Frequently Asked Questions
Q. At what age should I bring my child to the dentist?
A. The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you bring your child for their first appointment at one year of age.
Q. Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to remove a baby tooth than to fill it?
A. This is only true in the short term. The premature loss of baby teeth can cause shifting in adjacent teeth and loss of space for the underlying permanent tooth.
Q. My child is young but has bad breath, what can be done?
A. Good oral hygiene can prevent bad breath. We recommend that you help your child brush and floss at least once a day until seven or eight years of age. Also do not forget to brush your child’s tongue; plaque can accumulate causing bad breath.
Q. I can hear my child grinding his/her teeth at night, what should I do?
A. Primary (Baby) teeth have flatter anatomy than permanent teeth so children tend to move their jaw around more readily causing a grinding sound. If there is not excessive wear to the primary teeth no treatment is necessary. Once permanent teeth erupt, their deeper anatomy will provide more guidance and in most instances the grinding habit should cease.
Q. My child has braces and sees the Orthodontist frequently; do I need to bring him/her in for a six month checkup and cleaning?
A. Patients that have braces actually have more to clean making it even more critical to get checked every six months. If braces are not cleaned properly, decalcified areas are more likely to occur and will leave white lines on the teeth. For these reasons, patients with braces can be more prone to decay.
Q. My child has a double row of front teeth. What should be done about it?
A. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Sometime the permanent teeth begin to come in before the baby teeth are lost. When this happens, unless the child can work the baby teeth out by himself within a few weeks, the dentist should remove them. Once the baby tooth is out, the tongue usually moves the permanent tooth forward into its proper position, if space permits. If this double row of teeth occurs in the upper jaw, the baby teeth should be removed immediately.
Do you still have a question that you need answered? Ask Dr. Stone.
