Welcome back to Anthem Pediatric Dentistry’s blog! We are proud to be among the top Las Vegas kid’s dentists around, offering high-quality care in pediatric dentistry for children and adolescents in both Las Vegas and Henderson. We also offer a special focus on care for those with special health care needs. In the future, we’ll likely devote an entire post to that topic, but for the purposes of this blog, we just wanted to let our readers know some of the essentials of Anthem Pediatric Dentistry!
Today’s blog is all about answering the frequently asked questions which many people have before taking their child to see the dentist for the first time. Likewise, it’s common for parents to have questions about pediatric dentistry in general — even if their child has been to the dentist a handful of times. After all, it’s only natural for parents to want the best for their children.
When you choose our Las Vegas pediatric dentists to be the long-time dentist for your children, you are choosing a dentistry with a team that treats your child as we would treat our own. We have a deep belief that children who might be fearful or anxious should be treated with the utmost of kindness and patience. That’s why we do our best to provide an inviting, clean, modern, and child-friendly children’s dentistry in Las Vegas.
Why Choose Anthem Pediatric Dentistry?
The above leads us to answer this first question quite naturally; there are many reasons to choose our Las Vegas kid’s dentistry — perhaps too many to list in today’s blog. Here’s a few that come to the top of our mind:
- Parents are ALWAYS welcome to stay with their child at every dental visit.
- We provide clear and accurate estimates with no surprises.
- We answer any and all of your questions regarding dental insurance or any other topic.
- We understand that providing children with dental care requires patience. We promise to always deliver pediatric dental treatment in a safe, caring way.
- Once you are a patient at Anthem Pediatric Dentistry, we offer emergency pediatric dental services, 24 hours a day!
- We are committed to always being honest with you when discussing your child’s dental health. Our goal is to empower you to make the best decision for the health of your child.
- We have an in-house children’s orthodontist on staff. This helps us offer more complete pediatric oral care for our patients.
When Should A Child Visit The Dentist For The First Time?
Most American children don’t go to visit a family dentist for the first time until after their second birthday. What most American parents don’t realize is that this timeframe is much later than what is commonly recommended by dental and medical professionals. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should go to see the dentist by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth emerging. You typically see primary teeth begin to grow in at six months old.
The AAPD also discusses the importance of primary teeth, which isn’t something that many parents think about enough. Primary teeth help children chew correctly in order to keep good nutrition. Additionally, “baby teeth” help in speech development, save space for permanent teeth, and it also helps children feel great about how they look!
What Happens At A Child’s First Trip To Their Pediatric Dentist?
When considering your options about where to take your child for their very first dental exam, we’d recommend choosing a pediatric dentist. Whether you choose Anthem Pediatric Dentistry or otherwise, you can take your child to the children’s dentist with the confidence that they have received special training in caring for kids. They’ll be prepared for any crying, squirming, or other behavior that can occur.
You can expect the first appointment to be short and sweet. It will be mostly a meet-and-greet, so that your child can get acclimated to the new environment without an extensive, uncomfortable checkup taking place. We understand that children have limited attention spans and we do our best to tailor our dental services to that end!
That said, we also want to make sure your little one’s dental health is in order. Our kid’s dentist will check for decay while briefly examining your child’s bite, gums, and jaw. There might be a quick teeth cleaning as well, if necessary.
What Advice Do You Have For Parents?
One of the most important ways you can contribute is to make sure that your child doesn’t take on your feelings of the dentist. Remember that your child has no reason to be afraid of the dentist unless they are given one. Sadly, it’s often the case that children are predisposed to fear because their parents have projected their own anxiety onto the kids. To be clear, this is hardly ever done intentionally; it’s more of a natural effect of parents who want to do too much for their children, making sure they are completely okay. This “smothering” of sorts can have the opposite effect at times.
That said, do your best to frame the experience as a positive one and your child will probably respond in turn!
When Are Braces The Right Choice?
Children lose their primary teeth during two different periods: the first being when the eight front teeth fall out, between 6 ½-8 ½ years old, with the second occurring later on. In most cases, children should be okay to wait until all of their primary teeth have fallen out before seeing an orthodontist. However, if moderate to severe crowding is present, an early referral to our pediatric orthodontist might be necessary. Our experienced Las Vegas children’s dentists will examine the situation for your child and recommend the correct path.
How Can I Help Improve My Child’s Dental Health?
It’s important for parents to limit their child’s sugar intake as much as possible. It can be difficult, since kids absolutely love sugar and all, but you must be steadfast in your approach because children who eat a lot of sugar are more likely to develop cavities. Likewise, children who frequently snack are also more likely to develop cavities. Make sure your child brushes their teeth after eating sweet and/or sticky foods. Try to find food that is low in carbohydrates and sugar, such as:
- Carrots
- Oranges
- Celery sticks
- Peaches
- Nuts
- Peanuts
- Dairy products
- Peanut butter
- Eggs
- Fresh pears
- Popcorn
- Grapes
- Salads
- Meat
- Sugarless candy/gum
- Soups
- Olives
- Strawberries
Where Is The Best Las Vegas Kid’s Dentist At?
We’ll end this FAQ blog with the same way we started it, by letting you know that we do our very best to be the top pediatric dentist in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada! We pride ourselves on being the premier pediatric dental office in the Las Vegas Valley for good reason — we have experienced, educated staff, great facilities, and kind, caring kid’s dentists. Schedule your appointment today!