-
Is it really pain-FREE?
- What can I expect during my child’s first visit?
- Are you open Saturdays?
- Do you accept my insurance?
- They’re just baby teeth. Won’t they fall out anyway?
- Why should my kids see a Pediatric Dentist and not just my dentist?
- When should my child first see a dentist?
- When do their teeth erupt?
- Will Teething make my child ill?
- What problems could my child have?
- What causes tooth decay?
- What is "baby-bottle" tooth decay?
- What kind of toothbrush should my child use?
- How should I brush my child’s teeth?
- When should I start brushing my child’s teeth
- How do I know if my child is getting the right amount of fluoride in their diet?
- What is an appropriate diet for my child?
- Can my child’s diet affect their dental health?
- How do I create a diet safe for my child’s teeth?
- Should I eliminate all sugar and starch from my child’s diet?
- What helpful information can you give me regarding tooth decay in infants?
- Tips for cavity prevention.
- What are sealants?
Is
it really pain-FREE?
We do everything possible to make your
child’s visit Pain-FREE,
Anxiety-FREE, and Fun. From the latest
technologies to the newest techniques, together with our
“Dental Theme Park” atmosphere, we deliver a total
experience that is pain-FREE or as close to pain-FREE as you
can possibly get.
What can I expect during my child’s first visit?
You can expect to be surprised.
Surprised at how well they do.
The doctor will do a complete exam of
their teeth and gums. One of our staff expertly trained in
treating children will do a professional cleaning, fluoride
treatment and any necessary x-rays, followed by tooth
brushing and flossing instructions. The doctor will then
take all the time you need to explain any needed treatment
and answer all your questions.
 Are you open Saturdays?
As a convenience to you we are open
Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM.
 Do you accept my insurance?
"Dr. Stella Children's Dentistry
recognizes how important it is to our patients that their
dental insurance covers as much of their child's treatment
as possible and we make every effort to make that happen.
But ultimately, insurance benefits are a contract between
you and your employer."
"We’ll be happy to help you with any
insurance concerns you have. Many patients ask if we take
their dental insurance. We accept insurance benefits
provided by all PPO and indemnity plans. In other
words, if you have the freedom to choose the dentist you go
to, we will work with your dental plan. If your dental plan
specifies that you need to go to a doctor on a particular
list, check to see if you have the option of using
out-of-network benefits. We partner with our patients to
help maximize their dental benefits. As a courtesy, we will
bill your dental plan for you. We ask that the patient pay
the estimated portion the dental plan is not going to cover
for dental services at the time of the service. If you want
to know how your insurance works call our office at
(562) 627-8800 and we will be happy to assist you with any
dental insurance questions you may have – No hard sells – No
hassles – No hard feelings… We just want to give you answers
to your questions."
  They’re just baby teeth. Won’t they fall out anyway?
Baby teeth are important for several
reasons. They add to an attractive appearance by helping
children feel good about themselves. They help maintain good
nutrition with proper chewing and eating. They help in
speech development in allowing good pronunciation and speech
habits. Healthy baby teeth allow normal development of the
jaw bones and muscles and help guide the proper eruption of
the permanent teeth into the right place.
Early loss of primary teeth can
ultimately lead to crooked teeth, space loss, and the need
for braces. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses,
infections, and can spread to the permanent teeth. Take good
care of them. They may not be the only teeth you’ll get but
they’re the only teeth you have right now.
 Why should my kids see a Pediatric Dentist and not just my
dentist?
We all want the best for our kids. And
they deserve it.
Many general dentists are very
competent and do great dentistry. But they don’t have the
experience and training of a specialist in children’s
dentistry. In the same way that pediatricians are trained to
meet a child’s medical needs, our pediatric dental
specialists are uniquely qualified to protect your child’s
oral health using the most advanced techniques and
materials. Pediatric dentists have an additional two to
three years of specialty training in addition to four years
of dental school and four years of college study. Pediatric
dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for
infants and children through adolescence, including those
with special health needs.
Our pediatric dental specialists and
team members love children and are specially trained to put
them at ease. Our incredibly fun “Dental Theme Park”
environment is specially designed to make patients and our
parents more comfortable. We have many parents tell us that
their kids can’t wait to go to the dentist. and beg to come
back Don’t take my word for it, Check us out , you’ll be
surprised.
