Top pediatric dentists answer your questions about brushing, braces, baby teeth, and more. Rockford IL area pediatric dental care specializes in dental care for children, adolescents, and patients with special needs.

1. Save Your Child's Smile
Top pediatric dentists answer
your questions about
brushing, braces, baby teeth,
and more.

2. All content in the presentation, including
medical opinion and any other health-related
information, is for informational purposes
only and should not be considered to be a
specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any
individual situation. Use of this presentation
and the information contained herein does
not create a doctor-patient relationship.
Always seek the direct advice of your own
dental pediatrician in connection with any
questions or issues you may have regarding
your own health or the health of others.

3. My baby sucks her thumb.
Does that mean she's destined for braces?

4. • Contrary to popular myth, a baby's
thumb-sucking or pacifier use is
unlikely to have an impact on how
adult teeth grow in. But if your child
doesn't break the habit by age 4, she
may be creating work for an
orthodontist. "A child that age who
sucks her thumb or uses a pacifier
can throw her teeth out of
alignment,”

5. Says Jed Berman, D.D.S., a dentist in
City Island, New York. Persistent
sucking leads to a condition known
as "open bite," which occurs when
certain teeth -- usually the front two
-- don't make contact with the lower
ones. "You may need braces to
correct this," he says.

6. Do you need to have a cavity filled
if it's in a baby tooth?

7. • Yes. "You should care for primary
teeth as if they were permanent
ones," says Victor Avis, D.D.S., a
dentist in Staten Island, New York.
"Repairing cavities prevents pain and
infection, and keeps primary teeth
healthy and intact.”

8. That's important, because baby teeth
preserve space for their permanent
replacements, guide adult teeth into
the proper position, and help ensure
normal growth and development of
the jaw. What's more, poorly caredfor baby teeth can negatively affect
eating and chewing habits, your
child's speech, and her smile.

9. What is fluoride?
And how can I tell whether my
child is getting enough?

10. • Fluoride is a naturally occurring
chemical that's absorbed by the
teeth, strengthening them and
preventing weak spots that can
develop into cavities. "The best way
for children to get fluoride is through
tap water," says Larry Kronenberg,
D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Mount
Kisco, New York.

11. Call your local public-works
department to find out whether
there's fluoride in your H20. If there
is, you're in luck: Using tap water for
drinking and cooking will deliver
enough of the chemical to keep your
child's teeth healthy. For added
insurance, you can use toothpaste
containing fluoride.

12. If your town's water supply is not
fluoridated, talk to your dentist
about options such as fluoride
supplements or specially treated
bottled waters, mouthwash, and
gels.

13. (But be careful not to give your child too
much, since excess fluoride can lead to
fluorosis, a condition that causes spots on
permanent teeth.)
Whether or not your water is
fluoridated, some dentists
recommend a fluoride treatment as
part of a regular checkup and
cleaning.

14. When are kids old enough to
brush their own teeth?

15. • Children really can't do an effective
job of brushing independently until
their fine motor skills are developed.
"That's typically around the time
they're able to tie their own shoelaces, somewhere between 4 and 6,"
Dr. Kronenberg says.

16. But a child as young as 2 can -- and
should -- be encouraged to use a
soft-bristled, toddler-size brush.
(You'll need to follow up by doing a
thorough brushing for him.) Make sure
your child knows not to swallow
toothpaste and not to use too much.

17. "A pea-size amount on the brush
is plenty,” Dr. Kronenberg says. It's
also important to floss your child's
teeth to fully remove the food
particles and plaque that get trapped
between teeth and cause decay.

18. Do it in the same way you do your
own -- gently gliding the strand up
and down. Flossers -- small,
disposable plastic devices threaded
with floss -- can make maneuvering
around a child's mouth a lot easier.

19. At what age should we take our
child to the dentist?

20. • There's no compelling reason to take
an infant to the dentist. You can have
your pediatrician look at his teeth
and mouth during routine checkups.
But by the time a child is a year old,
it's a good idea to schedule a
thorough dental exam.

21. At her first visit, the dentist will
review your child's medical history
and examine her teeth, gums, oral
tissue, and facial bones. The dentist
or a hygienist will also demonstrate
proper tooth care.

22. Our dentist is recommending sealants.
What are they?

23. • Dental sealants are a plastic coating
applied to teeth. "They prevent
decay by making the surface of the
teeth smoother and by sealing out
food and plaque," explains Charles
Czerepak, D.D.M., a pediatric dentist
at Children's Memorial Hospital, in
Chicago.

24. The American Academy of General
Dentistry says they are very effective
in reducing cavities. Most dentists
don't recommend sealants for baby
teeth, and opinions vary on which
adult teeth need them.

25. Some think all permanent ones
should be "sealed" as soon as they
come in, while others recommend
the technique only for molars.
Getting sealants is quick and
painless: The dentist cleans and dries
the tooth, applies the sealant, and
hardens it with a special light.

26. Help!
My daughter fell and knocked out a tooth.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

27. • If it's a baby tooth, there's no need
to panic. Find the pearly white, and
get in touch with your dentist. "The
main concern is whether the
permanent tooth beneath has been
damaged," Dr. Avis says. Your dentist
can determine whether that's
happened and, if so, what to do next.

28. If your child loses a permanent
tooth, you need to act quickly. Put
the tooth back in its socket to keep it
moist. If you're worried your child
will swallow it, place it in a cup of
warm salt water. Try not to touch the
root, and don't attempt to clean it:

29. The bits of gum tissue that are
attached will help with
reimplantation. Then get to the
dentist right away. The sooner the
tooth gets treated, the more easily it
can be fully repaired.

30. Pediatric Dentistry
Dental Care For All Children
Ages 1-18
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(779) 221-2006
Rockford, IL
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