Visit a pediatric dentist at age 1. This visit is more for parents to learn how to care for their child’s teeth, ask questions and develop rapport with the pediatric dentist in case the child should have a dental emergency in the future (think learning to walk vs. the coffee table). The pediatric dentist will most likely examine your baby’s teeth in the “knee to knee position, as pictured here.
Photo courtesy of Specialized Care Co, Inc. Rainbow Lap Cushion.
Some general dentists may wait to see children until 3 years old. On more than one occasion, parents have been tearful when I inform them that their 3 year old has 8 cavities and now must undergo general anesthesia to have them fixed. I would have loved to have had a prevention discussion at age 1!
2. When should my child start using fluoride tooth paste?
The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated tooth paste and a soft, age-appropriate sized tooth brush. Use a "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age (we usually recommend a “grain of rice” sized amount of paste). For the 2-5 year old, dispense a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s tooth brushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.
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3. How and when to I stop a pacifier and/or thumb habit?
Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers once they approach school age, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist.
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4. Is juice really that bad for teeth? Is it better if I water it down with water?
If a child drinks more than the recommended 4-6 oz. of juice in a day, then the extra sugar, even the natural sugar in 100% fruit juice, can be harmful to the teeth, because it is used by the bacteria that are present in the mouth that cause cavities. Watering down the juice does not decrease the FREQUENCY that the juice is in contact with oral cavity and it is this factor that is most harmful to your child’s teeth.
5. My child hates the flavor of tooth paste and we have tried every brand. Do you have any suggestions?
I suggest using just water if your child doesn’t like the taste of tooth paste. The purpose of the tooth paste is to apply fluoride to the teeth. The tooth brush removes the plaque from the teeth and it is the plaque, in conjunction with sugar, which can cause cavities. A good compromise would be to dip the tooth brush into ACT fluoride mouth rinse before brushing to get the benefit of fluoride. The ACT rinses come in flavors like bubble gum and berry and are usually “less spicy” to kids than tooth paste!
Photo courtesy of http://sale.dentist.net/spree/products/3505/product/Act_Kids_Anticavity_Fluoride_BubbleGum_Blowout_Rinse.JPG?1383598315
6. How do you decide when you need to take when X-rays need to be taken?
Bitewing X-rays are needed to check for cavities in between teeth when the back teeth surfaces are all touching. An average age for the first bitewing X-rays to be taken is around 2 ½ years old. We have techniques to make this easy for your child and to make sure we are exposing your child to the lowest dose of radiation possible. The frequency of X-rays depends on if your child is at low or high risk for cavities. 
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7. Why is your treatment plan different than our family dentist that referred our child to you?
I typically take a new set of X-rays to make sure I can see all the surfaces of the teeth. Many times I am able to see more surfaces of teeth because we have developed special techniques to increase patient cooperation, and if more surfaces have cavities, there may be more areas that need treatment. I also develop the best treatment plan for your child based on their cavity risk, how long they will have the baby tooth in their mouth and what the best dental treatment available is.
8. Why do you recommend laughing gas if my child needs to have a filling done?
Laughing gas (Nitrous oxide) is intended to relax children, dull sensations (sounds, temperatures, pressures, vibrations, tastes) and generally put children at ease. This is especially important for a child’s first experience having a dental procedure. My goal is to create a pleasant, comfortable experience and I have found that children do infinitely better using laughing gas during dental procedures.
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9. If these baby teeth are going to fall out, why do they even need to be filled?
Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. They also feel sensitivity and pain just like adult teeth. If decayed baby teeth are not filled, they can become infected and abscess, which can cause damage to the developing permanent tooth.
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10. My child fell and hit her baby teeth on the bath tub. Does she need to be seen by the dentist?
Yes! Most times no further treatment will be needed, but it is important to have a pediatric dentist examine your child’s mouth after an injury. The permanent teeth begin developing at the time of birth, so any injury to the baby teeth can hurt the permanent teeth. I will recommend that an X-ray be taken to examine the extent of the injury. A follow up X-ray will be scheduled for 6 weeks later to check for changes, which may indicate if further treatment is needed.