 When should my child first see a dentist?
Your child should visit the dentist by his/her first
birthday. Early examination and preventive care will protect
your child’s smile now and in the future, and get them used
to going to the dentist. We are trying to build good health
habits and that’s what we start with at that first visit.
You and your child will learn about diet, nutrition, tooth
brushing and flossing. That’s right-Flossing.
 When do their teeth erupt?
Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. The first baby
teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front
teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8
months old. Next to follow will be the four upper front
teeth and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear
periodically.
They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the
jaw until the child is about three years old. The pace and
order to their eruption also varies.
The first permanent teeth will begin to erupt between the
ages of 5 and 6 starting with the first molars and lower
central incisors. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby
teeth and some don’t. This process will continue until
approximately age 16-18. Adults will eventually end up with
32 permanent teeth including the wisdom teeth.
Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late
as all children have different eruption patterns.
Will Teething make my child ill?
Many children do become irritable, run a fever and have
other symptoms when they are teething. These are to be
expected and should not cause worry. Teething itself is not
the cause of any childhood illness. The best things to do to
aid discomfort is clean your baby’s mouth with a damp gauze
pad and giving your baby a teething ring to chew on.
What problems could my child have?
Some dental problems begin very early in life. Tooth
decay continues to be the most common chronic disease of
childhood. One big concern is Early Childhood Caries (ECC)
also known as baby bottle tooth decay. Children risk severe
tooth decay from using a bottle at night. Untreated caries
in the young child could exacerbate and may cause infection
and threat to the health of children.
What causes tooth decay?
Several specific types of bacteria that live on the teeth
cause decay. When sugar is consumed the bacteria use the
sugar and then manufacture acids that dissolve the teeth and
cause an infection in the tooth. This infection is called
decay.
What is "baby-bottle"
tooth decay?
Babies who go to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or
juice are more likely to get tooth decay. Because the sugar
in formula, milk or juice stays in contact with the teeth
for a long time during the night, the teeth can decay
quickly.
Here are some tips to avoid baby-bottle tooth decay:
- Put your child to bed with a
bottle of plain water, not milk or juice.
- Stop nursing when your child is
asleep or has stopped sucking on the bottle.
- Try not to let your child walk
around using a bottle of milk or juice as a pacifier.
- Start to teach your child to drink
from a cup at about 6 months of age. Plan to stop using
a bottle by 12 to 14 months at the latest.
- Don't dip your child's pacifier in
honey or sugar.
Let’s Talk About Cavity
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding Diet and Cavity Prevention
What kind of toothbrush
should my child use?
Children’s hands and mouths are different than adults.
They need to use toothbrushes designed for children. Both
adults and children should use brushes with soft, rounded
bristles for gentle cleaning. Change to a new brush about
every three months.
How should I brush my
child’s teeth?
Wipe infant’s teeth gently with a moist, soft cloth or
gauze square. As babies grow, use a child’s toothbrush with
a small, pea-sized dab of toothpaste. By age 2 or 3 begin to
teach your child to brush. You will still need to brush
where they miss. Dentists and hygienists often advise
children to use a gentle, short, back and forth motion to
remove plaque. When children are older they can switch to
this method.
-
Hold the brush at an angle (45 degrees) towards teeth and
gums. Move brush back and forth with short strokes, about a
half tooth wide. -
Brush the inside and outside surfaces of each tooth, top
and bottom. -
Hold the brush flat on top of the teeth and brush the
chewing surfaces. -
Gently brush the tongue to remove debris. -
Floss between teeth daily.
When should I start
brushing my child’s teeth Once your child's teeth begin erupting, you can begin
cleaning them by wiping them with a moist washcloth. As your
child gets more teeth, you can begin to use a soft child's
toothbrush. You should use just a pea-size amount of a
fluoride toothpaste or a non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby
OraGel) until your child is able to spit it out (too much
fluoride can stain their teeth).
For most toddlers, getting them to brush their teeth can
be quite a challenge.
Some suggestions for making tooth brushing less of a
battle can include:
- letting him brush your teeth at
the same time
- letting him pick out a few
toothbrushes with his favorite characters and giving him
a choice of which one he wants to use each time (this
will give him some feeling of control over the
situation)
- let him brush his own teeth first
(you will likely have to "help out").
