Pediatric dentistry is a specialized form of dentistry that is centered around children’s specific dental needs. Just like pediatricians are experts in children’s health, pediatric dentists are experts in children’s dental health.Our pediatric dentists at Battery Park Dental have completed four years of dental school and then two additional years of specialized residency training that focused on dentistry for infants, children, teens, and children with special needs.
Because of their extensive training, our pediatric dentists know how to carry out dental treatments in a way that is positive and comfortable to your child. Our office is also designed with your child’s comfort in mind and we even use special tools to make our dental treatments easier.
Did You Know?
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools notes that every year 51 million school hours are lost as a result of dental illnesses. Most of this time is due to children receiving fillings. Regular visits to our pediatric dentists can keep your child’s teeth healthy and prevent them from missing out on their education.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does my child need pediatric dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry is an essential component of establishing good oral habits and teaching your children how to properly take care of their teeth. Even though baby teeth will naturally be replaced by permanent teeth, it is important to take care of them and prevent them from being lost too early.
Baby teeth act as space holders for permanent teeth, allowing them to erupt with minimal issues. Baby teeth are also essential for proper chewing, speaking, jaw development, and appearance. For these reasons, it is important for your child to receive pediatric dental services. For top pediatric services, schedule an appointment with Battery Park Pediatrics today!
When should I take my child to a pediatric dentist?
Although it seems early, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends taking your child to see a pediatric dentist before their first birthday. Even though they will not have all their teeth by this time, early visits with a pediatric dentist helps to minimize future dental complications. In addition, visiting a pediatric dentist routinely at an early age prevents your child from developing a fear of the dentist.
What will happen during my child’s first dental appointment at Battery Park Pediatrics?
During your child’s first dental appointment, our pediatric dentists will carefully examine your baby’s mouth and any erupted teeth. Your child’s first pediatric dental appointment is mostly preventative, so our dentists will discuss proper dental hygiene habits, diet, fluoride, tooth eruption, and finger or pacifier habits with you to help keep your child in good oral health. You will also have a chance to ask questions and have any of your concerns addressed by our pediatric dentists.
When should I start at-home pediatric dental care with my child?
Pediatric dental care should begin early on, as soon as your child is born. Even though their teeth won’t start to erupt until around six months, you should still rub down their gums with a soft cloth and water. This is because breast milk and formulas have naturally-occurring sugars that can build up and lead to tooth decay. You can begin gently brushing their teeth as soon as they begin to erupt. Be sure to use a soft infant toothbrush and a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste. The older your child gets, the more toothpaste you can use. However, avoid letting them swallow the toothpaste because too much fluoride can irritate their stomach.
What are some pediatric dental risks?
One common pediatric dental risk is known as baby bottle tooth decay. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when the naturally-occurring sugars in breast milk or formula accumulate on the teeth’s surface, causing the production of bacteria and acids that damage the tooth enamel. This accumulation usually happens as a result of the child falling asleep with the bottle in their mouth and liquid pooling around their teeth. It can also happen with fruit juice or other sweetened drinks.
Baby bottle tooth decay can be prevented by keeping their gums and teeth clean and avoiding putting them to sleep with a bottle. Or, if you must put them to sleep with a bottle, fill it with water instead. It is also recommended to wean them off the bottle around 12-14 months.
Another possible pediatric dental risk is improper jaw development due to excessive finger or pacifier sucking. While these behaviors are normal in the early years, if your child continues past the age of three they are at a much higher risk of developing malocclusion or crooked teeth.
Our pediatric dentists will help prevent these risks by providing you with the proper information. They can also help to establish a possible treatment plant to address these issues if needed and prevent them from getting more severe.
What’s the best toothpaste for my child?
The best toothpaste for your child is one that has been approved by the American Dental Association and that contains fluoride. Although there are plenty of other toothpastes available, some of them may contain ingredients that could damage your child’s tooth enamel.
What’s the best toothbrush for my child?
The best toothbrush for your child is one that they can fit comfortably into their mouth, has soft bristles, is easy for them to hold and maneuver, and gets them excited about brushing their teeth. Their toothbrush will also need to be replaced about 3-4 times a year once the bristles start to fray.
Are dental x-rays safe for my child?
Battery Park Pediatric Dentists uses dental x-rays to assess your child’s teeth, bite, and to monitor their growth and development. Dental x-rays can also be used as diagnostic tools when locating cavities that occur between the teeth and are not visible during oral exams.
Dental x-rays are safe for your children and only use a small amount of radiation. To further protect your children, we offer lead aprons and use high-speed film to minimize the amount of radiation that they are exposed to.
When will my child’s teeth begin to erupt and how long will it take before they have all their teeth?
Your child’s teeth will start erupting around six months and will begin with the lower front incisors, followed by the front upper incisors. Once those four first teeth have erupted, then the other teeth usually start to erupt in pairs moving towards the back of the mouth, with the molars coming in around the age of two or three. By this point, your child should have 20 baby teeth.
When will my child lose their first baby tooth?
Your child should lose their first baby tooth when they turn 6 or 7. Most likely their first lost tooth will be a lower incisor, since baby teeth are generally lost in the order they erupted. They will continue to lose their baby teeth until they are between the age of 10 and 12.
To keep your child happy and their teeth healthy, schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Battery Park Pediatrics today!