Your child’s smile lights up your day, keep it bright and healthy with Claremont Dental Institute.
Taking care of your child’s teeth is crucial for their healthy oral development. Children should start visiting the dentist when their first tooth appears or by the time they turn 1. Our family dental office offers a special environment where kids can build a positive relationship with one dental practice throughout their lives.
Our dentists monitor the growth of your child’s smile, allowing them to provide proactive care and gentle treatments. This approach helps reduce the need for expensive procedures later on, and in some cases, it may even prevent the need for braces.
At our Claremont, CA family dental practice, children can visit the dentist with their parents from an early age. Being exposed to the sights and sounds of the dental office early on helps children feel comfortable before they need their own appointment. Kids who start visiting the dentist young usually have healthier smiles and fewer cavities as they grow up.
The common pediatric dental services that you might find at our dental office include the following:
- Regular cleanings
- Fluoride treatments
- Dental sealants
- Cavity fillings
- Dental crowns
- Root canals
- Tooth extractions
- Orthodontics
- Repair of soft tissue injuries and/or cavities
Caring For Your Child’s Smile
Pediatric tooth decay is a major health issue among children. High rates of childhood cavities can lead to poor oral health later in life. That’s why it’s important to start caring for your child’s smile from the beginning. The best thing you can do for your child’s oral health is to visit the dentist regularly; every six months or as recommended by their dentist.
Here are some simple steps to help your child have healthy teeth for years to come:
- Healthy Diet: Feed your child a balanced diet low in sugar and processed foods to keep their teeth and gums strong. The increase in sugar in many diets is a big factor in the rise of childhood cavities. Avoid giving your child soda or juice in a bottle, and try to limit sugary drinks overall. Instead, choose tooth-friendly snacks like fruits and vegetables.
- Dental Sealants: Protect your child’s teeth with dental sealants. Sealants are a safe and effective way to lower the risk of tooth decay. During a routine checkup, the dentist can apply sealants, which can reduce cavities by up to 80%! The process is quick and painless. The dentist will paint the sealant on the teeth and dry it with a special light to create a shield against bacteria in hard-to-reach areas.
- Good Oral Hygiene: Practice good oral hygiene at home by setting up a daily routine. Teach your child to brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily. Helping your child understand the importance of brushing and flossing will help them develop lifelong healthy habits. It will also help you keep an eye on habits like thumb sucking and pacifier use, which can affect the alignment of baby teeth.
- Dental Advice: Talk to your dentist about keeping your baby’s gums clean, preventing bottle tooth decay, and knowing when to start brushing. Our dental care team focuses on educating both parents and children to improve their oral hygiene routines. We’re here to help families enjoy healthy, happy smiles for years to come.
A Better Dental Office Experience for Children in Claremont
No Drills, No Needles, No Stress—Making Dental Visits Better for Your Child.
Visiting the dentist can be scary for children, especially with loud sounds and new environments. At our family dental practice, we work hard to reduce dental anxiety and make trips to the dentist a positive experience. By using the latest technology, we aim to improve your child’s dental experience.
At Claremont Dental Institute, we use Solea® laser therapy for drill-free dental fillings. This laser technology allows us to provide more precise and less painful treatments in a calm and comforting environment. With laser fillings, we can help ease the stress and anxiety that kids often feel when visiting the dentist.
Laser dentistry is almost pain-free, meaning there’s often no need for needles to give local anesthesia. The laser is also quiet, so there’s no loud drilling noise. Plus, laser fillings are very precise and we can complete the process faster than traditional fillings. Meaning your child spends less time in the dentist’s chair!
Pediatric Dentistry FAQs
At what age should I bring my child to the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child’s first dental visit should be around age 1, or 6 months after their first tooth appears. After that, regular check-ups and cleanings should happen every 6 months.
Why are baby teeth important?
Taking care of baby teeth is crucial. Ignoring them can lead to infections, cavities, or tooth pain. Healthy baby teeth help ensure healthy permanent teeth. They also play a key role in jaw development, comfortable chewing, speaking, and keeping the right space for permanent teeth.
What should I do if my child loses a permanent tooth?
Try to gently reinsert the tooth back into its socket. If you can’t do that, place the tooth in a glass of milk and bring both your child and the glass to our office. We’ll check the tooth and decide the best course of action.
How do I prepare my child for their first dental visit?
A first dental visit can be intimidating for some children. It helps to teach them about the importance of dental care and create positive feelings about the dentist. During the visit, we’ll take care of your child with compassion, understanding, and positivity.
We’re excited to help young patients achieve healthier smiles with personalized, high-quality dental care. Give us a call at (909) 277-6919 to request an appointment today.