Pediatric Dentistry

At Milltown Dental, we pride ourselves in providing a high standard of pediatric dentistry to best accommodate your child’s oral health needs. Our compassionate team of dental professionals understands the importance of establishing trusting and safe relationships with patients of all ages, but this is especially true for children who are new to oral health care.

This is why we strive to ensure that your little one’s initial experiences with our dentist are positive, educational, and fun!

Why is Pediatric Dentistry important for kids?

The average child will experience the eruption of their very first tooth during their first 6 months of life. Then, by the time they are about 6 or 7 years of age, they will start to lose their first set of baby teeth, which will ultimately be replaced by their secondary and permanent adult teeth.

A child’s baby teeth require special care and attention, as they are particularly susceptible to the spread of decay and infection. Moreover, these primary teeth are guides for the permanent teeth waiting to take their place. Because of this, professionals recommend that parents or guardians bring their children in for their very first dental visit right after the eruption of their first tooth, or before they turn one year of age.

In some cases, such as when an infant has trouble latching on during breastfeeding, parents may want to bring their child to a dentist even sooner as a common reason why some infants can’t breast feed is due to an underdeveloped frenulum. A problem that can be surgically fixed by tongue tie surgery to allow a little one to breastfeed normally.

What types of treatments are offered under Pediatric Dentistry?

Pediatric dentistry includes the following practices:

• Infant and adolescent oral health check-ups, including dental caries (tooth decay) risk assessment
• Providing oral health education for child patients, including demonstrations on how to properly care for their smile at home
• Preventive services such as teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants, in addition to nutritional and dietary recommendations
• Early assessment of oral health issues such as improper bite (malocclusion) and respective treatment
• Treatment of dental caries (cavities), gum diseases or other oral defects
• Care for dental emergencies or accidents including injuries like tooth fractures or dislodged and knocked-out teeth

Why trust our family dentist with your child’s smile?

Understandably, young children aren’t always capable of being completely cooperative or patient during their dental visits. Fortunately, our Milltown Dental team has great experience dealing with infant and adolescent patients. We know just how to assess and treat your child’s smile to ensure optimal comfort while they are seated in the dentist’s chair.

Because dental phobias often stem from an unpleasant childhood experience, it’s critical for children to have positive early experiences with the dentist and at the dental office. We are passionate about creating the most welcoming, friendly and fun dental care atmosphere for your little one. We avoid the use of any threatening or anxiety-evoking language with your child, including words such as “pain”,“needle”, “shot” or “drill”.

Child-Friendly Dental Office

Our dental office was designed to be a suitable care environment for patients of all ages. Children can enjoy our play area while they wait to be assisted by our friendly dentist and staff. We make it a priority to maintain a clean, safe and welcoming atmosphere for everyone at all times.

A Relaxing Treatment Experience

In addition to our kid-friendly clinic atmosphere, we also offer TV entertainment in every one of our treatment rooms equipped with comfortable seating, special neck pillows and even a cushy blanket to help your child feel more secure and at ease (all of these accommodations are available for adults, as well!)

Milltown Dental believes in a gentle and compassionate approach to dental care with every patient we treat. We always walk our younger patients through every step of their appointment to avoid any surprises or uncertainties. We also believe in the importance of educating our child patients and creating a communicative environment where they can feel free to be curious and ask questions.

Instilling Good Oral Health Practices in Your Child at Home

Every child deserves to be taught about the importance of good oral health and dental care from an early age.

Below are some useful tips parents can use at home to help set their child’s smile up for success:

• Monkey see, monkey do, so set a good example for your little one by brushing twice a day for two minutes each session, and flossing once a day, too.
• When your child’s first tooth comes in, routinely wipe it clean using a soft damp washcloth. Wipe your child’s gums daily in the same way too before their first tooth erupts.
• When it comes to brushing your child’s teeth once they are no longer an infant but too young to yet brush themselves, use only a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste, and remind them not to swallow it.
• Floss your child’s baby molars for them daily until they are able to learn from you and successfully floss on their own.
• After your child brushes and flosses, applaud them for sticking to their oral hygiene routine.
• Let your child know that their oral health care efforts are not going unnoticed and that their smile looks beautiful and clean!

If you have any questions regarding our Pediatric Dentistry services, or would like to book a consultation with Dr. Julie, please call 833-318-3281 or contact us here.