When Should I First Bring My Child To A Dentist?
When your baby hits 6 months old or when you first start noticing their teeth coming in, you should schedule your first dental appointment with a dentist that provides pediatric dental services. It is important for kids to see the dentist every six months as dentists can track the development of their teeth and make sure that they are coming in healthy. A dentist can also provide you with some tips and tools to help brush your child’s teeth for the first few years and make sure that their teeth stay healthy.
Schedule Dental Exams & X-rays For Kids in Melrose Park Chicago
A quick dental exam is extremely important for a child. Not only is a professional cleaning going to help protect their teeth from decay and cavities, but an exam with X-rays can help track the development of their smile. Plus, during a dental visit, our team can help teach and encourage your children to practice healthy brushing and flossing habits. We provide many dental services for kids including:
- Checkups:Â The key to your child’s oral health is regular dental checkups. A dental checkup helps track a child’s oral health and find any signs of dental damage. X-Rays can help make sure that there are no issues with both your child’s primary teeth or their adult teeth.
- Cleanings:Â A toothbrush and floss can do a lot, but not everything. Adults and kids need professional cleanings because dental hygienists can remove plaque that a toothbrush cannot. This helps prevent cavities.
- Fillings: Unfortunately cavities are common, especially with kids. A dental filling helps preserve a tooth. Even if a tooth is a primary (baby) tooth a filling can prevent decay from spreading and causing worse issues like infections.
- Fluoride Applications: Fluoride applications help protect the teeth. When kids get a little older, it is recommended that they receive fluoride treatments routinely to help strengthen their teeth.
- Sealants: Dental sealants help protect the chewing surface of molars. When kids start getting their adult molars, it is recommended that they get sealants. Sealants cover the tops of teeth and protect them from bacteria.
- Custom-Made Mouth Guards: If your child plays sports or has issues with grinding their teeth, mouth guards and grind guards can provide extra protection for their teeth. We can help take measurements for your children so that they can get mouthguards.
- Emergency Dentistry: We provide emergency dental services for patients of all ages. If a child has a tooth knocked out, is experiencing a severe toothache, or has other dental issues, please contact our team for emergency services.
Whatever your child needs, our team would be happy to help them at our office in Melrose or at one of our other locations throughout Chicago. We pride ourselves on being a comforting and welcoming environment for patients of all ages.
Kid-Friendly Dentists in Melrose Park Chicago
We pride ourselves on being a kid-friendly dental office. This means a lot to us and to the parents who bring their children to Dental Town Chicago. We believe that the two most important things we can provide to children are great dental treatments and a positive environment. When adults tell us that they haven’t seen a dentist in years, we often hear that it is because of a bad experience they had as a kid. That experience can lead to years of dental anxiety and cause serious dental issues. That is why we work hard to make sure our offices are not only kid-friendly, but also focused on helping kids feel encouraged.
How Can I Help My Child Who Is Afraid Of The Dentist?
First and foremost you need to pick the right dentist. It cannot be overstated how important the right team is for your child’s comfort, education, and dental treatments. Beyond that, understanding why your child is afraid of the dentist can help you and their dental team figure out the best way to comfort them. For example, if a child is simply afraid of the unknown, it can be helpful to tell them everything they can expect during their visit. If a child is uncomfortable because they feel a lack of control during their dental visits, it can help to restore that control by telling the child that they can hold up a hand if they need the dentist to stop what they are doing. Simply having that control can help a child feel more comfortable. For some kids, familiarity goes a long way. Having their parents with them can help them be confident.