When should I bring my child to see a dentist?
By their first birthday, mainly for counseling and advise.

Why should I choose a Pediatric Dentist vs a general dentist?
Pediatric Dentist are specifically trained to deal with children’s fears, offices are children friendly and dental tools are more suitable for their mouth, and other kids being treated helps as a behavior role modeling; all of these aspects together will help to make their experience more pleasant and enjoyable.

How concerned should I be about a cavity in a primary tooth?
Definitively, cavities can not be ignored, but let your pediatric dentist determine the importance of getting it fixed or not. All the decision process will depend on age, size of the cavity, incidence of decay in your child, etc.

Braces, when is good time?
Depending on the dental condition, sometimes certain appliances or retainers can be worn before braces time to minimize the length of the procedure.

What if my child has a toothache?
Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water of used dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply a cold compress. Take Tylenol, Advil or Motrin for pain and see us as soon as possible.

How do I care for a cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek?
Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to a hospital emergency room.

What if my child has a knocked out permanent tooth?
Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but do not clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Try to reinsert the tooth in place by biting on clean gauze or cloth. If u cannot reinsert the tooth, transport it in a cup containing cold milk. *( The milk must be kept cold.) call the office immediately! Time is a crucial factor in saving the tooth.

What should I do if I have a broken tooth?
Rinse dirt from the injured area with warm water. Place a cold compress over the face in the area of the injury. Locate and save any tooth fragments. Immediate dental attention is necessary.

What do I do if I have broken braces and wires?
If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum. If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheeks, or tongue, do not remove it. Bring the child to our office immediately. Loose or broken wires that don’t bother the child don’t usually require emergency attention.

back to top