27 Apr Why is Children’s Dentistry Important?
Do you have any preconceived notions about children’s dentistry? Whatever they are, you’re not alone! Many people think that children’s dentistry is unimportant because those baby teeth will just fall out. Right? Well, it’s true they do fall out (most of the time), but that doesn’t make children’s dentistry unimportant. In fact, it’s quite the opposite!
This article examines why children’s dentistry is essential for their baby and adult teeth. For personalised advice, contact our team at Boroondara Family Dentist today.
They Make You Smile— So Protect Theirs
As a parent, your child’s health and well-being is important to you. When they have a bruised knee, you kiss it better; when they feel sad, you comfort them. So why should their oral health be any different?
Whether they’re complaining of sore gums, one of their teeth is affecting their chewing, or you’re wondering when their teeth may begin to grow in or fall out, having an established relationship with your dentist is crucial. Starting proper dental care for your child as early as possible is an essential stepping stone in their oral health journey.
Why is Children’s Dentistry Important?
1. Forming Good Relationships
Like how you teach them to say please and thank you, forming good habits is most manageable when started early. By taking your child to the dentist from a young age, they’re more likely to become familiar with and comfortable in the environment. They’ll get used to the people they see here, the noises they may hear, and the feeling of their friendly dentist touching their teeth and gums while helping them feel safe and cared for. Children’s dentists are also well-known for making trips to see them fun— they may even look forward to returning next time!
2. Building Good Habits
Once they’ve associated the dentist with a fun place to be, they may find that they have an important job to do at home that will help their new friend the next time they see them. By starting them early, they’ll learn good oral hygiene habits like how to brush correctly and how long to brush for, forming the basis for good dental habits as they grow older.
3. Early Intervention
While children’s teeth tend to follow a typical, general schedule of when their baby teeth come in and fall out, every child is different. If your child’s teeth haven’t come through or fallen out long after you expected them to, a children’s dentist aims to discover why and how the issue may be addressed. Children’s dentists aim to diagnose any problems with the teeth and jaw by monitoring growth as early as possible.
4. Providing a Strong Foundation for Adult Teeth
While their baby teeth are designed to fall out, their adult teeth are behind them, waiting to come in. If your child doesn’t have regular dental checkups, issues with their baby teeth may be missed, and they may lose one or more earlier than expected. This may cause problems in the future with the way their adult teeth grow and possibly cause complications and structural issues such as dental crowding and jaw growth issues. Treating their baby teeth the same way you would their adult teeth gives them the strongest foundation possible for their permanent smile to grow into.
5. Reducing the Chance of Dental Anxiety
While there are certainly many adults with dental anxiety, this certainly applies to children as well. After all, children are even more unfamiliar with the equipment, noises, and sensations than adults are! By taking them to the dentist from a young age and familiarising them with all that it entails, they may begin to see it as the positive experience it’s designed to be.
When Should I Take My Child to the Dentist?
It’s generally recommended that you bring your child in for their first dentist visit when their baby teeth begin to come through. This allows your dentist to ensure the teeth are forming correctly and not causing any issues.
Making Littles Smile Big
At Boroondara Family Dentist, we treat every member of your family like one of our own. With years of experience helping children understand the importance of oral hygiene and coming in to see us regularly, we know how to make the experience as fun as it is essential! To book your child’s dentist appointment, contact us today.