- read some children's books about
tooth brushing.
- Or have everyone brush their teeth
at the same time.
To help him understand the importance of brushing, it can
be sometimes fun and helpful to let him eat or drink
something that will 'stain' his teeth temporarily, and then
let him brush them clean.
It can also be a good idea to create a "tooth brushing
routine" And stick to the same routine each day.
How
do I know if my child is getting the right amount of
fluoride in their diet?
If you do not reside in a community
that has fluoridated water or have the appropriate amount of
natural fluoride in your well water, your child will need
some sort of supplement in their diet. We can help you
determine how much of a supplement your child needs based
upon their weight, age, current water fluoride levels and
brand of toothpaste.
What
is an appropriate diet for my child?
It is important that your child
receives a naturally balanced diet that includes the
important nutrients your child needs in order to grow. A
daily diet that includes the major food groups of Meat, Fish
and Eggs, Vegetables and Fruits, Breads and Cereals as well
as Milk and Other Dairy Products.
Can
my child’s diet affect their dental health?
Absolutely. It is important that you
initiate a balanced diet for your child so that their teeth
develop appropriately. In addition, this will positively
affect healthy gum tissue surrounding the teeth. Please note
that a diet high in sugar and other forms of carbohydrates
may increase the probability of tooth decay.
How
do I create a diet safe for my child’s teeth?
As we stated earlier, initiate a
balanced diet. Analyze the frequency in which starch based
foods are eaten. These types of foods include breads, pasta,
potato chips, etc. In addition, sugar is found in more than
just candy. All types of sugars can promote tooth decay. For
example, most milk-based products contain sugar. A Peanut
butter and jelly sandwich is a favorite for bag lunches.
Unfortunately, it includes sugar not only in the jelly, but
also in the peanut butter. For less sugar and more flavor
and nutrients, try replacing jelly with fresh fruit slices
(apples, pears, or bananas) or chopped dried fruit. Go easy
on the peanut butter, though—it’s high in fat. Choose the
“no-salt-added” kind for less sodium.
Should I eliminate all sugar and starch from my child’s
diet?
Of course not. Many of these foods are
incredibly important to your child’s health. Starch based
foods are much safer to eat for teeth when eaten with an
entire meal. Foods that stick to teeth are also more
difficult to wash away by water, saliva or other drinks. Its
important you talk to our staff about your child’s diet and
maintaining proper dental care.
What
helpful information can you give me regarding tooth decay in
infants?
Most importantly, don’t nurse your
children to sleep. Nor should you put them to bed with a
bottle of milk, juice or formula. When a child is sleeping,
any liquid that remains in the mouth can support the
bacteria that produce acid and harm the teeth. A simple
pacifier or bottle of water is fine.
Limiting sugar intake and brushing
regularly can help prevent cavities. The longer it takes
your child to chew their foods the longer the residue stays
on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.
Every time someone eats, an acid
reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digest
the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes.
During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth
structure, eventually leading to cavities.
Consistency of a person's saliva also
makes a difference. Thinner saliva breaks up food and washes
it away more quickly. When a person diet is high in
carbohydrates and sugars they tend to have thicker saliva,
which in turn creates amore acid-producing bacteria
environment that causes cavities.
Tips
for cavity prevention:
- Limit Frequency of meals and
snacks.
- Encourage brushing, flossing and
rinsing.
- Watch what you drink.
- Avoid sticky foods.
- Make treats part of meals.
- Choose nutritious snacks.
The first baby teeth come into the
mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this
when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will
be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby's
teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in
pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2
1/2 years old.
At around 2 1/2 years old your child
should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6 the
first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the
permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don't. Don't
worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all
children are different.
Baby teeth are important as they not
only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important
to chewing, biting, speech and appearance.
For this reason it is important to
maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
What
are sealants?
Tooth Sealants refer to a plastic which
a dentist bonds into the grooves of the chewing surface of a
tooth as a means of helping to cavities. In many cases, it
is near impossible for children to clean the tiny pits and
grooves on the chewing surfaces of their teeth. When a
sealant is applied, the surface of the tooth is somewhat
flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the
chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush
can't reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more
easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay
will start.
|
