Pediatric Dentistry

When can you bring your child in for their first pediatric dentistry visit?

Santa Monica Bay Dental welcomes children as young as two years old into the practice for pediatric dentistry. To set them up for a lifetime of oral health, bring them in every six months for a check-up. 

By bringing in your child early, you offer them a number of advantages, including:

• Speech development support
• Aided permanent tooth development
• Proper chewing facilitation

Baby teeth are very vulnerable to tooth decay. So, when you bring your child in for a visit, you also save them lots of potential tooth decay complications, like infection, tooth loss, or pain when eating. 

Children who start pediatric dentistry early are also less likely to require emergency or restorative dental care later in life.

What happens during a pediatric dental check-up?

During your child’s pediatric dental check-up, the team starts by checking the growth and development of their oral tissues, teeth, bite, gums, and jaw.

Next, they gently clean your child’s teeth, removing stains, tartar, and plaque, and keeping an eye out for any dental problems. After this, if they’re old enough, they demonstrate to them how to correctly brush and floss at home. 

Regular pediatric dental visits last between half an hour and 45 minutes. During the visit, the team encourages you to be present to provide moral support to your child and to ask any questions that you may have.

How can you make your child feel confident before a dental visit?

Children and adults alike have been scared of the dentist for as long as dentists have existed. With the advent of dental technology, though, dental visits don’t have to be intimidating. 

To assuage your child’s anxiety, and to make them feel as confident as possible, you can take a number of steps. These include:

Building enthusiasm

First, build enthusiasm by talking about the benefits of the appointment and frame it as an exciting event. 

Model calm behavior

Don’t pass any of your personal anxieties onto your child. Children watch you closely, and if you’re nervous, they’ll pick up on it and become nervous as well.

Be present

When you get to Santa Monica Bay Dental, you can also sit with your child and help them build a positive, trusting relationship with their new dentist. Every member of the team is dedicated to making your child feel safe and comfortable.

If your child is two or older and they need dental care, turn to Santa Monica Bay Dental. The team looks forward to providing a warm, caring environment and excellent dental care for your child. To schedule your appointment or to ask questions, reach out online or over the phone today.