Children's Dentist in Clinton, Maryland

At What Age Should a Child First See a Children's Dentist in Clinton?

Your child should see a children's dentist by age one according to the American Dental association. While some parents feel baby teeth are not very important since they will eventually fall out, they are vital to your child's development as they help him or her chew and speak well.

What Is a Baby's First Dental Appointment Like?

Surprisingly, a baby's first dental appointment is a stress-free experience. Your baby will feel comfortable sitting in your lap while the dentist inspects his or her mouth. Dentists mainly educate parents about dental care for children during the first visit and answer questions. We hope your child starts to see that visiting a dentist at our office is just like visiting a friend.

What Does Dentistry for Children Entail?

Kid’s dental care consists of a wide variety of treatments to help kids maintain good oral health starting in infancy. Services we offer at our kid-friendly office include:

Fluoride

Fluoride treatments protect your child's teeth from cavities. They are quick, painless treatments that can save your child from needing future dental work.

Dental Sealants

Our kid’s dentist applies a thin plastic coating to the biting surfaces of molars to seal the depressions and ridges of the teeth. The coating seals out food particles and plaque, helping prevent cavities. 

Teeth Cleaning for Children

If our children's dentist detects plaque buildup or tartar on your child's teeth, he or she will recommend a toddler teeth cleaning. You'll also learn how to brush and floss your toddler's teeth to keep them as clean as possible between professional cleanings.

Fillings

Our dentists treat decay in baby teeth with fillings. Baby teeth have to remain pain free and functional until the adult tooth is ready to emerge. Baby teeth fillings are typically either white composite or metal. Your child's dentist will help you decide which filling material is right for your child.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a painless procedure where the dentist applies a composite resin to your child's tooth to repair chips or cracks. It helps keep the tooth strong, as well as maintaining your child's self-confidence as it restores their smile.

Baby Root Canal

A baby root canal is a procedure used to preserve a badly decayed tooth. It's also know as a pulpotomy. The procedure will eliminate the intense pain your child is feeling and prevent the infection inside the tooth from spreading and causing further problems. We're very careful to put your child at ease and keep them from feeling any pain during the baby root canal.

Pediatric Crowns

Crowns for kids protect teeth that have a large cavity, are badly damaged or weakened by a root canal. The crown will last until the baby tooth falls out naturally.

Mouthguards

Children who participate in contact sports are not the only kids who can benefit from the protection a mouthguard offers. They can help gymnasts, bike riders and others from chipping a tooth or having one knocked out by a sudden fall or blow to the face.

When Do Children's Baby Teeth Come In?

All babies are different, but most get their first tooth around age six months. All 20 of a child's baby teeth are already formed in their jaw at birth. The order the teeth appear is fairly predictable, the front teeth erupt first and the second molars are the last to appear. If your child is teething and you need advice about managing their pain, please contact our office.

At What Age Do Kids Begin Losing Their Baby Teeth?

Children will begin to lose their baby teeth as early anywhere from age four until age seven, with the average being at age six. Expect your child to have a lopsided smile since they normally lose the front bottom teeth and then the front top teeth first. Children normally lose their baby molars around age 10 to 12.

What Are the Reasons Children Get Toothaches?

When children get toothaches, it's usually from decay. There are other reasons, too, including fractures from an accident or biting into something hard, a dental abscess or even gum disease. Call our dental practice right away to make an appointment with our children's dentist in Clinton. He or she can determine what's causing your child's pain and treat the problem. We look forward to easing your child's pain.