Frequently Asked Questions
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday or soon after the eruption of the first tooth. Beginning dental care at an early age allows guidance for caring for your child's teeth and opportunities to address preventive issues that are important for healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. Early visits also help establish a positive relationship between the dentist and your child.
The dental home is the ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient, inclusive of all aspects of oral health care delivered in a comprehensive, continually accessible, coordinated and family centered way. The dental home should be established no later than 12 months of age to help children and their families institute a lifetime of good oral health. It addresses anticipatory guidance and preventive, acute, and comprehensive oral health care and includes referrals to specialists when appropriate.
No worries, we can still see your child. Please call our office (919) 617-7878 to discuss the financial options.
It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth (baby teeth). Neglected cavities can cause pain and infection, which can become a dental emergency and lead to problems which affect the developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth are important for (1) healthy eating and chewing, (2) providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaws.
Radiographs (x-rays) are a necessary part of your child's dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain cavities between the teeth may be missed. They also help survey developing teeth, evaluate results an injury, or plan for orthodontic treatment. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child, and more affordable for you.
On average, our office will request bitewing radiographs approximately once a year and panoramic radiographs every 3-5 years. In children with a high risk of tooth decay, the frequency of radiographs may change.
With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, the dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today's equipment restricts the beam to the area of interest. Our office also employs digital radiography which allows us to decrease further the amount of radiation exposure.
A sealant is a clear material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) for the back teeth (premolars and molars), where most cavities in children can form. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth. However, cavities between the teeth are not protected by sealants.
If your child has a cavity, a filling is placed after the caries is removed. Most of the time, the filling is a tooth colored (white). In our practice, when a tooth needs a filling, a sealant is placed over the filling and the remaining tooth for added protection.
In a primary tooth, if a cavity is too large to restore with a filling, a crown may be recommend. If the cavity is too large and has involved the nerve of the tooth, then the nerve will be removed (pulpotomy) along with the cavity, and a crown will be placed. For front teeth, white crowns are routinely used for aesthetics. For back teeth, stainless steel crowns are used for their durability and longevity. The purpose of the crown is to help provide structure for the tooth, to help maintain space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, and to help protect the remaining tooth.
General anesthesia may be indicated for children with extensive dental needs who are extremely uncooperative, fearful or anxious or for the very young who do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion. General anesthesia also can be helpful for children requiring significant surgical procedures or patients having special health care needs. It’s only recommended when the benefits outweigh the risks.
The oral cavity has extensive blood supply so it's normal to see a lot of blood but firm pressure using a clean gauze or cloth or ice application should be able to stop it. If bleeding continues and cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to the emergency room.
It's very important to know what is causing your child's tooth ache. If you see swelling around the tooth or a cavity, please call us, we need to see your child as soon as possible.
If the above option is not available, rinse the mouth with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. Over the counter pain medication in the recommended dosage can be helpful with pain but the child needs to see a pediatric dentist.
DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth.
If the face is swollen, it is a real emergency, DO NOT WAIT. Schedule a visit with Dr. Arti immediately.
Locate the tooth, handle the tooth by the crown (whiter, broader portion). You may rinse the tooth, but DO NOT wipe or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for for the fractures, if there are no fractures, try to reinsert it into the socket (the plain side goes towards the lip or cheek. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk. If there is no milk, place the tooth in a cup containing the patient's own saliva. DO NOT place the tooth in water. Call our office immediately or go to your nearest emergency room. Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
Inspect for other injuries. Find the fracture fragment (important to inspect that the fractured fragment is not impacted int he lip or cheek).
Rinse debris from injured area with warm water if possible. Place cold compresses over the face in the area of injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments in milk. Contact Dr. Arti as soon as possible.
Whenever he or she is in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics.
Some maloclusions or dentitions are more prone to trauma, e.g. when the teeth are more forwardly placed or there is spacing between the teeth. Until the child is ready for braces, to correct the alignment, mouthguards can be useful. In some situations, a custom made mouthguard is more beneficial.
