Overview
Our children are the future and we cannot feel prouder and more honored when guardians bring their most precious ones to our office. We strive to provide a positive and educational experience to help children develop strong oral hygiene habits lasting into adulthood. Our youngest patients are 2 years old, but guardians can bring children in even younger for a consultation or exam.
Baby To 2 Years Old
Before the appearance of your baby’s first teeth, you can gently rub across the gums with a damp washcloth or gauze, preferably at night after the last feeding. This will not only clean your baby’s mouth but also will begin establishing an oral care routine. As soon as the first baby teeth appear, start using a baby toothbrush with just water. Don’t give up even if your baby is chewing on the toothbrush; she will eventually stop doing it by the age of 3.
Steps to Consider
You can introduce training toothpaste without fluoride for the first 2 years or until your child learns to spit out.
Important Notes
In order to prevent early childhood decay, once the first teeth appear, you have to make sure that your baby never goes to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
2 To 18 Years Old
Baby teeth are very important as they keep the space for the permanent teeth and some of them may stay in the mouth for 10 years.
At the age of 2, your child must have her first dental exam. It may take 2-3 visits before she feels comfortable in the dental chair. It is important to prepare your child with a positive attitude and keep them excited about going to their appointment with Dr. Kaltchev.
Steps to Consider
Supervise your child’s daily brushing and flossing until she is 10-years old. Children before this age are not able to clean their teeth sufficiently.
Around the age of 6, the first permanent molars will appear. This is the time when Dr. Kaltchev will recommend sealants to be placed on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. Sealants fill up the deep grooves, thus prevent bacteria to get to the bottom and cause dental cavities. Sealants are the best way to protect the biting surfaces of the molars from decay.
Your child’s first orthodontic check-up should be around the age of 5.
Important Notes
If you suspect or hear that your child clenches or grinds their teeth at night, talk to Dr. Kaltchev. A significant number of children of different ages present with early signs of tooth-wear. A custom-made soft night guard must be worn in such cases.
If your child is enrolled in contact sports (soccer, baseball, football, basketball, hockey), a mouthguard is also recommended during practice.
Frequent consumption of soda and sports drinks increases the risk for cavities.
Transitional Bonding in Adolescents
An increasing number of younger patients (ages 8-21) present with different stages of tooth wear. In adolescents, this is the best and most cost-effective way to restore worn teeth. Restoring the original size of the teeth increases the self-esteem, improves esthetics and speech, and protects teeth from further wear and destruction. This technique allows to make any type of repairs or modifications at any time later in life, with each additional repair looking like the initial restoration.
Microdontia
Direct resin bonding is the only restorative option that allows initiating treatment in early childhood. Bonding can be reshaped and adjusted during growth. This is an approach that can guide orthodontists in aligning misshaped teeth.
Our Approach
Our team offers a variety of specialized dental cleaning services for youth audiences that help maintain gum support, minimize decay and freshen up smiles. Schedule a visit and we’ll tailor our services to match the needs of each individual patient.