Your child’s first visit
The first “regular” dental visit should be after your child’s first teeth come into their mouth or by one year of age. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. You may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.  We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?
We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store.

1st Visit Tips:

• Take your child for a “preview” of the office
• Read books with them about going to the dentist
• Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit
• Speak positively about your own dental experiences

During your first visit the dentist will:

• Examine your mouth, teeth and gums.
• Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
• Check to see if you need fluoride.
• Teach you about cleaning your teeth and gums.
• Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.

Tooth Decay Problems
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At the Burns Family Dentistry, we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health.

Cavity prevention
Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their food and 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 digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities.

Tips for cavity prevention

• Limit frequency of meals and snacks
• Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing
• Watch what your child drinks
• Avoid giving your child sticky foods
• Make treats part of meals
• Choose nutritious snacks

In some cases we do refer out to the pediatric dentist specialists. We still see kids, but we do refer out to pediatric dentists for certain treatments.