillings: If a child has a cavity, the dentist will remove the damaged area of the tooth and fill it with material that is made of amalgam or is tooth colored.
• Baby Root Canal: Severe decay can reach the soft pulp of the tooth and impact the blood vessels and nerves, which leads to severe toothache. Sometimes a root canal is needed to save the tooth.
• Pediatric Crowns: Our children’s dentist may repair your child’s tooth with a pediatric crown after a root canal or if your child has a cavity that is too large to fix with a tooth filling.
• Mouthguards: Did you know that the American Dental Association highly recommends that children wear mouthguards when taking part in athletics? This includes sports like football, boxing, gymnastics, hockey and ice skating. A mouthguard will assist in cushioning blows that occur to the face, making it less likely that your child’s teeth will become broken, loose, or knocked out.

When Will My Child’s Baby Teeth Come In?

The average age for baby teeth to begin coming in is when a child is six months of age. However, some children’s baby teeth may begin to erupt earlier or later than that.

When Will My Child Lose His or Her Baby Teeth?

Your child will most likely begin to lose baby teeth by the time they are six years old.

What Causes Toothaches in Children?

Toothaches typically happen when a child has a cavity, injury or an infection in or around the tooth. It is important that your child visit a children’s dentist to determine the cause of the toothache.

To make an appointment with an experienced children’s dentist in Haverford, give us a call today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the high-quality pediatric dental services we offer.